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| What's New at Salty Towers |
June 2008, Salty Towers Update
 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
  
May 2008 Fish Tales
 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
 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
 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  |
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
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
 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
  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. 
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© Salty Towers Oceanfront Cottages |
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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.
