New: Get interesting Pender Islands content by becoming a fan of the Pender Islands Handbook page on Facebook.
penderblog Check out this upbeat community-oriented forum hosted by Jocko and find out what's happening around the Pender Islands.
Restaurant News:
Hope Bay Cafe was sold! Skinny Legs at Hope Bay opened in late September 2011, moving from Edmonton, AB where they lost their lease. Same contact info as before. So far they have announced prix fixed Sunday dinners ($25). Stay tuned for more info. Sharkey's take out pizza at that location has been closed for a while now.
Pender Island now has a Japanese restaurant! Pender Sushi opened on March 17, 2011 in Driftwood Centre next to the Bakery (replacing Fish on Pender that closed last Oct '10) They offer sushi, sashimi, teriyaki, sukiyaki, noodles etc. www.pendersushi.com, 250.629.6263.
At the Golf Course, Fairways Restaurant is now Birdie's Bistro. The
space has been remodeled and the menu upgraded by fabulous Brenda & Dana of Moonbeans Coffee and their crew. They are open for
all-day breakfast and lunch. Closed Tues-Wed in winter.
Trail News Summer/Fall 2011:
Water Supply Study Published By Simon Fraser University Based partly on Pender Island Data: Some of you may have participated in this survey last summer. To download the study click here.
BC's Gulf Islands Have the 7th Best Coastline in the World! National Geographic Traveler rated coastlines around the world for authenticity and sustainability. Number 1 was Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula. The Gulf Islands were in the "Top Rated" group: "In excellent shape, relatively unspoiled, and likely to remain so" with a score of 78/100, just 1 point behind Kauai's famed Na Pali Coast. Washington's neighbouring San Juan Islands were grouped in with "Puget Sound" way down the list with a score of 61, in the catagory "In the Balance - A mixed bag of successes and worries, with the future at risk." I can see some complaints coming about that one! Check out the list here.
Wifi Hotspots: Check these island locations for a free wifi signal: Community Hall, Library, Otter Bay Marina, Port Browning Pub, Slow Coast Cafe, Driftwood Centre, Poets Cove Resort. En route: Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen ferry terminals and the Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen ferries.
THE SECOND EDITION IS HERE! The 2nd Edition began distribution on July 31, 2009. The book was completely updated with the latest information including new hiking trails and ocean accesses, and all the info that was in the original book has been checked and updated. It's amazing how many things needed updating in a book so densely packed with information. New features have been added as well, including maps of the Car Stops.
The free book updates to the first edition through May 2009 will still be available on this website as a pdf file, and future updates will refer to the second edition.
You will have to get the 2nd Edition for info on the dozen new hiking trails and beach accesses, as well as the remainder of the hundreds of pieces of information that have changed in the preparation of the new edition. As I got into the revision and checked every bit of information, a lot more had changed than I had realized.
For helpful Pender Island links and info , Click here
For FREE updates to the Pender Islands Handbook 1st Edition through Spring
2009, OR for FREE updates to the 2nd Edition starting August 2009,
US Passport Requirements
Those traveling to the US via air, land or sea are now required to have a current Passport.
BC Ferries Paper Tickets:
The BC Ferries Experience card has replaced paper discount tickets, and the papertickets
are no longer valid for credit to the card. The card is not valid on major routes.
Boaters: Pleasure Craft Operators Cards (PCOC) Now Required All Canadian operators of any size motorized boat are required to carry a PCOC or face a fine of $250. Contact the Pender Island Power and Sail Squadron for information.
The Southern Resident Pods Frequented Our Shores Last Summer Frequent sightings of the resident pods (J,K.L) of orcas were reported from late May all through early October 2010. A surprise excellent sockeye salmon run in this region helped out our beloved neighbours who are typically seen between Stuart Island, traveling toward the tip of South Pender Island then along the west coast of North Pender Island in Swanson Channel, making their way toward Active Pass. The Thieves Bay Breakwater is the best place to watch them (park as directed, don't drive out to the breakwater) although they do not appear at any particular time of day or night. The orcas frequently swim right up to the breakwater, providing a sighting even more exciting than out at sea, where boaters are required to keep a safe distance away from them. The fewer boats out watching the orcas, the better off the orcas will be. See links to whale organizations on this website. Alas, in 2011, they stopped coming along North Pender's shores (at least when people have been watching) in mid-August as I report at the end of September.
About The Pender Islands Handbook
The Pender Islands are a northwest vacation paradise located in the Gulf Islands along the ferry route between Vancouver and Victoria in southern British Columbia, Canada. Resplendent with parkland, the Penders offer a low-key commune with nature while providing enough services to satisfy both visitors and residents.
