Mike and Beth's Adventures

When visiting new towns I always look for what defines the community's personality.  Chemainus's personality has a strong element of "The Arts".  The town is very proud of having over 60 individual art installations in town.  Some go back many years and have been refreshed and maintained.  Clearly, they work to buff and polish their reputation and perception as an art center.  Boys on a Snipe Hunt First Nation Sculpture Water Wheel Park We devised a bit of an unusual transportation scheme for our visit.  In a way, we "killed two birds with one stone".  We also wanted to visit Telegraph Harbor on Thetis Island.  We were unsure of where we could leave the boat in Chemainus, so we looked at public transportation options from nearby towns.  Buses and ferries were considered.  We checked schedules and found ferries operate more frequently than buses, especially from Thetis Island.  So we berthed the boat there and explored that island fo...

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 l...

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...

  Montague Harbor is where I celebrated my 75th birthday.  It was also my 4th visit. The first visit was in about 1995 with Maggie and our kids.  We rented a twin diesel Bayliner from Anacortes Yacht Charters and spend two weeks exploring the San Juans and Gulf Islands.  It was a wonderful trip.  The second visit was on a rented  classic wooden 36' Grand Banks, named Princess Ruby. Sadly, this trip was after we lost Maggie and the crew consisted of myself, Carrie, Katie and Adam, Carrie's husband.  Maggie was with us in spirit.   The last two visits have been on Amy Marie with Beth.  Our explorations have consisted of spending 4 months during the summer exploring Puget Sound, the San Juans, Gulf Islands and north to Desolation Sound.  Beth is a wonderful companion, great crew, and not only good partner but also the person you want along  when doing adventure exploring. Mike's 75th Birthday Beth treated me to a birthday dinner a...

Sidney has captured our hearts as the most lively, bustling, compact, everything you could want town on Vancouver Island.  Beacon Street is their main street and from the dock with the fabulous view of Mt Baker, to the many bakeries, restaurants, gift shops, grocery stores, and large grassy common area it invites you to slow down and spend the day.  If you range a bit further you will find excellent chandleries and boat yards,  We especially enjoy the Sea Glass Grill at Van Isle Marina.  It is our favorite lunch stop with many tempting and tasty menu selections. Sidney celebrates their waterfront location by preserving the view with extensive parks and broad walking paths along the shoreline.  It is a relaxing location to walk and enjoy the seaside ambiance.  No more than a couple of miles offshore is Sidney Spit.  This is an island that is almost entirely a Provincial Park and a day or overnight destination for boaters, sailors and kayakers,  The...