Mike and Beth's Adventures

The team at Ocean Pacific Boatyard did a fabulous job repairing the prop damage we suffered in the Octopus Islands.  We were so fortunate that Campbell River had a first class boatyard and prop shop.  Despite having a full schedule, the yard found time to haul us and pull the prop.  We then went back in the water until the prop was repaired and returned.  We were hauled once again and the prop was re-installed.  We immediately sea-trialed the prop.  Performance was excellent and it is balanced nicely.   Here the yard team is checking the shaft to see if it was bent.  No damage to the shaft, keel or other components was found. Here is the damaged prop shortly after Amy Marie was hauled This is the repaired prop ready for installation.  Isn't it beautiful!  I wanted to mount it on my wall as a work of art.  The prop shop gave us one day turn-around!  Beth and I walked to the shop and saw it being repaired.  It required ...

Fall colors on the Cumberland River Our return trip, down the Cumberland River from Nashville, was a celebration of fall colors.  Mother Nature used a much more vivid palette to paint the landscape than what was on display 10 days earlier.  She was clearly signaling that cold crisp nights, with cooler temperatures were on the way.  To me this also signaled that Halloween with all the accompanying festivities couldn't be far behind.  I appreciate and enjoy the shoulder seasons.  They signal a transition.  Smells, colors, foliage, temperatures, clothing, and seasonally favorite foods all under go a change.  In life, change is good, it piques the senses and reminds us to relish the world and experiences in which we live.  In this case, we were relishing our downstream journey on the Cumberland. A house blends with the fall colors The Cumberland River Farm is located mid-way between Clarksville and Nashville. It is an event center. Clarksville Tenness...