Saturna Island: Among Our Favorite Places

Ah, Saturna Island. The Gulf Islands of British Columbia, of which there are several, are each unique and beautiful, with specific things about each one, but Saturna may be our favorite of the ones we are visiting. With around just 300 residents, this rugged and lush island is home to a friendly and closely knit community of people who are helpful and kind. Our captain David, of whom I spoke in the previous post, is one such person. Another is Laura, the proprietor of the Saturna Inn, who was a wonderful host and tour guide.

We enjoyed a delicious breakfast prepared in the inn’s kitchen, and set off with Laura, intending to have her drive us to the trail head to start our day’s journey. She had other plans, and off we went on an island tour, taking in the east side of the island (which we would not have seen on our hike) and around to Mount Warbutin, where we could practically touch the sky as we surveyed the beauty below.

The community board at the Saturna General Store

Saturna offers the Free Store, where you can donate items and see if there’s anything there you need!!

The view from Mount Warbutin. The sun is out!!

Campbell Park at the base of Mount Warbutin

The East Side of Saturna, showing the Fog House, which now houses the island’s archives

The East Bay is where three different types of water converge: The fresh water of the river, the ebb tide and the flowing tide.

The rocky shore has been weathered by centuries of rains and tides.

A bald eagle watches for prey along the roadside

Laura, our host and tour guide, and her beautiful setter Pita

Laura tells us that there is no gravel in the Gulf Islands because the glaciers stopped at Vancouver Island (the largest island, on which Victoria is located on the south end).

She dropped us at the Narvaez Bay trail head and off we went for yet another day of spectacular hiking and views. First we enjoyed some time at Echo Bay, which offered turquoise water and a dramatic, yet somehow cozy, shoreline of rocky nooks and crannies.

The knuckle of an arbrutus tree

A walk back up and then down to Narvaez Bay.

We lingered here for a while, watching a frolicking otter, a king fisher, a great blue heron and another very large and unidentified bird. The water is crystal clear, and we watched crabs and other sea life as we sat and enjoyed a few bites of our sandwiches.

We headed out of this idyllic spot, passing two campers who were relaxing in their respective campsites, and then took in Monarch, a point along the cliffs that was so worth the climb. We stayed here for about two hours, watching birds as they lazily caught the wind sheers and taking in the occasional boats sailing by way below. We even spotted a pod of whales as they made their way through the tide. A hummingbird kept buzzing Kim because of her red shirt. We didn’t spot the herd of goats who scramble along the cliffside, but their presence was evident by the droppings and their paths that are right. at. the. edge.

We were surprised by and treated to a solar ring. It was quite unusual!!

Flowers in the meadow

We reluctantly left Monarch Head, passing down a beautiful path lined with moss-covered stumps and trees and green meadows strewn with little white flowers, and on to the road. After a short while, a couple named Dave and Melanie came by and offered us a ride. We took it back to the inn, which featured a magnificent Sterchi & Sons piano that was in perfect tune. I couldn’t resist and played and sang for an hour or so. No one was there except the two of us, so it was a no-pressure time!! An older couple arrived, so concert was over.

We rested for a bit, then headed back to The Pub (there aren’t many dining options on Saturna) for more delicious halibut and prawns. And that incredible view on the deck.

The dock where the Mayne Queen (the ferry that services Saturna) lands

The beautiful and friendly Katie, our server at The Pub. She has a cousin who lives in East Nashville and plays at Foo Bar!

A peaceful retreat on Saturna

A kayaker makes his way home at the end of the day

Wild Thyme, a island’s coffee house, is housed in an old English tour bus that had been abandoned in a Canadian mainland junk yard. The owner rescued it, brought it to Saturna, and the residents all joined together to restore it and make this great little cafe, using supplies that were found on the island.

!!!

The front door of the Saturna Inn. Good night!

The hours of daylight are long in spring and summer. It is only mid-May, but it starts getting daylight about 4:30 am and doesn’t get really dark until after 10.
We enjoyed our time on Saturna Island so much and have determined that this is a place we will visit again.

Waiting for the Mayne Queen to ferry us from Saturna to Mayne Island, where we exited and boarded another ferry to Schwartz Bay on Vancouver Island.

A last look at the islands we have visited — Pender, Galiano and Salt Spring. Saturna is behind us.

Leaving the Mayne Queen and boarding a larger ferry to Schwartz Bay

On to the Pacific Rim!!