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One Gabriola Day

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The last time I visited Gabriola Island by car and ferry was around 1948. Since then I’ve made many visits back in my boating days but not by car.  So it seemed that is was time for a day trip to Gabriola.  

It’s a 20 minute ferry ride from downtown Nanaimo to the island. $28 return for car and 4 seniors. No reservations needed. Just line up. The ferries run every half hour so the waits are not long. The ferry docks at Descanso Bay and paved roads will take you all over the island. Gabriola is only 14.5 kilometres long and about 4 k wide but it is home to about 4000 people. 

We wanted to see the Malaspina Galleries where the  Sandstone has been eroded over time and cave like structures remain. A nice walk to a beautiful point where sandstone rules. Worth visiting for sure.

 

Then it was off the the SURF LODGE which has a dining room and a pub overlooking the Strait of Georgia. Pub lunch was served on the spacious deck with Tugs, Ferries, yachts and sport fishing boats passing by. Excellent Cod and chips and very good service from a delightful young lady.  The lodge has some rooms and some cottages and would be a great place for a weekend retreat. This photo is the lovely stone fireplace in the dining room.

For more info http://www.surflodgegabriola.com

 

Then it was off to Silva Bay, a spot that’s been a welcome calm harbour many times. Lots a boats in the bay and some large yachts on the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club outstation on Tugboat island.

Alas the Silva Bay pub is no longer. Burned to the ground in 2017. Enjoyed Thanksgiving there many years ago. Sad to see it gone. The Silva Bay Shipyard that operated for decades also appears to be closed. Pages Resort is also in Silva Bay and looks to have some nice accommodations.   

https://www.pagesresort.com/home

A little further along is DRUMBEG Provincial Park, right on the water at the entrance to Gabriola Pass a narrow channel separating Gabriola from Valdez Island. The park has a nice beach and two people were swimming while several others were boarding kayaks. Drumbeg is a nice spot. Maybe for a picnic.

Then we followed the road around Degnan Bay at the inside of Gabriola Pass. The road took us past farmland, the waters of False Narrows on the way to the Ferry terminal. About an hours wait and we boarded for the quick cruise back to Nanaimo. 

A really sweet one day island visit. 

Just saying…

MATTONES ITALIAN KITCHEN

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It was a beautiful morning for a drive, so we headed north to the Black Creek area, just beyond Courtenay. Our first destination was Beaufort Vineyard & Estate Winery, once owned by Canadian filmmaker James Cameron of Titanic fame. Located just off Highway 19A, we followed a quiet country road through the gates to the tasting room, which overlooks the expansive vineyard with a spectacular backdrop of the Beaufort Mountains.Alas, the tasting room was closed—no tasting and no buying. Another visit, perhaps.

There are two other wineries nearby: Coastal Black Estate Winery, which specializes in berry wines, and 40 Knots Vineyard & Estate Winery, which we’ve visited before. We decided to skip both and instead stopped at Shorewolf Farm Bakery for another supply of their outstanding sourdough bread. Owner and baker Jill Lamberts greeted us like old friends. We left with three loaves of bread and a couple of Lemon Lavender cookies—unique and absolutely delicious.

From there we continued on, taking a quick drive through Campbell River before heading to Salmon Point for lunch at Mattone Italian Kitchen. This restaurant had been enthusiastically recommended by a friend, so expectations were high.

Mattone sits beside a small marina and a large RV resort. We were surprised by the size of the restaurant. It’s spacious inside, with a large patio overlooking the water. We were shown to a patio table where the views were every bit as impressive as the food would prove to be. Before us stretched Discovery Passage, Cape Mudge, Texada Island, and the distant silhouettes of Cortes, Hernando, and Savary Islands. Nearby sits Mitlenatch Island, a protected seabird sanctuary, while the ever-changing currents create a fascinating spectacle as waters from Johnstone Strait meet those flowing through the Strait of Georgia. Yachts and sport-fishing boats provided plenty of entertainment as they cruised by.

Mattone has embraced technology with a unique ordering system. Diners can simply scan the QR code at their table, order and pay using their phone, and the food is delivered to them. Call me old-fashioned, but I still prefer talking to a real person, so I ordered at the counter. I suppose it’s an efficient way to reduce staffing requirements.

“A Margherita pizza and a Caesar salad to share, please.”

A glass of Prosecco and a Pinot Grigio arrived almost immediately, followed shortly by our lunch. The thin-crust Margherita pizza was loaded with cheese and topped with grape tomatoes, fresh Arugula, bocconcini, and a generous slice of prosciutto on every piece. It was, without question, the best Margherita pizza we’ve ever had—and we’ve sampled more than a few over the years. The Caesar salad was equally impressive, topped with crisp shards of prosciutto that added the perfect finishing touch.

The setting is spectacular. The food is outstanding. The staff are friendly and welcoming. Yes, it’s a little pricey, but well worth it. If you find yourself in the Campbell River area, Mattone Italian Kitchen deserves a spot on your itinerary.

You can browse the menu and read about owner-chef Ryan Gark, a local talent with extensive culinary experience, on their website: https://www.mattoneitaliankitchen.com.

Mattone is open daily for lunch and dinner.

Just saying..

Wine in Cowichan

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It had been a couple of years since we last toured the wineries of the Cowichan Valley, so last week with our friends Richard and Carolyn we climbed aboard the Acura and we headed south.

