Salty Towers Oceanfront Cottages: Report: Vancouver Island B&B

June 2008, Salty Towers Update

2008-06-02T12:46:00.000-07:00

Hiking and biking the South Coast of Vancouver Island is a world class experience. The experience can vary form a walk around Sooke, to biking the Galloping Goose Trail, or to a multi-day hike of the West Coast Trail or the Juan de Fuca Trail. The options are limitless and the scenery is amazing.

You can walk around Sooke on the new Boardwalk, up to the Sooke Pot Holes Park along the Galloping Goose Trail, or choose among a variety of nature trails and parks in the Sooke area.

The more adventurous can head up into the Sooke Hills along the Kludak Trail or explore the many beach trails such as a day hike to Botanical Beach. There is no end to the hiking, biking, and outdoor possibilities from Sooke to Port Renfrew.

Sooke Community Trails and Walking Guide

List of Parks and Trails from the Salty Towers website

May 2008 Fish Tales

2008-05-29T08:07:00.000-07:00

Sidetrack made the trip back from Victoria to Sooke on Saturday after two weeks of annual maintenance. They stopped of at one of the Halibut holes on the way by and dropped the anchor. Ron and his guests were rewarded with an 82 pound halibut, a great way to start the season. Sidetrack will be out searching for trophy Chinook Salmon now that the weather has warmed up the big fish are arriving.

Sooke's Winter Diving from Salty Towers

2007-12-13T21:16:00.000-08:00

Diving the West Coast is amongst the most rewarding diving in the world. The water is cold, but the diving is exceptional.

Simon, David, and I made a couple of interesting dives in the Sooke area last week. We boarded the "Reef Seeker" at our dock and within five minutes, we were setting anchor and ready to explore. Fortunately, the weather was perfect, with a clear sky and calm seas. Visibility down deep was almost as good as up top and there was plenty to see. The highlight was finding a couple of Puget Sound King Crab.

We are anxious to get out there again soon, as there are endless dive sites along the south coast waiting to be explored. On the way back to the dock, David questioned "I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be without sponges"?

New Dock / Art Show

2007-11-03T22:43:00.001-07:00

Hello From Salty Towers

We've been busy rebuilding our dock. It is coming along slowly and surely. It looks great and promises to be an excellent platform for Sooke salmon fishing adventures for many years to come.

In terms of what's going on around Sooke, the Stinking Fish Studio Tour has another round coming up in late November. This is a very impressive art show and is highly recommended. Bring your chequebook, as these treasures are hard to resist!

Happy November to one and all.

Maggie and Neil

Fall Tour 2007
November 23^rd to 25^th
10 am - 5 pm

MAP/BROCHURE | SPONSORS/LINKS | ART EVENTS | CONTACT | WHY STINKING FISH?

Metchosin and East Sooke are located in a beautiful coastal area of Vancouver Island near Victoria, BC. Many artists and artisans have chosen to live and work here, finding inspiration amidst the rolling landscape and lush rain forests near the sea. The Stinking Fish Studio Tour features the best of fine art and fine craft on the southern island, surrounded by its natural beauty.

Come explore one of the richest “art trails” on the island – meet the artists, see their work and take some home with you! Admission is free. All are welcome. Artworks are for sale.

All Stinking Fish artists are juried by peer professionals to assure the highest quality in fine art and fine craft. Follow the Stinking Fish MAP to find unusual gifts and treasures you won’t find anywhere else! Search for sample galleries and info on artists by ARTIST, MEDIUM or STUDIO.

www.stinkingfishstudiotour.com

Sooke: Gateway to Canadian Fall/Winter Surfing

2007-10-21T21:14:00.000-07:00

Little known fact...not many people would consider jumping into the Pacific Ocean in the middle of a Canadian winter, but that's what a whole bunch of people around here do. Just to the west of Sooke is some of the best surfing in Canada. This isn't California and surfing around here isn't about hot sun in the summertime. In fact, there is little or no surf in Juan de Fuca Strait in summer -- when the leaves start to fall and the temperature dips, that's when the Gulf of Alaska wakes up and starts reeling storms westward, bringing rainy weather and waves.

The water is cold year-round, requiring 5mm hooded wetsuits, booties, and gloves. But on its day, the waves make up for it. The jewel in the crown is Jordan River, a rivermouth point break that on its day can offer rides 200-300 metres or more. Sombrio Beach is consistently bigger, offering several powerful reef breaks. At the end of the road is Port Renfrew, with its freezing river water, strong current, but once in a while legendary waves.

