The Transition Salt Spring - EV Group
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Welcome to the Victoria EV Association - Salt Spring Island Day
(a Victoria EV Association members event
)

Please consider coming over on an early ferry, drive down our rural, curvy, farmie, forested roads and make the EV-drive a key part of your visit here.  If you encounter one of  the many farm stands, drop in and see if there is some treasure you need.  Consider visiting the famous Saturday Market for all sorts of high quality eclectic artisan goods.  The plan is to arrive at the Fernwood Road cafe about 11 am.  After the meet-up, consider stopping by a winery or cidery for some tasting on the  way back home (designated driver ?)

HINT: The following document has underlined text which, with a quick press, will take you to additional information. 

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THOSE DARN FERRIES

    - from Vancouver Island (either Crofton or the Sidney terminal), you only pay to get on the island.  Returning on either ferry is free.
    - if you continue on to Vancouver via the Long harbour ferry, your fee is already partially paid.  Cool  eh !
    - ferries to SSI get really busy, so please be at the terminal way before your departure time.
    - reservations are not allowed on the Crofton or Fulford ferries.
    - maybe ride-share with other nice and friendly EV owners.
​







​


​Swartz bay Terminal
    Heading to Salt Spring Island:  7am, 9am, 11am.  Recommended arrival = +1 hour before sailing
    Returning: 10 minutes to the even hour.  Example: 11:50.  Same recommendation

Crofton terminal
   Morning heading to Salt Spring Island: 6:40, 7:40, 8:55, 10:10, 11:25 
   Afternoon Returning: 1:35, 3:00, 4:15, 5:30, 6:45, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30 


RECOMMENDED FUN ROUTES FROM THE FERRY DOCKS TO THE FERNWOOD ROAD CAFE (and back again)

The fun routes are not direct to the Fernwood Road Cafe.  If you are in a hurry, your GPS should work fine.  If you take any of the options, the route time and distance will change.  Most roads are not suitable for the current version of Telsa Autopilot.

SWARTZ BAY ----> Fulford Harbour
     Estimated route time to meet-up location without options: 44 minutes

     0.0 zero odometer as you leave the ferry lot and drive through Funky Fulford Village
     0.2 turn RIGHT onto Beaver Point Road
     1.7 passing Stowell Lake.  We have floating concerts on the lake sometimes.
                Now you have three OPTIONS .... 
     2.8. Option #1 stay on course.  Turn LEFT onto Stewart Road and drive over the pass (normally no snow in September).  

                      Option #2 - visit Salt Spring Cheese Farm  (explore your inner goat)
                             Continue down Beaver Point Road
                             0.1 turn RIGHT onto Reynolds Road 
                             1.0  turn LEFT up short drive to the Cheese Farm  
                                    Paved NARROW Road.  Exercise caution.
                             reverse course to Stewart Road and turn RIGHT (add 2.7 to odo and adjust your arrival time)
                       Option #3 - visit Ruckle Park
                              continue down Beaver Point Road
                              0.6 Pass Weston lake

                              drive on about 2 km, enter into park, park in day use area and walk to the on-shore camping area - add 1 - 1.5 hours.
                              reverse course to Stewart Road and turn RIGHT (add 6.6 to odo and adjust your arrival time)
           
       6.3 turn RIGHT onto Cushion Lake Road
       7.1 turn LEFT onto Beddis Road *
       12.2 turn RIGHT onto Fulford-Ganges Road 
       13.3           Option: visit Famous Salt Spring Saturday Market (add 1 hour, the first 1/2 hour finding a parking spot),
       13.6 turn LEFT Rainbow Road
       16.7 turn RIGHT onto Booth Canal Road
       17.6 cross over Swan Point Bridge
       18.0 turn LEFT onto Lower Ganges Road
       19.0 turn LEFT at the 4 way stop (our most complicated intersection) onto Vesuvius Bay Road (pass St. Mary's Lake, our largest)
       22.1 turn RIGHT onto Sunset Drive
       27.8              Option: visit Sunset Farm - all the things you can do with Lamb and other stuff
       28.8              Option: turn LEFT onto Southey Point Road and then LEFT on Arbutus Rd to the end and walk in.  
                            View North to Thetis, Kuper, Gabriola and the Secretaries.  Add 3 minutes driving time.
       29.8              Option: turn LEFT onto North End Farm (great farm stand, cinnamon bun opportunity)
       31.3 turn LEFT onto North Beach Road
       34.4 reach destination (Fernwood Road Cafe).  Hopefully about 11 am.

