Aqua apr\may 2016 by Gulf Islands Driftwood Publishing

AqUA GULF ISLANDS APRIL/MAY 2016

LIVING

VOLUME 11, ISSUE 2

treks & trails Islanders share their favourite spots

makiNG the shoe Fit Salt Spring Footprints

art is liFe master carver Tom Duquette

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COVER STORY

Hans Tammemagi searches high and low for the Gulf Islands' best hiking trail, PAGE 8

contents TANTALIZERS! PAGE 6

RECREATION

Aqua readers share their favourite island spots to explore on foot, PAGE 12 New map and walking festival projects make strides on Salt Spring, PAGE 19

ISLANDERS

Meet shoemakers Marcus and Barbara Poerschke of Salt Spring Footprints, PAGE 24

THE ARTS

The awe factor of Saturna Island artist Tom Duquette, PAGE 30

GETAWAYS

WOODS on Pender redefines holidaying in paradise, PAGE 35

COMFORT FOOD

Max Del Vecchio brings a bit of Italy to Salt Spring, PAGE 23

Q&A

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Salt Spring Trail and Nature Club president Linda Quiring, PAGE 38

APRIL/MAY 2016

Walking in paradise

ike most Gulf Islanders, I don’t have far to go to enjoy a nature walk. My home is essentially a multi-acre park where trails wind between Douglas fir and arbutus trees, salal, ferns, Oregon grape and wildflowers, above and below a dazzling cliff. I am grateful that the gods dropped me in the middle of such a beautiful place and left me mobile enough to wander around and find something new to marvel at each day. After the months of torrential rains we’ve had (but I’m not complaining), we will be more eager than ever to get out on some island trails. With spring treks in mind, we have several pages of content in this issue to help you choose where to go. For starters, Hans Tammemagi highlights one trail on each of the five major islands, and settles on the Chris Hatfield Trail in Ruckle Provincial Park on Salt Spring as his favourite, although he did make his choice before the charming fairy habitat was removed. Other islanders share some of their special spots in

AQUA

MICHAEL MURRAY PHOTO

Editor’s Message

GULF ISLANDS

LIVING

This issue published March 30, 2016

our “readers' picks” feature, as does our Q&A person Linda Quiring, and we have a preview of a new Salt Spring Island trail map project and walking festival. I think promoting our islands as hiking/walking destinations is a great idea, and I applaud the work of trail groups and parks and rec commissions for continually expanding and maintaining trail networks and signage. Since good shoes and happy feet are a must for proper outings, we arranged a visit with the Salt Spring Footprints shoemakers. And after last year seeing images of the Airstreams, hot tubs and other amenities at WOODS on Pender, I knew we had to find a way to get the WOODS story into these outdoorsy pages. We’re also thrilled to have a piece about Saturna artist Tom Duquette, whose “west coast psychedelic expressionism” artwork is as powerful as our winter storms. In her Comfort Food column, Marcia Jansen brings us the story of Max Del Vecchio of Pasta Fresca, whose delicious food and friendly service are worth venturing out for at any time of the year. — Gail Sjuberg

Publisher: Amber Ogilvie Editor: Gail Sjuberg Art Director & Production: Lorraine Sullivan Advertising: Jennifer Lannan, Daniel Ureta Aqua Writers: Elizabeth Nolan, Cherie Thiessen, Hans Tammemagi, Pat Burkette, Marcia Jansen, Jean Gelwicks Aqua Photographers: Jen MacLellan, Cherie Thiessen, Hans Tammemagi, Marcia Jansen, David Borrowman Cover photo of Chris Hatfield Trail by Hans Tammemagi Aqua is published by Driftwood Publishing Ltd., 328 Lower Ganges Road, Salt Spring Island, B.C. V8K 2V3 Phone: 250-537-9933 / Email: news@driftwoodgimedia.com Websites: www.driftwoodgimedia.com; www.gulfislandstourism.com; www.gulfislandsdriftwood.com Publications Mail Reg. #08149 PRINTED IN CANADA

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April/May 2016 – AQUA – Page 5

JEN MACLELLAN PHOTO

• The second annual FESTIVAL ACTIVE PASS NATURE AND ARTS FESTIVAL is set for GALIANO ISLAND on April 22, 23 and 24. Check out art displays at the Galiano school and library, take garden tours, boat tours, guided walks and much more. An arts and crafts market, displays, food vendors and musicians will also be at the Lions Hall, AKA Festival Central. Pre-registration is required for some events. Check out www. festivalactivepass.com for all the details. Last year’s inaugural event was centred on Mayne Island. • PENDER ISLAND CHORAL SOCIETY’S spring concert is Songs That Define Us. Enjoy some uplifting pieces at the COMMUNITY HALL on April 29 and 30 at 7 p.m. and May 1 at 2 p.m. • MACINTYRE PURCELL PUBLISHING INC. has just released the second edition of The Vancouver Island Book of Everything. Author Peter Grant has put together another fun and informative guidebook full of facts and stories covering the Gulf Islands and “the big island.” It's available at island bookstores. • THE VETTA CHAMBER ENSEMBLE is marking its 30th anniversary with a unique crosscultural event. A concert titled SEASONS will consist of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, plus a special commissioned work. Titled Seasons of the Sea by Vancouver composer JEFFREY RYAN, it was completed in collaboration

with Sahtu Dene/Coast Salish storyteller ROSEMARY GEORGESON, and it explores the First Nations lunar calendar. SEASONS will premiere at ArtSpring on Wednesday, April 27, with an afternoon show for school students and an evening one at 7:30 p.m. It will also be seen and heard on April 28 and 29 in Vancouver. Vetta’s artistic director JOAN BLACKMAN and husband LARRY BLACKMAN, a viola player with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, live on Salt Spring Island. • Ceramic artists living in the Gulf Islands and on Vancouver Island have until the end of May to submit works for the first biennial SALT SPRING ISLAND CERAMICS AWARDS. Between 50 and 70 works will be chosen for an exhibit running from Oct. 6 to 16 at Mahon Hall. The event, with $4,200 in prize money available, is a project of the SALT SPRING ISLAND POTTERS GUILD. See www. saltspringpottersguild.com for more information.

