
The Canal Bridge to South Pender will be undergoing deck repair starting next week, May 16 through June 4, 2022. That means the bridge will be closed intermittently for three weeks.
This may affect our Happy Monk bread deliveries to North Pender Island.
We’ve been trying to get more specific information. No one appears to know what the closures mean for “commuters” between the north and south islands.
Where is the “Schedule to Follow?”

There is no mention of the Canal Bridge construction on the DriveBC.ca website, and authorities reached by phone have no clear answers. One week before the closures start! Signs announcing the bridgework say “Schedule to follow,” but nothing has been announced.
From what we’ve been told, the bridge will be closed between 8 am and 4 pm on workdays. The bridge will be open for short periods during the day to coincide with outgoing Swartz Bay ferry departures.
If that is the case, we’d hope to make it across the bridge around the time for the 12:25 ferry sailing to Swartz Bay. That might mean we’d be at the usual pick-up locations at regular times!
Will we have to wait for hours?
Returning from North Pender after deliveries is also a concern, as nothing has been mentioned regarding bridge openings to accommodate incoming ferry traffic. Suppose we manage to get across the bridge for our usual noon-hour deliveries. Will we have to wait on North Pender until after the bridge re-opens at four?
Or maybe not!
If there is heavy traffic waiting for a ferry crossing, some cars may not make it through in time for the bridge opening. There is also an ongoing restricted traffic flow through the area known as “The Dip.” “One car per green light,” if you’re following the rules.
And what if ferries are delayed, as they have done over the past several weeks?
Breathe! Be here now.
There will at least be Happy Monk deliveries this week on Friday, May 13. For certain! But we’re unsure what the schedule will look like next week through Saturday, June 4. (The next bread day after June 4 is Friday, June 10, 2022).
If we learn of anything in the coming days, we’ll use this email list to let everyone know, especially as it relates to bread days.
So amidst all this uncertainty, let’s remember to keep breathing and heed the advice of Baba Ram Dass: “Be here now.” Breathe and enjoy the spring sun, the birdsong, and the beauty of Pender Island.
Postscript
South Pender resident Rob Wilman suggested a brilliant solutiuon to the bread delivery problem. If we can’t cross the Canal Bridge, what about a Trebuchet? That’s a medieval catapult that would fling projectiles, or flaming vats of oil at a distant castle. A Seige Engine. You get the idea. See below for a demonstration.
If it works for Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman, surely a few loaves of the Seed Feast would go, too!
Happy Monk Tidings - November 30, 2022 🍞 - Bakers Choice: Cranberry-Pecan Sourdough; BLOG: Tassajara Wisdom/Perfect Loaf Mastery; REMINDER: Happy Monk holidays fast approaching! [ See LinkTree in Profile ]
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#theperfectloaf #perfectloaf #perfectloaf #maurizioleo #tassajarabreadbook #tassajarabread #tassajaracookbook
Just rockin’ the Olive Sourdough at 4:30 a.m. in the morning. Into Mildrith’s fire they go!
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#woodfired #woodfiredoven #woodfiredovenbread #bread #realbread #naturallyleavened #baker #bakery #bakerslife #bbga #artisanbread #breadhead #breadmaking #breadmaking🍞 #sourdough #sourdoughbread #coboven #earthoven #earthenoven #olives #olivebread #olivesourdoughbread #penderisland #southpenderisland #happymonkbaking #happymonkbakery #happymonkbakingcompany #southerngulfislands #southerngulfislandsbakers #southerngulfislandsbakeries #penderisland
Cinnamon-Raisin bread, an enduring Happy Monk favourite. And here’s proof of Mildrith’s (the wood-fired oven) recent health check, as she just baked 41 loaves of this (and another 40 of Seed Feast) with lots of heat left to spare. Long live Mildrith and long live Cinnamon-Raisin bread!
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#cinnamonraisinbread #cinnamonraisin #woodfired #woodfiredoven #woodfiredovenbread #bread #realbread #naturallyleavened #baker #bakery #bbga #artisanbread #breadhead #breadmaking #breadmaking🍞 #sourdough #sourdoughbread #coboven #earthoven #earthenoven #penderisland #southpenderisland #happymonkbaking #happymonkbakery #happymonkbakingcompany #southerngulfislands #southerngulfislandsbakers #southerngulfislandsbakeries #penderisland
Bread (AppleRye), bread (a homely looking Salish Sourdough) and bread (fire brick authenticity) … and my new oven arrives!
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#rackmaster #rackmasterrm2020 #rm2020 #bread #sourdoughbread #woodfired #woodfiredsourdoughbread #woodfiredforever #artisanbread #realbread #naturallyleavened #baker #bakersofinstagram #bakery #breadhead #sourdough #sourdoughbread #sourdoughbaking #ryebread #appleryebread #ryeapplebread #apples #applebread #penderisland #southpenderisland #happymonkbaker #happymonkbaking #happymonkbakery #happymonkbakingcompany
Dog days. The beginning of summer mellowness. Baked in languor. But sometimes it's hard to let go. Shouldn't I be baking something? [See LinkTree in Profile ]
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#penderisland #southpenderisland #happymonkbaking #happymonkbakery
#happymonkbakingcompany #dogdays #dogdaysofsummer #southerngulfislands
#southerngulfislandsbakers #southerngulfislandsbakeries #southerngulfislandsbc
This is James Morton, my father, who would have been 100 years old today if we hadn't lost him 36 years ago. I've surpassed him in living age and spent more years without him than with him, yet he still whispers in my ear and is a great listener when I talk to him. Taken at 14th Ave. and Burgess St., Burnaby, 'round about 1955. Handsome devil, ain't he?
Well said “Be here now” indeed.
As much as we live for your bread to enhance our menu..we’ll survive if u choose to take a few weeks off from delivering to N. Pender.
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We’ll see how things shake out, Laura! Cancelling bread day is not high on the list of options! Breathing in and being here now!
I wish there was only a bridge delay between me and a drink of that lovely-looking rye! Thinking of you and your yummy bread as we eat sub-par croissants while watching the rain on the beach in Tofino—breathing it all in 🤗
I’m sure the croissant bakers are too distracted by the waves and the surfing. I think you should just walk into the kitchen and tell them they need to up their croissant game immediately! Then tell them you’ll start Monday and that’s that! 😂 (Too bad about the rain!)