The Pender Islands Handbook was released in July 2006 and updated in July 2009. It is the Penders' first comprehensive guidebook, with 400 pages of information useful for both visitors and residents. The highlight is a 75-page hiking and coastal access guide with detailed accompanying trail maps. Boaters will find the 50-page boating guide helpful whether setting out in a kayak, power, or sail boat. Check the Table of Contents below for a complete summary of its contents, or visit the link to amazon.com for a digital tour of the book.The author, Richard Fox, is dedicated to providing purchasers of the book with the most up to date and accurate information possible. Since things continue to change on a regular basis, this website contains updates to the book. If readers discover anything in the book that has changed or is in error, they are urged to send an email tocomments@penderhandbook.com
This site also contains information on where to buy the book, a photo gallery, and links to Pender Islands Information.
THE BLOG! Link to the penderblog hosted by Pender's upbeat blogmaster, Jocko. Chime in with your ideas for social events or other Pender thoughts and info.
Note: to post a comment, add the two numbers together as requested as a way to limit spam.
WHAT'S IN THE BOOK?
Check out the Table of Contents here or Look Inside at the Book at Amazon.com (first edition only available at amazon.com):
INTRODUCTIONS
1 HOW TO USE THE BOOK Main Pender activities, how to use the book, etc.
2 INTRODUCTION Pender facts & figures; Pender information sources.
THE TRAVEL GUIDES
3
TRAVEL GUIDE Transportation options, complete BC Ferries and
Washington ferries information, air travel summary with airline
destinations, rail, rental cars etc. 30 pages.
4 ACCOMMODATIONS GUIDE Pender resorts, Inns, B&B's & campgrounds with rates.
5 DINING GUIDE Pender restaurants with sample menus, and groceries, produce, bakers, roasters and wineries on Pender and nearby.
6
SHOPPING & SERVICES GUIDE Where to buy just about anything by
category on Pender and highlights of the Victoria area. Services and
utilities available on Pender; post and courier, radio and TV station
frequencies, Internet access, etc.
7 WEDDING GUIDE A wedding
planner includes venues, vendors and locations for weddings. Also info
of special interest for same-sex weddings, and GLBT resources in the
region.
8 NEARBY ATTRACTIONS OFF-ISLAND Places accessible by public
ferry, concentrating on the Victoria-Sidney area with a dining guide,
list of attractions and the arts. Features on Butchart Gardens and
Symphony Splash.
THE RECREATION GUIDES
9
RECREATION GUIDE Summary of recreation opportunities of all types
available on Pender, and includes a web resource guide and regional ski
area info.
10 GOLFING GUIDE Pender's popular 9 hole course and the
world renowned Golf Island Disc Park are described in detail. A map
and scorecards for the disc golf course are included.
11-12-13
COASTAL ACCESS AND HIKING GUIDE 75 pages of detailed information on
100 hiking trails and beaches around the islands. Features trail maps
with topography, places to swim, summaries of trail types by
difficulty, rankings of the trails and ocean accesses, etc.. All
features are given a unique number and are cross-referenced in other
chapters & maps.
14 BICYCLING GUIDE The complete 'Tour de
Pender' ride is outlined km by km. Three best and easiest routes are
presented 'for the rest of us.' Pender's road conditions are
summarized, and off-island cycling highlights in the surrounding region
from Vancouver to the San Juan Islands and Victoria are described.
15
BOATING GUIDE A 50-page summary of boating opportunities around the
Pender Islands. Area cruising information is also included. The best
kayaking routes around the Penders are described, and information about
area fishing and diving is presented. Pender's marinas and anchorages
are also described, along with info on customs, tides, and resources.
LIFE ON PENDER GUIDES
16
ARTS & ISLAND EVENTS Summary of Pender artists, musicians,
writers, and theatre companies, All major annual events are listed.
17
THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Contains Pender climate info and statistics,
an orca-watching guide, birdwatching guide, gardening guide, flora,
fauna, environmental issues and agencies, Pender geology, groundwater
and water resources.
18 LIVING ON PENDER A historical timeline,
Pender historic buildings, the Pender Museum, Health Services Guide for
Pender and clinics/hospitals in Victoria area, School and Church Guide,
Senior Citizens Guide, Government Agency Guide, Hazards, Pests,
Emergency Preparedness & Procedures,
PENDER ISLANDS MAP ATLAS 25 detailed maps cover the islands, with 100 trails and roads mapped (and cross-referenced throughout the various chapters). Includes topography, places of interest, helpful phone numbers, emergency numbers, and maps of Victoria & Sidney.
INDEX 20-page index makes it easy to find what you are looking for.
Comments about this website? Please send an email to comments@penderhandbook.com.
The clickable link was removed due to intense spamming.
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