September 15, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Salt Spring Island, Art Galleries & Artists
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I have found it! The perfect Salt Spring Island art for me. Not a watercolour or a pastel. Not a wood carving or metal statue. Not a poem or pretty photograph or elaborate woven basket or simple wool shawl. Of course, there are lots of those to be had though. My favourite art on Salt Spring Island is of the soft, mushy, melt in your mouth, can't stop eating variety - cheese!
Hand made Salt Spring Island goat cheese, in fact. A soft, delicate chevre that grabbed my heart and soul and left me wanting more.
On our first day on the island we rode our motorcycle up to the farm shop (newly paved roads are a plus) and bought two flavours - Garlic and Basil. On the second day we were back for more, tried Lemon and Pepper, but bought Chili and White Truffle. By the third day we were highly addicted and managed to grab some White Truffle from a local grocery store on the other side of the island before heading back to our cabin for the feast.
Day four - you guessed it - three packages of White Truffle, a loaf of artisan bread and a bottle bought from a nearby winery. Full on addiction had set it.
David Wood, the "head cheese" (pardon the pun) officially recognized us on day four and gave us a welcoming smile that I have to believe is as famous as his cheese. The dogs ran up to us like old friends.
The Salt Spring Island Cheese Company is open daily. I recommend going in the morning to grab a cup of complimentary coffee and relax on their inspiring patio before indulging in your first, but not last, bite of cheese.
September 15, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Salt Spring Island, Car / Truck / Motorcycle
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A recent retreat to Saltspring Island landed me oceanside in a fantastic cozy cottage for two - The Love Shack. By cozy, I mean comfortable and petite in the most delightfully eclectic, funky, shabby chic way. The Fulford Harbour hideaway comes complete with an orange slow-bubbling lava lamp, a collection of records including ABBA (Super Trouper of course), Marvin Gaye, Gordon Lightfoot, Santana and Valdy, just to name a few.
The waterfont deck includes an outdoor bathtub and orange and lime green Adirondack chairs. A bowl of pears, plums and island-picked apples awaited our arrival, as did a friendly sea otter walking up the steps from the ocean.
By far, the best part of the Love Shack was the old wood-burning stove, with which we were able to use to quickly convert the cottage into a Love Sauna. Hot, hot, hot!
Shagadelic and groovy baby, just as their website says.