Galiano Island 34/18 weeks

The lot of us, Dionisio Provincial Park Galiano island

 Mark and I decided last year to take an island scooter holiday each year. We camped in the San Juan Islands in 2009 and we wanted one last retreat before the big wedding trip in October. We chose Galiano Island for its proximity to Swartz Bay. Through a series of internet maneuvers and telephone blunders, Mark and I got a great deal on a weekend cottage for our 34th outing. There are a number of interesting hikes on this island and one day we plan to return and experience them.
We arrived on Saturday morning so we were able to attend the farmers market and stock up on locally grown vegetables and a loaf or two of fresh baked bread. We then drove up the road and took the trail down to the beach at Bluff Park. We weren't thwarted by the warning signs on the trail, but I gasped a bit when I saw the marine rope. It was strung up as a hand rail that would surely function more as a tow rope on the way up.

Our first hike of the weekend near Bluff Park

Proceed with caution indeed.

Once we arrived at the bottom we were rewarded by a beautiful and relaxing time on a secluded beach. In fact, it was just us and a couple of intrepid young mothers and their children.

Our beach companions showing us how BC kids play in their natural environment.

This is a ferry corridor; Galiano is the last island before the push to the mainland.

We had split off from our daughter and her friend Robert after breakfast to meet back up at the market. Then we decided to head to our rental cabin and drop off our bags so we could explore the island a bit. Galiano island is a narrow 19 miles of mostly decent roads and 3 or 4 miles of rutted gravel. Our cabin was at the end of the rutted gravel road. Im sure that it was shorter than it seemed but I was on a small honda scooter so felt every bump and hole.  Once we arrived at our destination we decided to stay put. The rental property borders Dionisio Provincial Park which can only be accessed by foot or by boat.
It only took one 20 minute walk down the beach path to convince us we should stay and explore this gorgeous park. We hiked the park both Saturday and Sunday. Since we are boat less and our rental cabin was a bit of a fluke we can't be sure when we will ever visit this park in the future.

The tiny archipelago off of Dionisio Park. 

The surf has carved amazing patterns across the sandstone surfaces.

We were delighted to have been joined on our second annual scooter holiday by Hannah and Robert on Saturday. Dane and Jordan spent Sunday with us and we hope this is the first of many holidays that would include the entire clan. Jordan will be heading back to the states soon to work and attend school. He joins our middle son who is to be married in October and our eldest daughter who will be back from Europe for the wedding. 
I realize that all seven of us together in the same region of the world is almost tantamount to a lining up of the planets, but we'll do our best.