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Cover Story

Footloose in Paradise SEARCHING FOR THE BEST HIKING TRAIL IN THE GULF ISLANDS STORY AND PHOTOS BY HANS TAMMEMAGI

Page 8 – AQUA – April/May 2016

“If you are seeking creative ideas,” a wise man once said, “go out walking, for angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk.” In need of mental stimulation, I laced up my hiking boots. But where to go? Should I ramble in the still, sombre forest surrounded by moss, ferns and giant trees? Or should I walk along rocky beaches communing with sea stars, splashing waves and barnacleencrusted rocks? Or, with pulse beating, should I

climb to a viewpoint and gaze upon a panorama of gentle islands sprinkled on the waters as though by the hand of God? I was uncertain, for there are many delicious choices in the southern Gulf Islands. I made a decision: to stir my soul — and obtain inspiration — I would seek out the single, very best hiking trail in this gaggle of islands. Like a Hobbit, I set out on my quest. On my own island of Pender, walking trails are abundant and I know them well. For exercise and spirit-lifting vistas, my favourite is George Hill. I laboured uphill, through moist forest and then a meadow and onto the summit, where I sat next to a spindly Garry oak, watching ferries and the distant snow-capped mountains on the mainland. Ah, I could feel the creative juices begin to flow. At Galiano Island, the choices were many, but the Bodega Ridge trail drew me. Soon I was strolling along humming and happy. I passed ramrod-straight Douglas firs, which were like battalions of tall, slim soldiers standing at attention. But interspersed here and there in their ranks, mockingly, were gangling arbutus trees, chaotic like hippies. What a blessing, I thought, to be alone, immersed in nature.

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Above: Yeo Point shoreline on the Chris Hatfield Trail. At right: One of the fairy abodes that used to grace the trail. Previous page: Identifying trail sign. Page 8: The view from George Hill on Pender Island. Next page, from left: Fairies' picnic table and a sculpted rock figure seen on the Hatfield trail when the writer first explored the area in the spring of 2015.

Page 10 – AQUA – April/May 2016

My quest continued. Disembarking from the ferry at Mayne Island, I checked the trail map and headed for the Halliday Ridge hike in Mount Parke Regional Park. The deep forest and views from the top were wonderful, but the best experience was hearing a loud rat-atat-atat and then seeing a pileated woodpecker, its red head a blur as it attacked an old log, sending wood chips flying like a buzz saw. Saturna Island was next on my odyssey, and soon I was at the top of Mount Warburton Pike. Gazing at the isle-dotted Salish Sea, I couldn’t argue with those who judge the Pike the finest lookout in the Gulf Islands. I meandered south-east along the Brown Ridge trail wrapped in sunshine and peaceful solitude. The walk was special for the trail was made not by humans but, most unusually, by resident feral goats, whom I could see grazing here and there farther down the hillside. Another ferry carried me to Salt Spring Island where I sought out the Chris Hatfield Trail in the northern edge of Ruckle Provincial Park. A few minutes in, I sat beside a pond, where reflections of towering trees and a split-rail fence glistened in the water. I could already sense this hike was going to be special. I continued deeper into the lush rainforest, passing old trees whose branches were festooned with beards of bright green moss. Under a tree I found a shovel and several buckets. A sign invited hikers to dig up some soil and gravel, fix part of the trail farther along and return the empty pail on return. A self-serve, voluntary system for trail maintenance. What a clever idea! Carrying a full pail, I trekked on. What? Amongst the trees I spotted a round rock more than a foot in diameter balanced on the point of another. Unusual! Then I was greeted by a two-metre-long lizard made of quartz stones. Around the next bend I was stunned to find a complete fairy homestead. Stones were aligned to mimic fences and walkways. A small door led mysteriously into a stump. I marvelled at the detail: a table with dishes of shells, a clothes-line bearing stampsized clothes and a tiny wood pile. I had stumbled onto a Tolkien village for beings mere inches tall, perhaps hobbits, fairies or gnomes. I was exhilarated. Someone had added an imaginative, creative dimension to this trail that provoked thoughts of mythology, the ancient past, the many mysterious things we humans don’t understand. Spirit soaring, I strode on, beaming a huge smile whenever I glimpsed another balancing rock or stone creature. The trail descended to the waterfront and a wind-sheltered pebble beach. At Yeo Point I sat with my back against a sun-warmed boulder gazing at passing boats and ferries. Turning inland at Cusheon Cove I reflected on a lumber mill that operated here from 1905 to 1928. No evidence of it was visible, but the mill was once the largest industrial operation on the island, employing 150 workers with large ships from foreign lands loading at its dock. I vowed to seek out Chris Hatfield, for whom this trail is named, because he granted this land to Ruckle Provincial Park and has been conducting research into the old mill.

The trail followed a creek upstream. The gurgling and splashing of water grew louder until I saw rapids swirling and tumbling down mosscovered rocks, surrounded by ferns and tall trees. At the base of the cascade was a “person,” a rectangular rock with a smaller round rock balanced on it. I sat quietly for a long time, enthralled by this wonderful scene, delighted to have found this fascinating hiking trail. I returned home, my quest compete. I had hiked many great trails, been immersed in glorious nature and stimulated my imagination. And the memory of one very special trail and its little fairy citizens lingered.

POSTSCRIPT Several months later I returned to the Chris Hatfield Trail. I wanted to again hear the splashing of the waterfall, to meet Chris Hatfield and to commune with the fairies. But what a shock! The fairy village was gone, not a vestige of it remained. My heart wept. How could something that brings joy to the hearts of so many be destroyed by a self-centred few?

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S D N A L S I F L GU

Recreation

G N I K I H

S E T I R U O V A F ' S R E D A E R

Knowing we would have a hiking/outdoors focus for this edition of Aqua, in the last issue we asked readers to tell us about their favourite trails on the Gulf Islands. Thank you to everyone who submitted the following words and pictures!

BROWN RIDGE TRAIL My favourite trail? Hands down, Brown Ridge on Saturna Island. With the trail beginning at the highest point on the island, Mount Warburton Pike, and spectacular views southwest all along this easy cliff walk, it is my winner trail, alone or with friends. It meanders a couple of kilometres gently downward before it drops steeply to Taylor Point. I like to walk it on a clear day, stop often to watch eagles and vultures soar, and meditate on the beauty around me. — Submitted by Dave Manning of Pender Island Hiking along Brown Ridge Trail on Saturna Island. (Eagle added later . . . .)

Page 12 – AQUA – April/May 2016

JOHN HARVEY PHOTO

View over Bedwell Harbour from Mount Norman, South Pender Island.