The surf west of Sooke isn't as easily accessible or beginner friendly as the beach breaks in Tofino. However, the breaks offer great views of the surfing action, with the waves breaking close to shore. Essential items for winter surf watchers: umbrella, rubber boots, toque, thermos of hot coffee, and a little cash for after, to buy a bellyfull of fish&chips at Shakey's Drive-In (at Jordan River).

So, stormwatchers out there -- keep your eyes on the weather channel. When you see those big low pressure systems swirling in the Gulf of Alaska, a couple of days later you're certain to see a few dozen trucks speeding west on Highway 14, heading to the watery playgrounds beyond Sooke.

Fall Fishing Update

2007-10-04T22:00:00.000-07:00

ith September behind us, the big Springs have headed up the rivers to spawn. Next month will be winter fishing for the always plentiful feeder Chinooks. October is Coho season.

The thrill of battling a Great Northern Coho weighing in the mid twenty pounds is as good as it gets. A quick morning trip with Mark and Sharon of Footloose Salmon Charters, with the Strait of Juan de Fuca flat calm, produced some real nice fish.

Just the kind of morning fishing that we dream about!

Salty Towers, What's New in September

2007-09-19T19:43:00.000-07:00

We had a visit from Brian & Brenda the other weekend. We always look forward to their visits to Vancouver Island. Maggie and Brenda ran away to check on some of the fabulous Art Galleries and Studios in the Sooke area. Brian and Neil did a little fishing, of course, and then took in one of Sooke's newest, fun attractions, ZipWest Eco Adventures. We spent two hours zooming through the tree tops, what a blast!

We also had a Salty Towers dock work party last weekend, and in six hours replaced the entire dock surface. A lot of tired "old salts" that evening, but a job well done.

Sooke Fall Fair and Stinking Fish Art Tour

2007-09-05T22:42:00.001-07:00

What's going on in Sooke this weekend!

Welcome to the Sooke Fall Fair Official Website.

Established in 1913, the Sooke Fall Fair is one of the Sooke community's longest running annual events and has been a staple of the rural life of Sooke residents for longer than most people can remember. It continues to maintain its reputation of being one of the best "small town" agricultural fairs in BC.

In keeping with this year's theme of "Down to Earth" reflecting the International Year of the Planet Earth, there will be themed entries in most sections. New for 2007 is a Literary Arts Section which encompasses all aspects of the written word, from short story, poetry and journalist to musical lyrics.

Raffle tickets now on sale!

And keep this amazing Art Tour in mind for November.

Fall Tour 2007
November 23^rd to 25^th
10 am - 4 pm

Report from Salty Towers dock

2007-09-05T18:20:00.000-07:00

A very busy August is now behind us. Finally there was a little time to fish with Ron at Sidetrack Charters and Mark at Footloose Salmon Fishing Charters. There are plenty of big salmon in the Sooke area, including some of the 'TYEE' that Vancouver Island is so famous for. To add to that, the big Northern Coho are arriving. There is a ton of fun in a 25 pound Coho. It will be a couple of months before the Salmon have headed up the rivers to spawn. By then the winter Chinooks will be plentiful. Pretty much any time is a good time for fishing around here, in southern Vancouver Island's ocean paradise.

Salty Towers fish tales

2007-08-22T21:04:00.000-07:00

Nearing the end of August and Sooke fishing is nothing short of spectacular. With salmon hitting the dock by the ton, Salty Towers either has the luckiest dock in Sooke or some pretty able anglers (we prefer to think it's skill!)

Sidetrack Charters continues to bring home boat loads of Springs. Over the last few days, Ron netted three in the thirties.

One boat over, Bert and Ray hauled in a 44 pound TYEE.

Laurie has a beauty Chinook to put next to yesterday's big Coho.

It is no wonder Sooke is considered one of the best places to fish for salmon on Vancouver Island.

August 14, Salty Towers Update

2007-08-14T21:32:00.000-07:00

Hello Salty Towers friends around the world,

An update on what's happening of late around Salty Towers and Sooke.

The Sooke Salmon Enhancement Derby on the first weekend in August was a great success. Good weather, fun fishing, and a whole bunch of money raised for a very worthy cause. Another great year. Next year, make sure to get your reservations early to join in the fun.

Since then, the Sooke salmon fishing has been going crazy. Literally dozens of chinooks have hit the Salty Towers dock in the past few days. There's no question about it, the spring salmon have arrived! Get out there and get your lines in the water!

