There’s No Place Like Home
The sunrise was gorgeous on Saturday.
So we decided to take a trip over to see Lasqueti Island. We’d read about their wonderful farmers market and wanted to check it out. There are only about 350 permanent residents and no car ferry, so we boarded the Centurion VII ( they need to bump it up a notch and launch the Centurion VIII), with Finn and Lucy in tow.
The trip took an hour…a long, loud hour and freaked the dogs out because we had to stay back by the engines. Oh boy, this seems like a fun day already.
I spotted this sign on the dock as we were unloading.
Okay…this looks like a friendly place.
It’s a little smaller than I was expecting but had some wonderful organic veggies and baked goodies.
Observing the crowd ( I adore people watching) visiting with their neighbors and catching up on each others news, I realize several things in quick succession.
- I am the only woman there wearing mascara.
- I am one of the few women who is not barefoot or wearing flip-flops.
- I am one of the very few women wearing a bra and the only hair colors used in this crowd are blue, purple and fuchsia. Sort of funny, but I felt just a tad out-of-place.
OK, heading back down to the pub for some lunch I spot…
Yes, that’s a pet sheep wearing a harness on a leash. Interesting for several reasons not the least of which was that my dogs were the only ones that were on leashes. Apparently the sign on the dock was only for tourists!
Onward down to the promised pub, we find they serve no food until 3pm. It’s 11 am, I’m starved and the return Ferry isn’t until 4pm. What’s a girl to do?
And oh yes, and the dogs can’t come on the deck of the pub so, “here you go honey”, I enjoy a lovely glass of wine while we wait for food and the ferry. Interesting glassware and it didn’t affect the taste..one little bit.
So Lucy, Finn and I sat on the lawn watching the local children trying to kill themselves having fun, climbing up on top of a phone booth, on the dock, and plunging into the harbor.
Pretty painting on the dock building. That’s Nathan taking the plunge! Another glass of wine later…
It’s lovely and warm sitting in the sun. And even though I have my full sun force shield on, (the largest hat I own and scarf to cover my neck), I lay down just to rest my eyes. I can hear the kids splashing and laughing. Finn and Lucy lay down too.
My husband calls, “Honey, they’re serving food now”. Which wakes me up just in time to catch this below!
This “gentleman” not 2 feet from his own boat, letting his nature call into the harbor next to the little swimmers. Classy to be sure, but hello! Use your own boat… there are children swimming all around you not to mention adults nearby.
“I’m not really hungry sweetie, you go ahead. Just please get me another glass of Chardonnay?”
I kept my head down while enjoying another glass (how many was that?) of their fine white wine and that’s when I spotted something really out-of-place.
I’m pretty certain I was the only putz person who was wearing Prada loafers to this farmers market.
~ Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.~
The ferry ride home was long and just as loud, but way more enjoyable because I knew my deck awaited with another glass of wine while I roasted the fabulous tomatoes we bought at the farmers market.
Sure enough, they were having a little sailboat race off my deck for my enjoyment to watch while the tomatoes roasted and the sky turned colors.
~There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home…~
Do you alter what you wear to blend into the crowd?
Lasqueti can indeed be an interesting place to visit… always a bit odd. I have had a place there for the last 19 years and I STILL don’t fit in. That might have to do with wearing a bra and not dressing like a hippie… but in any case I know how you feel. I agree with you on the leash bit, Olive is likely the only pet on a leash at the markets, but that is more for the veggies’ protection that anything else. Usually she is a very well behaved little sheep, but sometimes a head of lettuce is just toooo tempting to pass up.
I wish we had met during your short visit so your puppies could have met Olive (said sheep on a leash). She really does love dogs (she has two of her own) and I think it might have added a little more awesome strange to your trip.
I can vouch for the high quality of the Salt Spring market, it is a teeeensy bit bigger than ours…. OK its huge. BUT you will not get to see or meet any friendly sheep out for a stroll.
Should you want to see more pictures of her or learn more about this little cutie sheep, she has a facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/olivethewool
I’m sorry I didn’t meet you too!
Is Olive your sweetie? Do you live on Lasqueti full time? Olives Facebook page is wonderful. I didn’t look all the way through and will go back to read more. I had been hoping to buy some local wool while there, do you use her wool? I’m guessing so just based on her Facebook name.
This must fall into the small world category I’m certain. Nice to meet you.
wow, what a place!!! Looks like you had a very interesting visit