MOUNT NORMAN

MY FAVOURITE GALIANO ISLAND TRAILS The Galiano Tapovan Peace Park was opened in 2014 and is dedicated to peace activist Sri Chinmoy. A steep climb from Porlier Pass Road rewards the hiker with spectacular views over Trincomali Channel, presided over by a statue of the guru. From there a network of quiet forest trails, all named for “peace” in different languages, reaches across the spine of the island. Sri Chinmoy’s aphorisms are featured in brass plaques along the trails. A less strenuous and very popular trail loop takes the hiker from near the corner of Melissa and McCoskrie Road down to Cable Bay Beach, and thence along the shore to Pebble Beach, a favourite swimming destination for mid-island residents. A large map installed at the trail head by the Galiano Island Conservancy provides orientation and guidance for the return loop. — Submitted by Paul LeBlond of the Galiano Trails Society

The hike up Mount Norman accessed on South Pender Island just over the bridge if coming from North Pender is my favourite hike on the Penders. The trip up is steep — of course — but just about at the time when you start to grumble and your body starts to complain, you’re up! It’s lovely how they have built a platform with seats on the side at the top of the climb. A bench has never been more welcome. The views over to North Pender and down to Bedwell Harbour and then way beyond that to all the mountains and the San Juans are just amazing. Then you can retrace your steps, or if you are really energetic, you can carry on down a different trail. The walk back along the road, in this case, is a little tedious but at least there’s not much traffic. — Submitted by Cherie Thiessen of Pender Island

April/May 2016 – AQUA – Page 13

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AMBER OGILVIE PHOTO

View of Burgoyne Valley, Fulford Harbour and beyond from Mount Maxwell.

MOUNT MAXWELL/BURGOYNE BAY PROVINCIAL PARKS

PETER ARNELL PARK TRAILS

The trails in Mount Maxwell Provincial Park on Salt Spring Island feature a great variety of vegetation and views. There are three access points to these trails: from the end of Seymour Heights Road; from the end of Armand Way; and by vehicle on Mount Maxwell Road to the summit. The myriad trails are very well marked with map posts recently installed by the Salt Spring Trail and Nature Club. From different viewpoints and at the peak there are fabulous views of the Salish Sea, Mount Baker, Burgoyne Valley, Fulford Harbour, Burgoyne Bay, Vancouver Island and even Mount Rainier on a very clear day. Mount Maxwell trails can also be accessed from Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park, which itself has many kilometres of trails along both sides of Burgoyne Bay and through the old farmlands. Again, there are beautiful views and a variety of plant life. Huge boulders, which tumbled down Mount Maxwell centuries ago, are another attraction. — Submitted by the Hikers group of the Salt Spring Trail and Nature Club

Mid-island on Salt Spring is a collection of trails that lead through the forest with breathtaking ocean views east towards Galiano Island and Active Pass. A memorial cairn for surveyor Peter Arnell, who was accidentally shot by a hunter, is located across Stewart Road, just past the park sign. The hike from Peter Arnell Park, along the connector trail to the Bryant Hill Park loop, is a great workout for those wanting some extra challenge after completing the Arnell trail. Access to both Peter Arnell Park and Bryant Hill Park is from Stewart Road. Off-road parking is available behind a concrete barrier on the side opposite the trail entrance. — Submitted by the Walkers group of the Salt Spring Trail and Nature Club

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DOG-FRIENDLY SPOTS ON SALT SPRING ISLAND DUCK CREEK PARK

Entrance to Mouat Park trails from Rainbow Road near Ganges.

GAIL SJUBERG PHOTO

MOUAT PARK On the edge of Ganges’ downtown core, Mouat Park offers an eight-km network of short and long trails. From easy flat pathways to hill climbs, tempting those who seek a little more challenge, this park is accessible to all. Bring a picnic to enjoy on one of the many park tables, or you can play disc golf at the free public course. This is a dog-friendly trail where owners are asked to keep pets under control. The main entrance is on Seaview Drive, just past ArtSpring. Or walk-in access Goma at Duck Creek Park. is also available in the 200 block of Rainbow Road opposite the public pool. — Submitted by the Ramblers of the Salt Spring Trail and Nature Club

SEAN MCINTYRE PHOTO

The trail in Duck Creek Park offers shaded areas to enjoy seated on a bench or a well-maintained path leading to an open meadow. This is a dog-friendly trail where owners are asked to keep pets under control. Duck Creek is an easy trail that takes approximately 45 minutes to walk round-trip. Access is from either 209 Sunset Dr. or between 158 and 160 Broadwell Rd.

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SOUTHERN GULF ISLANDS ELECTORAL AREA

Mon

Capital Regional District

Mount Parke Regional Park

Park Amenities Bicycle Parking

Toilet

Information

Viewpoint

Parking

Trails By Designated Use Hiking Trail

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40 m

Old

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Lowl and Na ture Trail

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Trail

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Unofficial Trail (Not Maintained) Trails By Name (With Distance) Halliday Ridge Trail (2km) Lowland Nature Trail (1.3km) Old Gulch Trail (895m) Plumper Pass Loop Trail (2.2km) No Official Name

Halliday Ridge

Tra il

Mount Parke Regional Park

16 0m

Rd n Ba y

tros

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Horto

Trail ture d Na

Giant Arbutus

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Plumper Pass Community Park

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160m

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25 50

100

150

SPALDING ROAD, SOUTH PENDER ISLAND

This shadowy rainforest works its green magic in fog, rain or dappled sunshine. The main boardwalk leads to a deeply cut inlet where wet conditions feed a delicate waterfall cascading over cliff-face ferns and mosses. Retrace your steps and continue in the opposite direction through a tangled wetland alive with tree frogs and birdsong. Rustic benches let you breathe in the quiet. And if you truly believe in magic, you may even hear the tune of a bewitching flute. (Okay, so a local musician occasionally plays in the glade.) Enchanting . . . . — Submitted by Simone Marler of Pender Island

Metres 14

ENCHANTED FOREST PARK TRAILS

Map Features Road Contour (20m interval) Mount Parke Regional Park Area donated by Mary Jeffery (1992). Under joint management of CRD Parks and Mayne Island Parks and Recreation Commission Other Park/Protected Area

0m 18

22 0 m

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Lowlan

Plu mp er Pa

Rd 80

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40m

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Kim

Projection: UTM ZONE 10N NAD83

Disclaimer Important This map is for general information purposes only. The Capital Regional District (CRD) makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of this map or the suitability of the map for any purpose. This map is not for navigation. The CRD will not be liable for any damage, loss or injury resulting from the use of the map or information on the map and the map may be changed by the CRD at any time. Oct. 2014 I RP_website_MP_Layers.mxd I gis@crd.bc.ca

Simone Marler in the Enchanted Forest.

MOUNT PARKE Heather Harris of Mayne Island loves to hike in Mount Parke Regional Park on her home island. The CRD-owned park is 49 hectares (125 acres) in size and features the highest viewpoint on Mayne Island at 185 metres (600 feet). — Submitted by Heather Harris of Mayne Island

Turkey vulture chick discovered and photographed by Dave Manning.