This Saturday, August 18th, is the 4th annual Sooke River Music Festival. Every year this is a fun event, with a diverse assortment of international music.

http://www.sookerivermusicfestival.com/

On another note, there's an exciting new activity in Sooke: ZipWest Eco Adventures

From their site: "Ziplining involves gliding along a suspended steel cable, using a pulley and climbing harness. ZipWest's tour area is in the Sooke Hills and covers 100 acres of land in a coastal temperate rainforest. Eight ziplines ranging from 150 ft to 1000 ft and two suspension bridges. Platforms and Zip lines range from 60 ft to 125 ft off the ground."

"Imagine yourself standing on a platform with a bird's eye view of the forest floor. You are preparing to soar over gulches and through the trees of a beautiful piece of West coast forest. ZipWest Eco Adventure Tours blends a short all terrain vehicle shuttle ride with eight picturesque zipline crossings, two suspension bridges and an education on the unique flora and fauna of a truly West coast forest."

More fun stuff in Sooke, as if there wasn't too much to do already!

Hope to see you soon,

Neil and Maggie

Happy August

2007-08-03T16:20:00.000-07:00

It's Derby time this weekend in Sooke.

Neighbour vs. Neighbour, heading out before first light. I hope John has bought a cool dozen to pay his bet after I catch the big one.

All in fun, of course, with the derby proceeds going to Salmon Enhancement. The Society's fundamental function, through the efforts of it's many volunteers, some funding from DFO, occasional grants from the Pacific Salmon Foundation and support from the general public, is to maintain and operate the Jack Brooks Hatchery (founded by the late Mr. Jack Brooks).

This year's derby sold out weeks ago. Next year, make sure you get your tickets early, and come join us for the weekend at Salty Towers -- moor your boat overnight at our dock, or better yet, go in style with one of our dock's charters, Footloose or Sidetrack. You can't get much closer to the action than our cottages.

Derby Info: http://www.sookesalmonenhancementsociety.com/derby.html

Wish me luck!

Neil (and Maggie and Salty too)

July 30, 2007 Salty Towers Report

2007-07-30T21:56:00.000-07:00

Hello to friends of Salty Towers around the world.

It is nearing the end of July, so we thought we'd update you on some of Sooke's exciting August happenings.

Neil: it's the best fishing of the year!
Maggie: August hosts two of Sooke's premiere arts events.
Neil: that too...and the fishing is the best of the year!

The Sooke Fine Arts Show runs August 4-10. This juried art show is a showcase for Sooke and Vancouver Island artists. Every year delivers an excellent show. From their website:
"Sooke is steeped in artistic talent and natural beauty making it the perfect host for Vancouver Island’s premier art show and sale for the past 20 years. The Sooke Fine Arts Show has provided the opportunity for many emerging and well known artists to show their work. Along with 7500 annual visitors attending the event, the show has also drawn hundreds of art patrons from all over British Columbia, Western Canada, and the United States."

The Stinking Fish Studio Tour runs from July 28^th to August 6^th. This tour visits the studios of artists living in East Sooke and Metchosin, displaying their very diverse work. From their website: "Metchosin and East Sooke are located in a beautiful coastal area of Vancouver Island near Victoria, BC. Many artists and artisans have chosen to live and work here, finding inspiration amidst the rolling landscape and lush rain forests near the sea. The Stinking Fish Studio Tour features the best of fine art and fine craft on the southern island, surrounded by its natural beauty. Come explore one of the richest “art trails” on the island – meet the artists, see their work and take some home with you! Admission is free. All are welcome. Artworks are for sale."

Come visit Sooke in August and experience these two excellent cultural events. Guaranteed, you'll see beautiful and unique pieces of art like you will see nowhere else in the world.

Oh yeah, and did we mention the fishing is pretty good in August too?

Maggie and Neil
The proud host of Salty Towers in beautiful Sooke, BC

Welcome to Salty Towers Report

2007-07-25T14:15:00.000-07:00

Hello to friends of Salty Towers from around the world!

We are happy to show off our new and improved website. We've updated the site navigation, so guests can more easily find their way around. We also updated the photos and text, to better showcase what Salty Towers has to offer.

This report will be where we regularly update our friends on what's happening at Salty Towers and around Sooke, Victoria, or anywhere on Vancouver Island. We hope you'll come back regularly to hear what's going on.

So...what's happening of late? We just got back from a 3 week European vacation, touring the Mediterranian on a cruise. We seemed to skip back into summer, with some gorgeous weather, although now a few days of rain (the garden's happy).

The fishing is pretty good lately, with some big springs here and there, plus lots of pinks and coho. There's plenty of potential, definitely worth heading out. Here's a photo of a nice fish taken from Salty Towers dock this Spring. A super Sooke fish, straight onto the BBQ!

Check back soon for further reports!

All the best,

Neil and Maggie