Island.

You waited. Now you got it. This post promises another entry to follow. Keep it brief? We’ll try.

Now, remember Salt Spring? Yes, well we still had that Saturday morning to go. Up early to pack up our Airbnb. Breakfast? Not really. I mustered up a quick café noir in a tiny French press. The market called.

Back to Barb’s. Back to Salt Spring Coffee. We got it right the second time around. Coffees in hand, pastries including an avocado breakfast sandwich for dad and a tapenade twist breadstick for me, we awaited market hour.

Some things at the Saturday market I’d never seen. A ROK GC Espresso machine for one. Two lever arms on an inverted u-shaped base. A giant kosher pickle for three dollars. People doing Tai Chi while a fella hammered away on a djembe . . .

Crowded and interesting. The market did not disappoint. It was busy. One couple selling French baking drew us in. A piece of flan. A custard fruit tart with local raspberries. I even found a handcrafted pair of earrings for my lovely wife.

Found dad in the park near the djembe. Mum was on the approach with a to-go tray loaded with gyoza. Food time. Dad and I walked to Buzzy’s Luncheonette. Oh, yeah. Ten-day cure, eight-hour smoke and steam-held until sliced to order. They even had my absolute favourite Boylan Black Cherry soda to wash down the meal, latkes and all.

After a long morning we began to tire. We made our way to the return ferry line up. From the queue we walked back up to Vesuvius Cafe. We enjoyed a spicy Chai Tea latte. When our ferry arrived back to Vancouver Island there was quite a line up Salt Spring bound.

A casual drive home felt good knowing we were back in our locale. The foreignness of the coastal islands behind us. Each one we’ve visited this summer is a different world. Each has something unique to share.

Goodness knows we’ll be back that way soon. Just not yet. We have some more local events to enjoy first. More on that later. Time to enjoy some local Cowichan Valley corn. ¡Listo!