A CLOSE ENCOUNTER I’m a senior who likes to saunter along trails. Besides, my wife boots me out of her hair occasionally to have some private writing time. So I found myself one summer day strolling along a forest trail on Pender. Out of the corner of my eye I saw some movement up on a rocky bluff. Through the Douglas fir branches, about 75 metres away, my binocular revealed two turkey vultures sunning themselves, wings spread wide. Being a birder, I always enjoyed watching them soar overhead, but I knew little about them. What were they up to? Eating something? Just soaking in the rays? Curiosity found me creeping through the trees to the base of the bluff, then scrambling up the steep rocky slope. The stones were loose and difficult to negotiate, but I stumbled upward. Suddenly I heard a strange noise, unlike anything I’d heard before. It seemed to be coming from a small cave opening up ahead.

Approaching to within a few feet of the cave, there at the entrance stood a white fuzz-ball of a creature, glaring black eyes, directing a unique hissing sound through its partially opened beak. I was stunned! I then made the connection between the two vultures and this singular little bundle before me, their offspring. By this time the two parents had flown and were circling high above. Not wanting to distress them or their chick further, I retreated down the slope and back to the trail, my heart pumping rapidly. From that day on, I was hooked on turkey vultures. That incident occurred years ago. By the way, I visited my little chick friend a few more times that summer. It finally grew up and flew off to join its parents in the sky. I continue to study vultures' behaviour, and yes, I am always on the lookout for another nestling in a nest cave. You never know what Mother Nature might offer up on a Gulf Island trail. — Submitted by Dave Manning

April/May 2016 – AQUA – Page 17

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Community

Getting Salt Spring Island Trails on the Map

By JEAN GELWICKS

of Island Pathways

ecause Island Pathways reps sit on the Trails Advisory Committee of the Salt Spring Parks and Recreation Commission, we have known for many years that the Visitor Information Centre and the Salt Spring Chamber of Commerce have wanted a map of all the walking and hiking trails on Salt Spring. Many visitors ask where they can hike and for years they have been handed odds and sods of photocopied material, but there has never been a proper map that included all the public trails on the island. It finally dawned on us that maybe we are the best and most equipped group to take on this project, since we already produce a road/bicycle map of Salt Spring Island, with roads and contours on it that we can use as a starting point for this new map. We have enticed a number of great Salt Spring Trail and Nature Club members, who have been GPSing the trails for years, to help us, and have contacted all the organizations that own property on the island that have public trails on them. They have all agreed to partner with us.

Our map will accurately show the location of public trails and describe each one, including trail-head locations, length and difficulty of walks, elevation gain, special features, natural history of the area and human history, if available and possible. The Duck Creek, above, and Duck Creek Park sunset, at top. map will also thank all our partners and give a brief description of each partnering group. Also exciting is the island’s Community Economic Development Commission plans to hold a Salt Spring Island Walking Festival that they hope might grow into the largest walking festival in B.C. We are planning that our map will be ready in time for this event in late September or early October. (Exact dates to be determined.) Anyone wanting more information about the map project can call me — Jean Gelwicks — at 250-537-4859, or send an email to gellam@saltspring.com. For information about the walking festival, email ecdevsaltspring@gmail.com. SEAN MCINTYRE PHOTOS

NEW MAP PROJECT AND WALKING FESTIVAL PLANS UNDERWAY

April/May 2016 – AQUA – Page 19

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Comfort Food

Max's Pasta FRESH FROM ITALY TO SALT SPRING STORY & PHOTO BY MARCIA JANSEN

You’d be surprised by how many different nationalities live on Salt Spring Island, and each one has their own comfort food.

ax Del Vecchio travelled back and forth between Milan and Salt Spring Island for 10 years before he took the leap and moved to Canada. He and his girlfriend at the time — a west coast girl whom he met when she was working as a model in Europe’s fashion capital — decided to settle on our little island. “Although I have been coming here since I was 25, actually living on Salt Spring was a bit of a culture shock. A different language, different customs and traditions, a different way of thinking. It took me a while to get used to the North American lifestyle.” Del Vecchio studied sculpture at the Accademia di belle arti di Brera in Milan, but life took him on a different path. A familiar one, though. “My family on my mother’s side owned two restaurants: one in Milan and one in Geneva, Switzerland. I practically grew up in my grandma’s restaurant. Every summer I helped out in the Marcia Jansen is restaurant in Geneva: setting tables, doing dishes, a Dutch journalist help in the kitchen and serving. By the time I and writer who was 14, I started to make my own recipes. I never has lived on Salt Spring since 2012. actually dreamt of opening my own restaurant, I wanted to make art. But when I was 21 I had the opportunity to open a café/bistro in the centre of Milan with a group of friends. I worked part time in the café while I was in university and after I graduated I decided to stay.” After he sold his part of the business and left Italy in 2008, he had to think of a way to make a living on Salt Spring Island. So he decided to get back to his roots and started his own restaurant, Del Vecchio Pasta Fresca, in Gasoline Alley. After he and his partner separated, he began to run Pasta Fresca with the help of his team. “I briefly thought of going back to Italy, but I see my future in Canada. I love Salt Spring Island. I embrace all the great things that the community has to offer, like yoga and meditation. I can leave my door unlocked, I can run a business close to the beach and in spring Salt Spring Island is the most beautiful place in the world.” Del Vecchio makes his fresh pasta with Canadian hard grain wheat semolina and local organic eggs.

“Another great thing about Salt Spring is that I can get all the premium ingredients I need from farmers on the island. It allows me to put the creativity I used for making art into my recipes.” Pasta is one of his favourite dishes from Italy and he still likes to drink a strong Italian coffee. “I don’t miss a lot from Italy. Maybe a good artisan gelato or some pastries, which I think are too sweet in Canada. And of course my family and friends in Milan. But I made new friends here, like the people I work with, and they feel like family too.”