       * INTERESTING FACTOID.  Part of Beddis Road is privately owned.  Hint: where the speed bumps are.

CROFTON ----> Vesuvius
       Estimated route time to meet-up location without options: 16 minutes

       0.0 zero odometer as you leave the ferry lot and drive through Sunny Vesuvius 
       0.5 turn LEFT onto Sunset Drive
       6.2              Option: visit Sunset Farm All the things you can do with lamb and other stuff

       7.0              Option: turn LEFT onto Southey Point Road and then LEFT on Arbutus Rd to the end and walk in.  
                          View north to Thetis, Kuper, Gabriola and the Secretaries.  Add 3 minutes driving time.

       8.1               Option: turn LEFT onto North End Farm (great farm stand, cinnamon bun opportunity)
       9.6 turn LEFT onto North Beach Road
       12.6 reach destination (Fernwood Road Cafe).  Hopefuly around 11 am.

Way back from meet-up to CROFTON Ferry
        Estimated route time without options: 19 minutes

        0.0 depart to the South-East onto Walkers Hook Road
        5.0 turn LEFT onto Robinson Road
        7.3 turn RIGHT onto Leisure Lane
        8.2 turn LEFT onto Kings lane
        8.4 turn RIGHT onto Blain Road
        8.6 turn RIGHT onto Lower Ganges Road
        8.8         Option: turn right and up the road to Kutatas Wines 
        9.5         Option: turn left at Sharp road and visit Salt Spring Wild (cider)
        10.9 turn LEFT at the 4 way stop (our most complicated intersection) onto Vesuvius Bay Road
        14.3 enter ferry traffic line

Way back from meet-up to FULFORD Ferry
        
Estimated route time without options: 26 minutes
        0.0 depart to the South-East onto Walkers Hook Road
        5.0 turn LEFT onto Robinson Road
        7.3 turn RIGHT onto Leisure Lane.
        8.2 turn LEFT onto Kings lane
        8.4 turn RIGHT onto Blain Road
        8.6 turn LEFT onto Lower Ganges Road, drive through Ganges
        12.0        Option: visit Salt Spring Apple Company
        16.0        Option: visit Salt Spring Shine distillery
        18.6         Option: visit Salt Spring Vineyards
        18.7         Option: visit Garry Oaks Winery
        19.7         Option: visit Salt Spring Brew House  
        24.0 enter ferry traffic Line   
​
===========
        INTERESTING FACTOIDS.  Our SSI  taxi company has 2 EV’s, a Kia Soul EV and a Tesla Model 3.  Three real estate agents drive EV’s, a Kia Soul EV, a Nissan Leaf and a Tesla Model 3.  Two delivery services drive  a Tesla Model 3 a Tesla Model Y and a Fiat 500e.

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SOME FUN THINGS TO SEE AND DO:
​
    Ruckle Park.  A great place to walk around and enjoy the views out to the islands south of us.  Fabulous camping.
    Baker Beach.  Another interesting beach walking over the resulting striations that in historical times, created the Gulf Islands.
    Daffodil Point.  A 1/2 hour somewhat strenuous walk out to a view to Vancouver Island.  Springtime the point is covered in Daffodils.
    Mt. Erskine hike.  Come see the famous fairy doors (follow hiking route #1) as you hike to the 436 meter summit.  Views from Vancouver Island to the other Southern Gulf Islands to the Mainland.   Don’t forget to sign your name in the plumbing fixture at the top.  Set aside at least 2 hours for this activity.
    Salt Spring Cheese farm.  Complete with goats, cheese tasting and a pizza restaurant.
    The Tree House Cafe.  The tree house cafe is a core destination in down town Ganges.  Eat under the stars while listening to live music, every night of the summer. 
    Moonshine Mama's Elixir.  Hard to describe how wonderful this is.  Turmeric meets a sweetener of exotic variety.  Available at the Country Grocery store and even on Vancouver Island.
    The Famous Salt Spring Saturday Market.  What can I say ?  About 200 vendors.  Produce, breads, artisan goods, ciders, spirits, very strange foods.  The rules are: anything sold must "made", "baked" or "grown" on Salt Spring Island.
    Food Vans.  From massive burritos at Pacos Tacos, Putin Plus (Poutine), Japanese street food (Kitchen Kodama) , Ganges Grill (Curries) and Als’ Falafels, our food trucks are ready with prepared delicacies.
    Art Galleries.  Robert Bateman (Smart EV Driver) is just the start.  Jill Louise Campbell, Carol Evans, lead the pack of our talented painters and sculptors.  Check out the Razali’s Gallery 8 and next door Steffich Fine Art Gallery. Both in Grace Point Square in down town Ganges.
    Drive to the top of Mt Maxwell.  Not a good road and probably only suitable for AWD vehicles.  Great view from the top. 
    Farm Stands.  They are sprinkled all over the island and sell a wide variety of produce including farm eggs that have never seen a cage, home made food and products.  My wife is addicted to the cinnamon buns at North End Farm.  They come out at 10am and you are lucky to find one at 11 am..
    Moby's Pub and Oyster Bar.  Can’t drive by a pub without stopping in ?  Moby’s is famous for their duck wings and sauce.  Sauce available for purchase.  Moby’s has a Tesla destination chargers for your use.
    The Salt Spring Apple Company. A Tesla Destination charger and J1772 are there for your use while you tour the orchard and taste some yummy cider.  
    Big Bear and the Wolf​, a family owned business creating artful children's clothes and wall hangings.  Just drop in and read their creative and loving poems and wish you were a kid again.  In Ganges mall alongside the Saturday market
    
