Crossing the silvery stretch of sea between Swartz Bay and Saltspring is like moving across a time barrier. The tiny island road bobs and dips along the rocky shoreline, and ramshackle fences are overgrown with sweeping bushes of nootka roses and blackberry canes. As the bikes find the rhythm between our breath and the rolling pavement, everything else is carried away on the warm breeze. There’s a small farm stand perched haphazardly on the upswing of one of Saltspring’s famous hills, a sign advertising “Local Mixed Greens - $2”. The honour system is very much alive on the Gulf Islands, and a small money tin is mounted beside a red plastic cooler with one final bag of greens left – munching on sweet dandelion greens and miner’s lettuce, the hills seem friendlier.
Over a week traveling the Gulf Islands taught us a lot of lessons about biking and even more about the lifestyle embodied in these magical little communities. Sustainable living isn’t a trend on the islands or even something that takes a lot of energy – it just makes sense. Stuff is naturally reused or traded so that more garbage doesn’t have to be created, and new things don’t have to be brought across the water. This is both a cause and an effect of the village vibe, strengthening the ties between people even more.
Maybe it’s just that beautiful places grow beautiful people –
On Mayne Island we were so inspired by Patrick Henebery, who is one of the founders of Cobworks, an organization that breathes, builds, teaches sustainable living. As Pat toured us around his beautiful cob home, he explained how everything incorporated into the home is recycled or salvaged material. His first cob, which we peeked into, was built on a budget of $1000 and a “beg, borrow and barter” approach. Art and function are so intertwined in these earthen homes, and we were so intrigued by this that we’ve arranged to visit the O.U.R Ecovillage on our first night of the trip near Shawnigan Lake.
We are so grateful to all the kind people who let us into their hearts and homes (and lawns) on the islands, and so excited about everyone we will meet on our journey up the coast! The big trip starts on Sunday June 27, at Mile 0, and we can’t wait to get riding!
“In my dream the angel shrugged and said, if we fail this time it will be a failure of the imagination, and then she placed the world gently in the palm of my hand” Brian Andreas