PASTA PRIMAVERA 500 grams fresh pasta 1 can organic peeled tomatoes Extra virgin olive oil Pinch of rosemary Pinch of thyme 1 tsp. salt 2 garlic cloves 1 onion

3 carrots 1 leek 1 eggplant 2 zucchinis Pecorino romano or parmigiano reggiano cheese

Finely mince the garlic and simmer in extra virgin olive oil on low heat until it becomes golden in colour. Dice the onion, carrots and leek while the garlic is simmering. Add the chopped onions, 1 tsp. of salt, and a pinch of rosemary and thyme to the olive oil and garlic and simmer for 5 minutes. Then add the carrots and leeks and simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Add the can of peeled tomatoes and cook for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Add salt to taste. Slice or dice the eggplant and zucchini and sauté with olive oil and a pinch of salt, or bake until fully cooked. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil and add 1 tsp. of salt for every litre of water, cook the pasta until al dente and strain the water out. In a bowl, mix together the pasta and your preferred amount of sauce, then mix in the eggplant and zucchini, and set some aside for garnish. Put pasta on a plate and top with pecorino romano cheese or parmigiano reggiano. Buon Appetito! Max Del Vecchio with a dish of Pasta Primavera. April/May 2016 – AQUA – Page 23

Islanders

One

Step AT A Time

WALK THE PATH OF CARING WITH SALT SPRING FOOTPRINTS By PAT BURKETTE Photos by Jen MacLellan and David Borrowman

DAVID BORROWMAN PHOTO

EVERY DAY, OUR FEET WALK THE TALK, CARRY THE LOAD, EVEN RUN WITH THE LAMBS. We shoe up and forget

Page 24 – AQUA – April/May 2016

them, until of course, we have to hobble home. A visit to Salt Spring Footprints can help troubled tootsies become footloose and fancy free again. Owners Barbara and Marcus Poerschke are German-certified orthopedic shoe technicians who offer complimentary consultations, including foot assessment, gait analysis, and footwear advice and recommendations, at their shop on Lower Ganges Road. The Poerschkes’ skills are many. They custom-make orthotics, which are shoe inserts that correct walking patterns, relieve pressure points and reduce pain. They create their own unique line of orthotic sandals. They modify shoes with metatarsal supports and rockersoles. Then there are their custom-made toe separators and straighteners for problems like bunions and hammer toes. Does all that shoe stuff make you feel as challenged as a stepsister trying to fit the glass slipper? Orthotics 101 is a lot easier when you talk with the friendly and knowledgeable Poerschkes, who have more than 30 years of combined experience in their field.

JEN MACLELLAN PHOTO

RBC Dominion Securities Inc.

Above: Bolts of leather for making the shoes. Page 24: Barbara Poerschke with a pair of Salt Spring Footprints sandals.

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Marcus is quick to show, rather than tell, asking if he can take my footprint. Footprints, like fingerprints, are very individual images, which reveal foot pressure patterns and measurements. I mean, I knew there would be foot stuff happening when I took on this assignment. I made sure my socks didn’t have holes. But now, as I peel them off, I’m the antithesis of Buzz Aldrin, leaping to leave his mark on the moon. Instead, I’m babbling nervously about my flapjacks, and how I was told at the age of six that I’d make a good cop. Marcus is unperturbed. Apparently, people tend to be embarrassed about their feet. “After all these years, I’ve seen everything. Don’t worry!” he says reassuringly. The guy actually seems to be enjoying his work, smiling cheerfully and encouraging me to put my bare foot down on a paper-covered giant inkpad. “Every customer is new and exciting to me!” he enthuses. He quotes Leonardo da Vinci: “The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.” Marcus points to my arch on the blue inkprint. “See, here, it’s not really that flat.” He insists on taking a print of my other foot, admitting, “I’m a bit of a perfectionist.” If Marcus and Barbara were making me orthotics, I’d next place each foot in a foam box to create impressions for plaster. Plaster foot moulds are sanded and refined, incorporating information from the ink footprint. Then an orthotic can be created, using layers of materials keyed to the individual’s foot issues. With some orthotic basics under my soles, I get the Poerschkes’ backstory.

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JASON EASTON, MBA, CFP, CIM, FCSI Investment & Wealth Advisor 250-356-4914 jason.easton@rbc.com RBC Dominion Securities 500 - 730 View Street Victoria, BC V8W 3Y7

RBC Dominion Dominion Securities and Royal Royal Bank Bank of of Canada Canada are are separate separate corporate corporate entities entities RBC Securities Inc.* Inc.* and which are affiliated.*Member-Canadian *Member-Canadian Investor Investor Protection Protection Fund. Fund. RBC RBC Dominion Dominion Securities which are affiliated. Securities Inc. is is aamember member company company of Wealth Management, segment of Inc. of RBC RBC Wealth Management, aa business business segment of Royal Royal Bank Bank of Canada. trademarks of of Royal Royal Bank Bank of of Canada. Canada. Used Used under under licence. RBC of Canada. ®Registered ®Registered trademarks licence. © © RBC Dominion Securities Inc. 2014. All rights reserved. Dominion Securities Inc. 2016. All rights reserved.

April/May 2016 – AQUA – Page 25

DAVID BORROWMAN PHOTO

“EVERY CUSTOMER IS NEW AND EXCITING TO ME!”

Clockwise from above: Marcus Poerschke shapes the sole of a new shoe; putting the custommade orthotic into a boot; foot in foam box creates imprint for plaster. In centre of pages: Footprints' Mysticout shoe. (DAVID BORROWMAN PHOTOS)

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Page 26 – AQUA – April/May 2016

DAVID BORROWMAN PHOTO

JEN MACLELLAN PHOTO

— MARCUS POERSCHKE

The couple settled on the island in 2006, but Salt Spring Footprints has its roots in Germany, where Marcus and Barbara were born. Marcus’ family name, Poerschke, actually derives from either the Prussian word “Pareske,” meaning raffia sandal, or “Piriske,” meaning toe. Marcus, now 45 years old, grew up in Brochterbeck, a Westphalian village of 2,500 people, where his 80-year-old father still works as the village cobbler. The family once had a shoe store, but wartime injuries changed the German shoe business. “After the Second World War,” Marcus explains, "shoe making in Germany turned into the making of specialty footwear.” Marcus describes Brochterbeck as “a very lovely, neat village, very picturesque. Salt Spring feels familiar.” Barbara, who’s 35, grew up in Muenster, a city of 300,000 people. Barbara was not so quick to take on familial occupations, mostly in medical and scientific fields. “I wanted to be different,” she admits. “I wanted to work with my hands.” “By fluke,” she says, “I found out about a job as an apprentice orthopedic shoemaker. Being creative and helping people seemed like the perfect fit.” She completed her three and a half year apprenticeship and met Marcus while both worked at an orthopedic shoe company. But Marcus wasn’t content to stay in Germany. “I was always interested in working and living in a different part of the world,” he says. The couple got a one-year orthopedic shoe technician contract job in Kelowna, and when it ended, decided to travel in Canada and work on organic farms as “wwoofers.” While working at Moonstruck Cheese on Salt Spring, they found out Barbara was pregnant. “The first instinct was to go back to Germany,” says Marcus. But then, like it has for so many, the stars instantly lined up to keep them here. Barbara became a full-time cheese maker at Moonstruck, while Marcus got a job at the Village Cobbler in Ganges. The owner offered the couple a place to live near Lee’s Hill, and Marcus was soon also working at Garry Oaks Winery across the road. The Poerschkes welcomed daughter Mia, now nine, and then son Matteo, now seven.

