REPORT ON THE JUNE 12th TOUR OF BEAUTIFUL GABRIOLA ISLAND
Fourteen members of NWBay PROBUS Club carpooled to the Gabriola Ferry on June 12. The day was overcast but dry and we had smooth sailing. The first port of call was the Hardware and Garden Centre. The proprietors were very friendly and happy to have us help contribute to the Island’s economy! From there we visited the community museum with very good exhibits giving us the historical view of the Island.
Onward to the Ravenskill Heritage Orchards and Cidery. Carol was our tour guide and showed us the orchards of Heritage apples. We were treated to a tasting of Gabbie’s Hard Cider in the tasting room, followed by some homemade apple pie. Several people in our group are planning to return in the fall for pick-your-own apples and more of that fabulous cider.
We moved on to Brickyard Beach to see the petroglyphs and then to Wendy Ewing’s plants and flowers where we toured the grounds, including the deer-resistant garden. Wendy opened her nursery for us to see the many unique botanicals she sells. We then travelled along North Road under the canopy of old growth trees toward our lunch destination, stopping at the Malaspina Galleries. This is not an art gallery, but rather amazing rock formations that resemble petrified waves, along a stretch of the waterline. We enjoyed a fine lunch at the Surf Lounge and used some free time for wandering in the fine mist and taking photographs before boarding the 4:20 ferry back to Nanaimo.
