Cowichan Valley

Another hop and a skip south, we arrived at Maple Bay Marina via Sansum Narrows.  Maple Bay, Genoa Bay, Cowichan Bay, and the inland city of Duncan make up the greater Cowichan Valley area on Vancouver Island.  Duncan is known for its excellent Farmer’s Market, one of the best in western British Columbia thanks to the rich, fertile valley producing excellent vegetables, fruit, wine, and meat products.  

Fresh Produce at the Saturday Farmer's Market in Duncan

Our friends Bob and Shino arrived by boat at Maple Bay Marina to meet up with us, and together we went into Duncan to enjoy the Saturday Farmer’s Market held from 9am to 2pm.  Maple Bay Marina offers a shuttle service twice a day into town for a fee; but as we discovered, the van fills quickly and boaters should reserve space for the shuttle ahead of time.  No worries, we called for the Duncan Taxi (250-746-4444) which was fast and efficient.  

Mushrooms found at Duncan Farmer's Market

When we arrived at the market, we weren’t disappointed; the market proved to be excellent with a wide variety of produce as well as crafts and food vendors.  Several city streets around Market Square and City Hall are blocked off for the event held year-round.  As it turned out, we attended on a Saturday which happened to be Duncan Day, adding to the festive atmosphere that included a parade and carnival rides for the kids. 

Duncan Day Parade

Local organizations were represented in the parade­ – the fire department, dance groups, music groups, and various clubs including the local curling club, of course.  Participants in the parade covered the age spectrum from the very young to the elderly, a fun time for everyone.  

City Hall with Clock Tower, Duncan B.C.

The city of Duncan was named after William Chalmers Duncan who settled on a farm in the vicinity around 1862, his son Kenneth became the first mayor of Duncan.  The name Cowichan is of aboriginal origin meaning ‘the warm land,’ and is a fitting name for the rich, fertile farmland.  Today, Duncan serves as the Cowichan Valley Regional District.  Lush vineyards, a river system, and scenic back roads wind through the area.  After a quick lunch, the four of us headed back to Maple Bay Marina which is an enjoyable spot all its own.  

Maple Bay Marina

The marina office includes a gift shop with a selection of nautical clothing and art.  The shop also has food items, a coffee bar, and ice cream.  On Sundays during the months of July and August, an Ice Cream Sundae Bar is available along with live music in the courtyard.  Picnic tables around the courtyard provide a nice place to relax and meet other boaters.  A marine supply store is also located here.  And if you don’t feel like cooking, the on-site Shipyard Restaurant & Pub serves tasty meals for lunch and dinner.  

Shino and Lorena aboard the SeaSport

Prior to dinner, we decided to go on a short excursion to nearby Genoa Bay with our friends in their SeaSport; at 22 knots, we quickly covered the eight nautical mile trip.  Genoa Bay is tucked in a small cove between Maple Bay and Cowichan Bay and is the site of the popular Genoa Bay Café, advance reservations are a must for dinner.  

The intimate Genoa Bay Marina, Cabana, and Gallery

The intimate marina offers transient moorage with dock-side picnic tables and a cabana, where folks gather for coffee and baked goods each morning.  The marina/store carries books and gift items; and you don’t want to miss the Genoa Bay Gallery housing beautiful paintings and sculptures available for purchase.  

Outdoor dining at the Shipyard Restaurant & Pub, Maple Bay Marina

After a short visit at Genoa, we headed back to Maple Bay Marina to enjoy dinner followed by dessert aboard Got d’ Fever with the company of good friends.  The second night found us together again for a potluck dinner, the evening was filled with fun conversation and lots of laughs, it was a nice break from our regular routine of daily work on edits and updates.