“To have the orthotic incorporated into the sandal is very unique,” says Marcus proudly. For folks who don’t need custom-made orthotic sandals, Salt Spring Footprints offers some with a standard footbed. You can see and try on samples in the shop, or view the catalogue on the saltspringfootprints.ca website to choose style, size and colour before the Poerschkes make you a pair. These are impeccably crafted, great-looking, high-fashion sandals with a variety of uppers — strappy, studded leather, wild and gorgeous ankle swirls, Mary Janes and even clogs. Clients are welcome to suggest ideas too. Barbara incorporates recycled materials into her designs. Soles are made from recycled car tires. A sample sandal that caught my eye was made from green salmon leather. This is a strong, flexible, eco-friendly leather made by soaking and then tanning salmon skin, a discarded by-product in the fish industry. No matter its material, you’ll always find a tiny, perfect footprint sewn onto a Salt Spring Footprints sandal. It symbolizes the way the Poerschkes found their niche on the island — one step at a time — and also the way they run their business: with caring and craftsmanship.

JEN MACLELLAN PHOTO

After working at the Village Cobbler for three years, Marcus noticed a real demand for orthotics. He and Barbara decided the time was right to start their own business. “We felt we had to take things into our own hands,” he explains. Salt Spring Footprints was born, and has grown steadily, while also attracting clients and referrals from off island. “We are busy,” notes Marcus, “but it’s important to grow slowly and not be overwhelmed.” Part of their growth has been in Salt Spring Footprints’ unique line of orthotic sandals. Barbara’s love of design and high-quality craftsmanship came to the fore when clients repeatedly bemoaned a dearth of sandals that could fit orthotics. “Barbara always needs to make things,” Marcus says. “I’ve sewed all my own clothes, and made furniture,” says Barbara, “but making shoes, I get the person’s story. Every foot is different, and it is always interesting. I cannot make a sandal without seeing the person.”

Barbara and Marcus with racks of shoes they've made.

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Born to

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CARVE

SATURNA’S MASTER ARTIST TOM DUQUETTE Story by Cherie Thiessen Photos of Tom Duquette and guitars by Cherie Thiessen Art piece photos by Jen MacLellan

prawling over the decks of his premises atop the Saturna General Store, work is in progress everywhere. On the covered front deck, brightly coloured creatures, grinning heads and torsos tilt uneasily. A diminutive small figure frowns amongst the leaves of a plant while a “vision serpent” with a curved ochre hand clutches a smoking pipe. On the back deck a jumble of wooden objects lie askew. (Is that one a double-ended arrow? That one a face with huge lips?) The paint tins, the brushes, chunks of cedar, a tool box, a tin of verdant discarded paint “skins,” recycling boxes full of metal, tools, all the accoutrements of a

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compulsive artist who cares far more about creating than domesticity. He lives comfortably amongst his half-finished canvases and statues in a space peopled with mythical creatures, animals and spirits. I feel Duquette could no more put down a paintbrush or chisel than stop breathing. (Unless it’s to pick up one of his 10 guitars, but that’s another story.) And the variety, skill and scale of his work is staggering. Over 40 years of working in a myriad of media — acrylic paintings, exquisite silver jewellery, sculptures in every imaginable material: wood, concrete, alabaster, bronze, soapstone, marble, pipestone, jade and even bone and ivory — although these days he mainly carves in red cedar. In June of 2003, Matt Steffich of Salt Spring’s Steffich Fine Art (previously Thunderbird Gallery) hosted a retrospective exhibiting 25 years of Duquette’s work at ArtSpring. Amazingly, this was the artist’s first ever show. Steffich’s dedication and perseverance resulted in a staggering amount of works on display and an unforgettable exhibit. In the show's catalogue, the gallery owner writes of his awe, when he stood taking in the scope, the variety, the depth and the artistry of Duquette’s work. “I have marvelled at Duquette’s art for years, but even I was amazed by the scope of what we brought together. Duquette, by both dictionary definition and by simple observation, is a creative genius.” Some years later, in 2012, Duquette’s work was the feature exhibition at Mahon Hall during the annual Salt Spring Arts Council’s Easter Art Tour.

The artist, who was featured in National Geographic Magazine for his jade carvings, was also bestowed by Chief Frank Baker in 2001 with the title of Ghaiaanook (great carver), a true honour for a non-native artist. A look at some of his carvings explains both the feature and the esteemed title. What it doesn’t explain is how such an artist can live so humbly and be so self-effacing. He no longer even has a website. Tom Duquette could well be Saturna’s biggest kept secret. Born in 1940 in northern Ontario, the modest carver says he had a keen interest in art from infancy. He studied classical drawing, painting and sculpture at Toronto’s Central Technical Institute and soon afterwards became fascinated with indigenous art, travelling to art centres in the south, the west and to coastal areas like Prince Rupert, Kingcome Inlet and Alert Bay. “I was doing art when I was almost a baby and also at an early age had a keen interest in First Nations art and mythology,” Duquette explains. “I always enjoyed sculpture and spent a lot of time in the basement of the Royal Ontario Museum where the indigenous works were kept then. In the 1950s the government had very little interest in First Nations art and much of it got destroyed, but then the world started noticing it in the ‘60s when Expo came to Canada and Canadian cultural awareness suddenly surfaced, especially an appreciation of First Nations art. I wasn’t sure I had a future in that, but I just wanted to learn.” He was soon learning from Kwakwa’ka’waka Chief Frank Baker and spent years carving ceremonial pieces under his guidance. The acolyte

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wasn’t alone in assisting in the rebirth and understanding of Northwest Coast art; many non-native artists, writers and educators began to contribute and to help spread the message of the history, the uniqueness and the skill of this art form. He learned well, but he also synthesized what he learned with his own abstract vision and experiences in nature, combining First Nations ancient art with modern styles of expression while adding his own interpretations, resulting in an art that would soon be distinctive and admired. Even in some of the work he likes to call “west coast psychedelic expressionism,” the ancient influences can still be seen in some of the motifs that dominate even the most frenzied and explosive of his efforts, pieces like Wolf in the Sun or Charging Buffalo. But just when you think you understand the artist, you come across a work like the haunting Beast of Saturna, for example, a 24” x 18” acrylic depicting a stylized howling wolf-like beast surrounded by a land and seascape so realistic you could guess where it might be even without

the title. He reminds me of its origin, when a large wolf showed up on Saturna in 2000, killing pets and deer and howling into the night. The creature and its effect on the islanders intrigued Duquette and he followed the story and the chase until the wolf was finally killed on nearby Samuel Island. Duquette has an affinity with wolves from the days when he was prospecting in the Arctic and saw more wolves than humans, and from his time in Kingcome Inlet. “The Dzawada’enuxw people have lots of wolf twin origin myths. They gave me lots of stories from the inlet about the wolf twins and sometimes my art reflects that.” Not surprisingly perhaps, the artist’s life has been eclectic: from a motorcycle tour of America in his 20s, living off his sidewalk art and motorcycle painting, to the wild lands of Northern Canada and coastal Alaska, living off his prospecting, and from the archives of Toronto’s museums to the living Indian culture in Alert Bay. The artist has lived on Salt Spring, Galiano and in Sechelt before settling on Saturna eight years ago, but I

