Ganges

Ganges, as the only significant town on Saltspring, is a natural hub. From our place at St. Mary Lake, we need to drive through Ganges to get to the south end of the island. It's only about a ten minute drive from the lake - rush hour or not. It's the only place to get groceries and pretty much the best place for good coffee and good WiFi (increasingly important, even when pretending to be off the grid). Of course, it's where we often go to eat, whether it's Alberta Beef at Auntie Pesto's or fish tacos at the food cart.

We get our dose of the Saturday Market at both ends of our week. When we arrive, we swing through briefly, knowing we'll have more time a week later before heading for the ferry.

This year, I enjoyed several early mornings at Cafe Talia, which was a little quieter and less trafficked than the usual options (Salt Spring Roasters and TJ Beans). I was joined on a couple days by Bacchus, who was pretty much the same color as the foam on my latte and liked the idea of climbing on my lap and sitting on my iPad.