Three Ferries Loop Ride

Raindrops smacked our windshield, as we drove down to Fulford to begin a day-long bike ride. Spirits were high, we were finally doing this! It just happened to coincide with the one rainy day in weeks.

Cyclist, Gary Gagne and others had previewed the ride last year, to make sure we could stay off the Malahat Highway, especially with kids. I spent a good afternoon, reviewing the route and creating step-by-step instructions and maps for all who dared ride in the wet.

With the regional focus on the Salish Sea Trail, the Three Ferries Loop is a shorter version that can be completed in a day, especially on e-bikes. The first leg, from Swartz to Brentwood is only 17km, then it’s another 40km to Crofton from Mill Bay.

We started out from the ferry, with wings, tutu, and sequinned masks, and took the quick right up and over to the Lochside Trail just past the Lands End overpass. Then, if you cross back over the highway at the pedestrian bridge at Wain Rd, there’s a wee gravel pathway by a yellow turnstile that rides you through forest, a gnome village, and out to quiet roads through what feels like the English countryside, between hedgerows and past homes with names like Bramblewood and Oakridge.

Along West Saanich Road, there are great sea views and good bike lanes, all the way down to Brentwood Bay. Several parks beckoned, but Zanzibar Cafe called louder, for a chance for brunch before the 1:15pm Brentwood-Mill Bay ferry departure.

Donning our paper faery masks, randomly left on Robin’s farmstand over the weekend, we sat at the next table to a group of four also celebrating a birthday with a bikeride, and who lived in Mill Bay and had ridden the ferry over for brunch. Kip and Cobe sat nearby, and were joined by a giant tiger swallowtail butterfly. The food was amazing, including Carolyn’s bucket of Mulligotawny soup! But the tastiest thing was probably Jennifer’s small tupperware of cashew-jalepeno-mint pate that we shared all around. A surprise sparkler in a china teacup of fruit sorbet graciously ended the meal, to celebrate Robin’s birthday.

The old Mill Bay ferry is quaint, and worth a ride back and forth if just for the white shell beaches on both sides of the Mill Bay ferry terminal. The only thing missing was chocolate. And then Rose unfolded a small foil package, to expose roasted hazelnut and dried cranberry chocolate bark she’d made the week prior. What a dream ~

But, we rode up the hill and then beyond, passing through Mill Bay – past Bridgeman’s Pub – as we were just getting going, and crossed Mill Creek along the Malahat Highway, but on a protected narrow path alongside.

Onwards, and up some hills, to the Enrico Winery, where our party split — with some aiming for the 4pm Crofon Ferry, and others attracted to the vineyard rows and bright umbrellas on the tasting deck. That’s when Emily broke out the sandwiches made from homemade bread from her father, local goat cheese from the Woodshed, Salt Spring Kalamata Olives, and sheep sorrel that she’d picked this morning. Wow.

The wine was fine, and Robin zipped back and forth between the rows of grapevines, and a limo of women with a bucket of funny sunglasses arrived, and we carried on to Davina to taste their lavender wines before they closed shop. Fragrances of French Lavender and English, an Orange Mint and Lemon Balm, and Rhubarb and Blackberry wines awaited, and we all left with our panniers a bit heavier.

Then down through the estuaries and Reserves we cruised, the sun on the wide expanses of wild reeds and grasses, with Tsouhelem Mountain backdrop of sheer, rounded basalt cliffs and forest. We passed a cider house – then Cherry Point winery – and rode on to Cowichan Bay, where we were the only ones in True Grain Organic Bakery, all tearing into their last baguette of the day, and passing a bottle of Red Dragon Rose.

Next came the slog. Our butts were getting sore and our thighs burned out, but the team entertained ourselves by waving to passing drivers, and whooping as we went. Onwards to Maple Bay, where hot food awaits at the Lion Rampant on the water – a beautiful Scottish-themed Pub with huge tv screens all playing hockey. We sat outside. Giggled and laughed, drank Sour Beers and enjoyed the parade of wild birds passing by. Robin’s bike was down to two bars, so I went downstairs to the Liquor Store where they have an outside outlet and inquired — he said I was the first ever to ask about charging an ebike there, and don’t I have pedals, why do I need electricity? But, he grumblingly let me plug it in, and it sure helped on the ride up that hill and out!

The last segment to Crofton is also gorgeous, and the final fun was passing through Maple Mountain down through the forest to Osborne Park and along to the Harbourwalk to the ferry. What a great day! As Jennifer said, it was time for a hot bath and some good sex before bed. Amen to that, sister!