Salt Spring Wild (cider) and visit their open backyard tasting room.
    Buzzy’s.  The best Smoked Meat this side of Montreal.  A Hungry Jew should just about fill any void you have.  Don’t forget to check the jokes on the wall.
    Ice Cream.  Both Harlan's chocolates (and Gelato) and Glads are island institutions.  Located in down town Ganges.

    INTERESTING FACTOID.  We have 18 free Level 2 charging wands in 12 Locations.  4 are Tesla destination.  The vendors love to offer this free service to their customers.  The locations are listed at: ​www.ssiev.ca/free-charging-stations.html.     

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Had a great time ?  Thanks for coming.  Next weekend is the Fall Fair, which generally attracts up to 10,000 for the weekend.  Zucchini races and sheep dog displays are not to be missed.  On Sunday, October 4th, we have the Salt Spring Apple Festival​ (+300 varieties of Organic apples, lots of farms, most have food).

Wanna watch our You Tube EV celebration clip ?  ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5fpLWBldzg


​
Still Reading ?  You are wonderful.  I am very interested on how your day went.  Was it fun ?  Could it be improved ?  Please send any or all comments to: jstanden@ucalgary.ca.
​



​Salt Spring Island EV Group
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  • Home
    • Overview
    • Why EV >
      • Some Financial Considerations
      • Environmental Considerations
      • Questions & Answer
  • Ask
  • EV Tips
    • 2021 Vehicles
    • Buying USED
    • Buying NEW
    • TESLA >
      • Tesla Sales and Servicing
    • EV Maintenance Tips
    • EV Winter Tips
    • Did You Know ?
    • Registering Your EV
    • Maximizing Range
    • EV's and Emergency Power
  • EV Charging
    • Free Charging Stations
    • Charging Station Donation Boxes
    • Level 2 Charging at Home
    • Salt Spring Electricians
    • Traction Battery Tips
    • Zap BC
  • Media
    • Driftwood Articles >
      • June 26, 2019, Climate Change and Electric Vehicles
      • July 24, 2019, The Air we Breathe
      • August 21, 2019. Going the Distance.
      • September 25, 2019. Show me the Money
      • October 23, 2019. EVs in Cooler Times
      • November 26, 2019 - Charging Ahead
      • January 22, 2020, Plug-in Hybrids
      • February 26, 2020 - Whats Up for 2020
      • Feb 26, 2020 Driftwood Article Links
      • March 25, 2020 - The Dangerous Journey from Walking to Self-Driving Cars
      • April 22, 2020. Moving the Goods
      • May 27, 2020. Our Possible Electric Future
      • Victoria EV Assn SSI Day
      • SSI EV Ownership - 2022 Report
    • Priorities
    • Links
    • AGM
    • Driftwood Letters >
      • July 10, 2019 - Response to Gary Gagne
    • Watershed Sentinel (April, May, 2019)
    • How It Happened
    • 2018 EV Statistics Report
    • TSS AGM
    • SWOT
    • Achievements - 2018
    • Achievements - 2019
    • Achievements - 2020
    • Achievements - 2021
    • Achievements - 2022
    • Achievements - 2023
    • 2021 - GHG Fleet Calculation
    • Educational Videos
    • Myths
    • Efficiency Run
    • 2022 - Update EV Count
  • Business Use
  • Contact
  • FSD - Road Lines