Our first stop was Averill Creek Vineyard, just outside Duncan. The winery has a lovely tasting room and an even more inviting garden patio. We’d sampled their wines on previous visits, so this time we headed straight for the patio, where the ladies enjoyed a glass of Pinot Gris. None for me, of course—someone had to be the designated driver!

Averill Creek is always worth a visit. Their expansive vineyard climbs the hillside behind the winery, and the vines were absolutely loaded with grapes. The tasting room is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and if you’re feeling peckish, they offer a selection of snacks to enjoy on the patio with a chilled glass of wine.

https://www.averillcreek.ca

With lunchtime approaching, we took a delightful country road that wound its way across the valley before ending about 25 minutes later at Genoa Bay. More about lunch there in a moment.

Our next stop was Merridale Cidery & Distillery in Cobble Hill. This is a wonderful destination, with beautiful grounds, an excellent restaurant, and a well-stocked gift shop. Merridale is best known for its ciders, but it also produces Cowichan Gin,  Vodka, and Brandy, all available for purchase in the shop.

The restaurant menu looked excellent and would make Merridale a fine choice for lunch.

Merridale Farmhouse Eatery Menu

Looking for something a little different? Merridale’s Orchard Picnic is a delightful experience. Begin with a cider tasting to select your favourite bottle, then settle into the orchard with a blanket and a fully prepared picnic featuring a shared charcuterie spread. It sounds like a wonderful way to spend a summer afternoon.

Picnic Experience in Cowichan Valley

And there’s more—you can even spend the night in one of their yurts!

If you’re touring the Cowichan Valley, Merridale is definitely worth adding to your itinerary.

Just four minutes down the road is Unsworth Vineyards, an absolute must-visit. The winery was founded by local residents Tim and Colleen Turyk, who built it into one of Vancouver Island’s premier wineries, producing a long list of award-winning wines. As retirement approached, they sold the business in 2020 to the Jackson family of Kendall-Jackson Wines, the renowned Sonoma, California winery.

Since then, significant investments have been made in both the winemaking facilities and the spectacular new tasting room. It is truly impressive.

Unfortunately, the restaurant—which we’ve thoroughly enjoyed on previous visits—is currently closed for renovations. Although we didn’t do a tasting this time, we couldn’t resist taking home a bottle of their excellent Pinot Gris.

Their website is well worth a visit:

https://www.unsworthvineyards.com

Our final stop before heading home was Blue Grouse Estate Winery, located just north of Duncan. It’s another impressive property with a beautiful winery and tasting room. We skipped the tasting on this visit but have enjoyed it in the past.

Interestingly, Blue Grouse was also acquired by the Jackson family in 2022. Clearly, one of California’s most respected wine families sees tremendous potential in the wines of the Cowichan Valley. That level of investment bodes very well for the future of Vancouver Island’s wine industry.

If you haven’t toured the wineries of the Cowichan Valley, you’re missing one of Vancouver Island’s real gems. We only visited four this time, and there are several more waiting to be explored.

If you enjoy good wine, beautiful scenery, and relaxing country drives, put the Cowichan Valley on your list.

Soon.

Just saying…

A Starter Named Wilma.

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This week I read an article in the latest edition of Edible Vancouver Island, an excellent foodie publication that can be found in restaurants, specialty food stores, and other culinary destinations around the Island. The article featured a young entrepreneur, Jill Lamberts, who operates the remarkable SHOREWOLF Farm Bakery in Black Creek, nestled between Courtenay and Campbell River.

Our interest was immediately piqued because Jill specializes in sourdough bread, and we had recently been enjoying some wonderful sourdough baked by Sheila’s granddaughter during a visit last weekend.

Curiosity got the better of us, so we pointed the Acura toward Black Creek, about an hour from home. Besides, a drive along Highway 19A is always a pleasure. We were not disappointed. SHOREWOLF Farm Bakery is a real gem.


The bakery is housed in a beautiful new building with plenty of parking. We were quite stunned when we walked through the door. Fabulous sourdough loaves were displayed throughout the shop, along with a showcase overflowing with delicious temptations—tarts, meringues, cookies, quiche, and much more.

We enjoyed a lovely visit with Jill, the owner and baker, as well as her mother-in-law, who was serving as enthusiastic salesperson and cashier. Jill originally hails from the Guelph area of Ontario and eventually made her way here via Seattle. She and her husband have an interesting story of their own.

The bakery’s breads are made using a 110-year-old sourdough starter named “Wilma.” The variety of offerings was impressive: traditional sourdough, seedy sourdough, fig, fennel and walnut sourdough, as well as garlic olive rosemary, hazelnut raisin, and chili cheese varieties. They also produce distinctive hot dog and hamburger buns. The products have become so popular that SHOREWOLF now supplies resorts and fishing lodges throughout the region. After one visit, that came as no surprise.

All of the flour is sourced from True Grain Bakery in Cowichan Bay, a company known for milling its own organic grains.

Our visit resulted in the purchase of several items, including sourdough bread, lemon tarts, soup, and chicken pot pies. Clearly, they do much more than bake exceptional bread.

We had a grand time at SHOREWOLF Farm Bakery and highly recommend a visit if you find yourself anywhere nearby.

For those interested, here is the article that inspired our trip:

https://ediblevancouverisland.mydigitalpublication.com/may-june-2026/page-4

You can also learn more about the bakery at:

shorewolffarm.ca

SHOREWOLF Farm Bakery is open:
• Thursday and Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

8376 Island Highway North
Black Creek, BC

Trust me—it’s worth the drive.

Just saying…