A spring ferry to Gabriola
I decided today that I should finally get around to reading the book October Ferry to Gabriola. And that got me thinking about the first time I took the ferry to Gabriola.
It was a perfect early spring weekend afternoon. I arrived early for the ferry and sat in the rental car in the Nanaimo lot with all the windows rolled down. Everyone else was enjoying the weather too — it seemed like almost everyone was out of their vehicle, roaming around greeting friends or chatting in little groups. The atmosphere reminded me of a really good street party. Then the ferry arrived and we all drove on.
On the ferry, most people stayed in their cars, but some of them were making good use of this time. One woman was practicing violin in her car with the windows rolled up. Wow, that’s neat, I thought. Then I noticed a pickup truck that seemed to be a magnet for kids. A small boy had been boosted up into the back to visit with a big friendly dog. Next time I looked, there had to be at least six little boys playing in there with the dog and having a great time. An older man was going around the outside of the truck, growling like a bear, and making the little boys scream and run around. All too soon we got to the other side and all this activity broke up. But it was quite an introduction to the island and always makes me smile when I remember it.
What do you remember about your first ferry to Gabriola?
Filed in ferries,Gabriola Island 3 Comments so far
3 Responses to “A spring ferry to Gabriola”
Gabriolan on 18 Mar 2010 at 8:15 pm #
My first trip to Gabriola was on a summer’s day, years ago. We’d gotten up early that day, and cycled 40 km to get to the ferry terminal. The trip to Gabriola was sunny and sparkling, with seagulls and wind, and sprays of salt water now and again.
(Once the ferry docked we cycled all the way around Gabriola, and swam at Twin Beaches. Then we took the ferry back, and cycled that 40 km route again to get home.)
John Hudson on 18 Mar 2010 at 8:43 pm #
I first took the ferry to Gabriola when we came to investigate the possibility of living here. We’d already figured out that we wanted to live on one of the islands, but hadn’t made up our minds on which.
It was a beautiful day, and we stood near the prow and watched the island get closer as the sea spray hit our faces. So far, so wonderful, I thought.
Then one of the locals came up to us and said something to the effect that we must be visiting from the city. He pointed to my freshly polished shoes: ‘No one on Gabriola has shoes that shiny.’ And you know, I believe he was right.
Now we live here, and those shoes… well, they might still be pretty shiny, but I wouldn’t know for sure: they’re in the back of a closet someplace, and I spend whole seasons tramping about the woods in gumboots.
cheryl on 19 Mar 2010 at 5:46 am #
Our first time was the 15th of September 2000. It was a bright cool day but not cold. The ferry was very pleasant we strolled from front to back taking in the sights trying not to look like tourists. It was a spur of the moment adventure that day.
We drove down North Road in our commando jeep with the top down, going the speed limit thinking, “How long will it take to get to Silva Bay?” Lunched on sandwiches bought from Raspberries at Drumbeg. The tide was in and there was just enough wind to cause some beautiful waves but it wasn’t unpleasant for us to sit and ooh and ahh at each swell. Back on the road and heading up South Road again thinking “How long will it take to get back to the ferry?” Brickyard hill was a challenge that first time now we avoid as much as possible. Back on the ferry we were watching the sun get lower in the sky. We looked at each other and said “We could get used to this, don’t you think?” Smiling all the way home. And the rest is history.