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At left: Red cedar piece called The Visionary. At right: Creek Woman at Steffich Fine Art. Page 31: Two Views sculpture. Page 30: Tom Duquette at work on a new carving.

have the impression he’s not rooted there, in spite of peopling his space with so much creativity. In the 1980s he even tried his hand, successfully, as an art director for television series and movies, starting out as a props and model maker and then moving up from assistant art director to art director. “I got into it because it was a way to combine doing my art with my dream to make movies. The money was good, but after 10 years I had had enough. Wanted to get back to my art.” (The movies included blockbusters like The Clan of the Cave Bear.) If the artist had never lifted a chisel to stone or bone, he would still richly deserve a place in Canada’s art history, but the “awe factor” doesn’t really sink in until you see some of his sculptures and are hit with the verisimilitude in his art: From the lifelike bronze faces of Raven Singer and Sea Chief to the incredible creativity of the Spanish alabaster sculpture Face and Hands, where the front is a haunting female face framed by her hands and the back is a fish swimming through sea plants. Duquette has taken his classical art training and skill and merged it with his fascination with aboriginal culture with startlingly original results and a clear message.

AND, OH YEAH – THOSE GUITARS. Duquette, whose fascination with guitars goes back almost as far as his need to pick up a chisel or brush, says: “I’ve been addicted to them all of my life. My favourites are Telecasters, a ‘50s-style guitar which has a unique tone to it. I also play a Gibson.” He plays on island with Saturna’s Breezy Bay Blues Band, and has also performed at Galiano’s Hummingbird Pub. For ferry schedules to Saturna go to www.bcferries.com. Contact the artist at 250-526-0230. Duquette is also represented by Steffich Fine Art on Salt Spring. Go to www.steffichfineart.com or call 250-537-8448.

Tom Duquette's collection of guitars in his Saturna Island home.

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Getaways

WOODS on Pender CHARACTER-FILLED ‘CAMPING’ WITH ONLY THE STUFF YOU LOVE By CHERIE THIESSEN WOODS on Pender photos

The richly wooded 7.3-acre property that used to be The Inn on Pender and Memories Restaurant has been looking vastly different since it sold in June of last year. Not only have the lodge and the restaurant undergone considerable modernization, but walking up the hill to what used to be the rustic cabins is like walking into a young urbanite’s dreamscape: their wanderlust catered for, their yearning for unpretentious luxury along with the no-nonsense traditions of marshmallows by the fire and woodsmoke-tinged shirts coming together. All the elements of an escape into the woods are here. The stuff you love without the stuff you hate. “I don’t know anyone in Canada who is doing what we’re doing,” says WOODS on Pender proprietor Curtis Redel. “There are components of what we do in other resorts: people have cabins, people have a lodge, people have a restaurant. It’s more than just the physical pieces of the puzzle; it’s the way we’ve branded it. It’s the whiskey sours. It’s the wine on tap. It’s the modern and vintage Airstreams and how they’re put together in the landscape. It’s the fact that no detail is overlooked inside them. “So it’s more the overall culture we’ve created that’s unique. These days what’s important in this industry is that culture around what you do. The market is very broad now. There are all these players who didn’t exist before April/May 2016 – AQUA – Page 35

“WE'RE A RESORT VERY SPECIFICALLY BRANDED FOR A SPECIFIC CULTURE.”

At left: One of the WOODS on Pender cabins. Next page: A mini WOODS on Pender tour of some of the accommodation possibilities, inside and outside, and a wonderful cappuccino from the Coffee & Kitchen. Page 35: Airstream Safari with adjoining deck and table-and-chair set.

— CURTIS REDEL

social media, like Airbnb, so in order to be interesting within that market you’ve got to be unique.” (Founded in California in 2008, Airbnb is a community marketplace branded for people on the hunt for unique accommodations around the world, online or from cell phones or tablets.) “Even though we have our own booking system we publish on Airbnb because that’s where the competition is. If we’re going to compete with everybody we might as well be where they are, right? We’re a resort very specifically branded for a specific culture.” And unlike “glamping,” the developer/owner points out, “we have the amenities of a luxury hotel but our luxury is not pretentious or contrived. We think ‘modern’ and ‘rustic’ can co-exist.” No expense has been spared to create this experience; no details overlooked. A former Vancouverite with a long history of employment in the hospitality business, Redel is no stranger to creating gourmet dishes, mixing special cocktails, welcoming VIP guests or selecting a good wine. He’s also a self-proclaimed OCD foodie: “I trained in the kitchen. It’s what I grew up with. I’ve always been a very specific foodie. Cooking to me is about your understanding of flavours and how they work together. Your understanding of where food comes from and what should be in it. What a menu should consist of. ” So what might a visit to Coffee & Kitchen look like? Expect an urban style, communal tables and interesting eclectic art on the walls, ranging from local photographers like Penderite Ani Feuermann to work by one of the masters of 20th-century photography, Edward Weston. Expect several excellent B.C. wines on tap. Expect ever-evolving new cocktails like Redel’s popular Smokey Maple Bourbon Sour, with Page 36 – AQUA – April/May 2016

new ones around the corner. “We’re creating one called The WOODS. It will be in an enamelware cup and will have fir tip syrup. It will feel like you’re in the forest.” Expect a chef ’s table dinner for aficionados of good local food. “We’re focusing on a foodie experience. When you come here it’s always fresh. Every single ingredient that we put into our food we hand pick or we understand where it comes from and who grows it. You’ll come here and I’ll cook for you. You’ll sit at the long tables and you’ll feel like you’re coming to a dinner party, the very opposite of going to a production restaurant where nobody knows you and you just show up, sit in a corner, have your dinner and leave. We want people to come and enjoy conversations. We want them to linger.” In the summer months the expansive back patio also opens up, offering diners an al fresco option. Redel also forged a successful career in Vancouver’s real estate business, so it was no surprise that when he was looking for an enterprise of his own he would consider combining the two: “Something that connected my past: a love of food and cocktails, and the knowledge and experience that comes along with that, and because I’m also a hard-core real estate investor, I was looking for something hands on, a physical project where I was actually working it versus buying a building and leasing it out and then having a property manager run it.” Now he gets up to make me the best cappuccino I’ve ever had. The bar’s been raised. I ask why he chose this 7.3-acre property and this island for WOODS, then sit back to savour my brew while his cools. “This property and Pender Island fit the

