R.I.P. Don Mellor

I heard that Don Mellor, a long-time Salt Spring resident, died in September at the age of 81.

This reminded me that I met Don in the parking lot of Moby's pub when I first arrived on Salt Spring in October 2008.

I didn't know him well but I interacted with him enough to feel sad when I heard of his passing. He was very fit and I always imagined him living into his 90s.

Rest in Peace, Don.  

Here's the blogpost I wrote when I first met him. Karin Jones and I went sailing with him on the L'Orenda one day in the spring of 2009.

Salt Spring Island's American sister: Vashon Island

I first went to Vashon Island, which is a 22-minute ferry ride out of downtown Seattle from Pier 50, in 2018. The water taxi only runs on weekdays and it may just be an experiment at this point, but otherwise, you can take the Fauntleroy Ferry off the island and arrive in West Seattle in less than 10 minutes and then catch the Rapid C line back into downtown Seattle and vice versa.

Because I like to travel on the cheap, which is never cheap anymore, I stayed at the American Hostel Hotel in the International District, in a single room which, even though it's a hostel still costs almost $100 US a night. I like this hostel because it's super organized, close to transportation, and clean with strict rules about not allowing guests who aren't checked in.

The first time I went to Vashon Island I stayed with Sally at her super cute yellow house near Dockton on Maury Island which connects to Vashon by road. At that time, she had her beloved beagle, Elinor, and had just adopted a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy named Daisy who was super cute.  Sally was very hospitable so it was nice to see her again for coffee at one of the island's coffee shops called Minglement or the Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie, during this visit.

This time I stayed in a more than 100 year old Inn called Marjesira that was apparently built before there were roads on the island. At one time it was a country store. It's now owned by a woman who has lived on island for more than 38 years. On my way over, I met a woman who has lived here for 50 years. I feel like there are some long time islanders and then some new ones who are exploring their dreams, renovating old houses that will scare them by emptying their piggy banks to the very last penny.

Here's the thing about islands like Vashon and Salt Spring. I'll give you just one example of old world goodness.

I had been to the bookstore and bought two books. A Mary Oliver book on poetry and a book called Wanderers: A History of Women Walking.  While waiting for the 118 bus on a bench, a very friendly guy sat down and because he was so chatty, when I got up to get on the bus, I was distracted and left my books on the bench. It wasn't until I got back to Marjesira that I realized I'd left my books somewhere. I decided to put a note on the Vashon Island Facebook page and within minutes of posting that,  a woman sent me a message saying she had picked them up. We arranged for her to drop them back off at the bookstore where I'd purchased them, so I could get them back proving that Facebook can be useful and that of course there are still honest people in the world.

Because I didn't have a car, I didn't get to see the 20 foot Thomas Dambo troll near the Pt. Robinson Lighthouse.

I went to the Dragon's Head Cidery and although I'm not really a cider person, I did get a tasting and had a delicious appetizer for lunch of hummus, watercress, baked pumpkin seeds, braised red onion and pita chips. Loved the taste of those combinations. I also stopped by Pop Pop, and spoke with the very friendly owner/bartender who was super knowledgeable about craft beers and even has a refrigerator full of beers just labelled "weird beer." They sell wine there as well and non alcoholic drinks. And real food like their teriyaki chicken.

If you're in Seattle, it's a quick trip to Vashon and back for a daytrip to the island if you are so inclined. You can even rent an e-bike there. 

And if you're a Vashon Islander, you need to visit Salt Spring, your Canadian sister island. 

The real people in my book: At One with an Island: Salt Spring Revisited

Pauline McDonald

Marjorie and Mike Lane, Ruckle Heritage Farm

Abey and Matt Scaglione and sons, Ruckle Heritage Farm

the late Gwen Ruckle

Will Gerlach

Lotte Kristensen (Denmark)

the late Mac Rymal

Dr. Leila Kulpas

Karin (Marita) Jones

The Kuisma family (Finland)

Wendy and Derrick Milton

Gail Sjuberg

Tom and Linda James

Gwen Litchfield

Lisa Wolfe

Karen McDiarmid

Sharon Bailey and Robert McTavish

Tom Walker

Suzanne Archer

 the late Tom Martin

Jack Woodward (KC)

Len Brown

Paul Stewart

Rob Scheres

Bruce Wood

the late Bruce Creswick

Thorsten Baumeister (New Zealand)

Rob Pingle

Keith Picot

Mona Fertig

Harry Burton

Rachel Vadeboncoeur

Gillean Proctor

Lisa Lloyd

Amy Melious

Michela Sorrentino

Jan Smith

Wesley Clark

Eric McLay

Dave French and Kelly Waters

the late Marjorie Martin

the late Margaret Haines

Jaqueline Landeen and Pacino

Palu Rainbow Song

Murray a.k.a. as The Man with the Can

the late Thomas Ayers, Grade 5 teacher

Sheila Price, Grade 7 teacher

Lorne Tippett

Phyllis Haruko (Oikawa) Vavra

the late Tomoko (Toni) Oikawa

Lorna Cammaert

Richard Shanks

Neil and Beth England

Mrs. Larkin, New Westminster piano teacher from my childhood

the late Jean and James Campbell of Saturna Island

the late James Cameron Mavor 

the late Irene Johanna (Bedwell) Mavor

my late sister, Heather (Mavor) Carruthers

plus, a few name changes for real people

and me of course!

P.S. While focused on the writing, I hadn't realize how many people in the book have now departed this earthly realm. They are still very much alive in my memories.

Available only on Amazon 

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1778354262