Ganges in Canada to Friday Harbour in the US, via Sidney

Two days in one, because we spent a lot of time waiting around for ferries, and didn’t do a lot of cycling. As we spent two extra days in Vancouver, the ferry schedule has flipped to the summer times, and so there’s not a ferry to Friday Harbour until 5:55pm tomorrow.

It rained overnight in Ganges, but mercifully stopped when we were packing up. We cooked scrambled eggs for breakfast, and then headed out for a short ride to Fulford Harbour for the trip back to the mainland.

A typical day round here: cloud low down on the trees, cold when the sun isn’t out.

Then off the ferry to our campground at McDonald State Park, a couple of miles outside Sidney. The tent pegs are persuaded to go in with a small rock, and then we head into town to look around, buy food and check the ferry times. Again.

An early evening meal and lots of sleep were on the agenda, so back to the campsite. Overnight, we had heard a MASSIVE bird call outside. It was an owl, apparently, but if so it must have been about 8 feet high. The following morning we were up at a leisurely time to cook breakfast (bacon and eggs, this time), pack up and head into town.

More hanging around, drinking coffee and chatting to the very kind and interested locals, and then finally we clear US immigration and we’re on the ferry to Friday Harbour.

A short ride from the ferry, and our destination, the Wayfarer’s Rest hostel. We’ll probably stay here for a couple of days to take in some kayaking, whale watching and riding round the island.