concept. You’ve got to get a good piece of dirt. I’ve looked at hundreds of properties in B.C. This is the only one that made sense for what I was trying to do. I needed zoning. I needed a rustic environment that was right for a camping experience because it had to have a sense of wilderness. And Pender has amenities. It’s 40 minutes to Victoria, it’s accessible, it’s got an infrastructure, so you don’t have to build all that within your resort. Another big plus is that it had water. You can’t create water. We have three wells.” “The resort has 20 units and six hot tubs (21 this summer and seven hot tubs, with a snazzy new large trailer coming on line) and can accommodate up to 60 people. “The beauty of the site is that we actually have three components here,” the owner points out. “We have the Airstreams and other trailer selections, we have the cabins with fireplaces and some hot tubs, and we have a lodge. So there are three different accommodation options.” The trailer selection option is impressive too, from the Christopher Deam-designed 25foot Airstream International Signature with its hot tub and views of Mount Baker to the tiny T@B Sleeping Pod. The larger sister trailer, a 27-foot Safari, is more popular with families, says Redel, and it can be paired with another Safari. Vintage lovers can get lost in nostalgia in their Shasta Airflyte, a 17-foot replica of the classic 1960s icon. In addition to their gleaming interiors and exteriors and their sylvan settings, the trailers are all air conditioned, have their own propane BBQs, fire pits (for those marshmallow roasts), double hammocks and cedar Adirondacks. Redel says it’s “camping with the stuff you love, without the stuff you hate.” By mid-January, WOODS already had 13 group functions on the books and was getting three to four requests per day for bookings. Inquiries about hosting weddings are among the calls. “That has never happened before,” notes Redel. Sometimes going into the woods can be full of surprises.

COFFEE & KITCHEN “It’s a coffee house by day with fresh baking and light meals, like a high-end urban coffee bar, but we also have a full-service kitchen for dinners,” says chef and WOODS owner Curtis Redel. The restaurant also has an upstairs board-game lounge for guests, and in the warmer months guests and visitors spill outside to eat, drink and visit at communal tables in the large patio area. Special things are planned for the summer: three-day stays with juice cleanses, smoothies, coffee house menus. WEBSITES: WOODS on Pender: www.woodsonpender.com. This comprehensive site contains everything you’d want to know about WOODS as well as social media links. B.C. Ferries schedules: www.bcferries.com Pender Island info: www.penderislandchamber.com Airstream site: www.airstream.com

April/May 2016 – AQUA – Page 37

Q&A

Linda Quiring is the current president of the Salt Spring Trail and Nature Club and has traversed countless miles of island trails and beyond. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HIKING ON SALT SPRING ISLAND’S TRAILS AND HOW OFTEN DO YOU GO OUT NOW? A. I have been hiking on Salt Spring for about 40 years and I joined the hiking club around 1979. These days I mostly walk my English pointer on Channel Ridge trails. No more mountain climbing since I have challenged my knees. Q. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE SPOTS TO EXPLORE ON SALT SPRING AND WHY? A. My favourite spots include a 100-foot waterfall in the Musgrave area surrounded by enormous ancient maples covered in ferns and mosses. Another is the island’s largest oak in a meadow of wildflowers with incredible views of Vancouver Island. The secluded and elusive Jasper Mine is fascinating to dig through, but best of all is a 78-acre private reserve of 500-yearold firs that has never been logged. Q. YOU ARE ALSO REPORTEDLY A WILD MUSHROOM EXPERT. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SALT SPRING MUSHROOM AND WHERE DO YOU FIND IT? A. I have been told I am just enough of an expert. I don’t know the difference between the shapes of spores under an electron microscope, or the name of the mould that grows on dog feces, but people just want to know: Can I eat it? Will it kill me? Mostly I know this. My favourite ‘shroom is the chanterelle. It grows prolifically on Salt Spring under second-growth firs in the salal on northwest-facing slopes. I have also found, once in decades, a Japanese fungi called The Big Laughing Gymnopilis, said to cause foolish behaviour and unmotivated laughter. Honestly, I picked and dried some for a friend, but have never tried it myself. Page 38 – AQUA – April/May 2016

Linda Quiring at Cap Rock in Joshua Tree National Park, California, the site of a memorial for late musician Gram Parsons.

PHOTO COURTESY LINDA QUIRING

Out and About

Q. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR OTHER FAVOURITE SPOTS FOR HIKING? A. We have hiked a bit on Vancouver Island, the Avatar Grove, which is like being on another planet, and the Port Renfrew area, but mostly hike in southern California where my husband Bill and I go each winter. Joshua Tree is a favourite spot, along with the famous Palm Canyons, which are hidden palm oases deep in the desert. Miles of winding canyons where we hope for no flash floods. Plus, it’s warm! Q. HOW ELSE MIGHT PEOPLE ON SALT SPRING AND BEYOND KNOW LINDA QUIRING? A. I founded Saltspring Soapworks and made and sold soap on Salt Spring for 35 years. I stopped a logging truck during the Texada wars in front of my soap shop. Wrote a book with New Age guru Sydney Banks in 1974, which has just been republished. A second book, Beyond Beliefs, will be out later this spring. We live on a small farm, part of a 100-year-old orchard of heritage apples. We garden and won the Salt Spring Fall Fair farm trophy four or five times, and grow red Fife wheat. I cook sometimes for the Tibetan Buddhist monastery on Mount Tuam. Lama Phuntsok liked my kale and potato soup. Q. IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT SALT SPRING ISLAND, WHAT WOULD THAT BE? A. What!? Change something? I don’t think so. Q. WHAT DOES A PERFECT DAY CONSIST OF FOR YOU? A. Sleep in. Bowl of homemade granola. Weed the cabbages, pick some blueberries. Take Ranger for a walk. Spend some time in the hives working with the bees, my real passion in life now. Sign a few petitions to stop logging in the Walbran or some pipeline or other. Ride our bikes along Walker’s Hook Road by the sea to Fernwood Road Café and meet our friends for coffee. Have the kids — Gary, Amber and their son Owen — over for dinner, a local organic chicken and home-grown veggies. Watch a Werner Herzog movie, then read Rudolf Steiner awhile. Zzzzzzz.

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