Saturday Travel Feature

FBI
Fanny Bay, B.C.

 "Fanny Bay is a small hamlet in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is located on Baynes Sound on the east coast of Vancouver Island. In 2001, its population was listed as 744.^[1] It is best-known for its fine oysters." Wikipedia (See Link 1.)  Fanny Bay  is situated on the old Island Highway running mainly along the waterfront on the east side of Vancouver Island. Fanny Bay Inn sits right on that Highway.  In fact its address is 7480 Island Highway.  It is about 3/4 of the way between Nanaimo-the mid Island ferry crossing from mainland, and Courtenay-the northern ferry crossing from the mainland. "15 minutes south of Courtenay." (Link 4.)   And it is three miles south of the ferry crossing to Denman Island.

Fanny Bay, B.C. on Vancouver Island (Mapquest)

The Fanny Bay Inn is affectionately known by the locals as the FBI. The Inn has even sold T shirts and hats with its FBI insignia. "Drop in at the landmark Fanny Bay Inn, known on the island as the FBI. This is a real roadhouse, with local clientele, a fine fireplace, the obligatory collection of tankards, a dart board, and hearty pub fare. A low-key, convenient stop on the trek north from " (Link 2.) It  "was voted the most authentic British Pub in British Columbia." (Link 3.)

Fanny Bay Inn was built in 1938 and originally  was used as an inn with 6 rooms to let.  When you enter the pub doors under the overhang on the right side of the front of the building you will see: a fire in the fireplace to the right, round dark wood pub tables surrounded by captain's chairs, a bar running across the back of the room, and the walls covered with local photos.  An alcove on the far side in the back looks out onto the backyard where there are picnic tables in the summer. 
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Thank you: To Mapquest. To Rick Grant at the FBI for additional information.
Photo: Taken in Fanny Bay, B.C. in December 2006 by SW.

Link 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny_Bay,_British_Columbia

Link 2: http://www.vancouverisland.com/regions/towns/?townID=54

Link 3:http://www.bctravel.com/fannybay/

Link 4: http://fannybayinn.com/

Saturday Special Travel Feature
Sooke Markham House

The small town of Sooke, B.C. is on the southern tip of Vancouver Island in the province of British Columbia. It sits on Sooke Basin, a natural harbor off the Juan de Fuca Strait. Juan de Fuca Strait was discovered and claimed by the Spanish in 1790. It was soon traded to the British and named Sooke established in reference to the local Native People, the T'Soke. That name, Sooke is also the name of the Road that is the main street of the town for the 11,000 residents. Where fishing was once the prominent industry, hospitality has now taken its place. Since Sooke is only a 45 minute drive past British Columbia's Capital, Victoria,  it as a favorite destination for bed and breakfast visitors. One of homes offering bread and breakfast is the Sooke Markham House.

The home of Lyall and Sally Markham is in the Tudor style. Being in an area where the history dates back to 1790 you might think that it was a remnant from that era. However, the house at 1775 Connie Road was built as recently as 1971 and wasn't named Markham at all. The builder was Mr. Gunlesesson, a craftsman originally from Norway. He built the house for himself, by himself with lumber from the trees on his 10 acres of property. The use of 6 nails where two would have done the trick are evidence of his thoroughness. The house remained a single family home until Lyall and Sally bought it in 1994 and opened it as Markham House Bed and Breakfast.

Lyall and Sally meet all your needs during your stay at their lovely home. The bedrooms are luxurious in an old country way. You are even served a snack before bedtime. Breakfast is presented in the Tudor decorated dining room with humming birds hovering at the windows. Outside is a hot tub, a pond that attracts eagles, a golf green, and the acres of gardens.

A must when visiting Sooke is the 15 miles drive north on West Coast Road/Highway 14 to Point No Point Restaurant. Here you can have lunch or tea and watch the ferries pass through the same Juan de Funca Strait that the Spanish travelled in 1790. 

Thank you: To Lyall Markham for the history of Markham House.
Reference: CAA TourBook, Western Canada and Alaska.
Photo: Taken in April 2006 by SW.
Link: http://www.markhamhouse.com/

Sunday Church Feature
Saint Mary the Virgin
Metchosin, B.C.

"St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church of Canada, Enter Rest and Pray" is on the sign outside the church at 4354 Metchosin Road in Metchosin, B.C. Metchosin is on the south west coast of Vancouver Island and about half way between Victoria, B.C.'s capital, and Sooke. It is about a 30 minutes drive from Victoria to this small town of 5,000 people on the Juan de Fuca Strait.

"The name Metchosin is the anglicised version of the native "Smets-Schosen", which means "place of stinking fish". Local legend maintains that many years prior to the Europeans' arrival, an orca beached and died, and that everywhere that could smell it rotting became part of Metchosin. The town's museum, which was once its one-room school before an increasing population necessitated a larger building, claims to have vertebrae from the animal on display. Metchosin's community symbol is, perhaps unsurprisingly, an orca." See Link 2.

"St. Mary The Virgin Anglican Church was consecrated on October 22, 1873. It is the third oldest Anglican Church in continuous use on Vancouver Island. This small church is still used as a place of worship, but only for special services, funerals, and a Christmas Eve service. Two acres of land was donated for churchyard by Metchosin resident John Witty, sadly, was also the first to be buried on these grounds." See Link 1.

A white picket fence with its wrought iron gate surround the small white clapboard church with its steeple and triple chancel window. Scattered through the grassy church yard of spring flowers are grave stones of parishioners. One of these is a memorial to John Witty.

Photo: Taken in 2006 by SW.
Link 1: http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM37RX_St_Mary_The_Virgin_Metchosin_BC
Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metchosin,_British_Columbia