Mike and Beth's Adventures

Gibsons is just north of Vancouver on the BC mainland.  As cities go, it is a bit of a celebrity due to being the location of a long running, and popular Canadian TV series, The Beachcombers.  Having heard about it during our travels, we just had to stop and visit.   The Ferry between Gibsons and Horseshoe Cove   You cannot drive from Vancouver to Gibsons.  You must take a ferry from Horseshoe Cove.  This ferry also provides access to the Sunshine Coast.  We arrived in our trusty vessel, Amy Marie.  As you look seaward over the harbor, the distant snow-covered mountains grace the skyline.  The view is quite impressive.  Overall, you feel as if you are in an Alaskan fishing village or a Norwegian coastal enclave.  Immediately you feel a sense of tranquility as Mother Nature overwhelms your senses with her grandeur.   The Harbor We arrived at low tide.  Docks close to shore were resting on shore.  High tide line was much higher.  In fact, we found that the tide was expected to rise

Snug Cove on Bowen Island offers good protection form blustery weather outside.  It is located in the mouth of  Howe Inlet, just north of Vancouver.  From False Creek it was a 12 mile run.  From our slip at Union Steamship Company Marina, we had a spectacular view  of the mountains rimming Howe sound.  I'm sure the scenic nature of this area contributed to it's selection as a filming location for the TV series "Virgin River". We docked on "A" dock near the marina office.  It was very convenient to the onshore attractions.  We particularly liked Tippy's Cookhouse and The Snug Cafe. Adjacent to the marina is a nice collection of restaurants, shops, pubs, a distillery, and a grocery store. We stayed at the Union Steamship Company Marina in Snug Cove Snug Cove offers good protection from the prevailing winds Our first day the clouds swirled around the mountain peaks that line Howe Inlet The ferry from Horseshoe Cove make an early evening arrival in Snug Cove

Do you want to visit an exciting and fun city?  Well, Vancouver is the place.  With mountains and water at it's doorstep, it is located in a truly lovely location.  It's transformation from rough and tumble lumber town to sophisticated cosmopolitan city was aided by hosting the World's Fair in the '80s and the Winter Olympics in 2010.    Their skyline is enhanced by it's interplay with the weather and the geography. Their general plan actually talks about preserving sight lines to the most prominent features in the surrounding terrain. The town transitions smoothly and effortlessly from it's daytime to nighttime persona. We Stayed at Fishermen's Wharf Marina Welcome to Fishermen's Wharf Our Home while in Vancouver Fishermen's Wharf is conveniently located next to Granville Island Granville Island Granville Island is a mecca on the southern shore of False Creek. Packed within the borders of the island you will find nourishment, entertainment, shopping

'There she blows!" Beth bellowed in the middle of the Strait of Georgia.  This is time timeless call that signals the sighting of a whale.  "Where away" I hollered back.  "To port, windward side", was the response.  We slowed to idle and watched a small group of Humpback Whales swim past us, headed south.  Our encounter occurred during our passage from Silva Bay on Gabriola Island to Vancouver. Since 2004, the Humpback Whale population has grown in BC.  In 2004, only 42 individual whales were identified.  By 2019, the population had grown to 426,  and in 2023 the observed population had grown to nearly 800 ,a dramatic improvement.   The whales were commercially hunted from the 1800's until 1965 in the Pacific Northwest.  During this period of time it is estimated that 28,000 whales were harvested. Humpback spend from spring to fall feeding in the waters of the Pacific Northwest.  In the fall they migrate to their breeding grounds in Mexico or Hawaii.  A