Mike and Beth's Adventures

Road Trip!  Time to get off the boat for several days.  Bus trip from Mill Bay to Tofino on Vancouver Island.  We caught the bus close to Mill Bay, BC.  5 hours and 180 miles later we de-boarded for a short walk to our hotel.  Despite two stretch/potty breaks while underway, we were delighted to stretch our legs.  We deposited luggage in our room and commenced a walking reconnaissance of Tofino. Bakeries - Check Restaurants - Check Pubs- Check Stunning Scenery - Check Coffee Shops - Check Music - Check Boats - Check Float Planes - Check Hiking Trails - Check Lodging - Check Hot showers - Check Pie Shop/Bakery - Check We like this town!  On the bus to Tofino Tofino reminds us of Norway, the land of Beth's ancestors Tofino is located on the rugged remote west coast of Vancouver Island.  We considered taking Amy Marie there, but she is on the small size for venturing out into the cold, treacherous and forbidding water of the Pacific Ocean.  Stor...

Our explorations during July 2023 were unstructured.   Our only constraint was that we arrive in Bellingham Washington by July 26th so Beth could fly to southern California for a family reunion, and I was able to welcome my daughter, her two kids, and their dog for ~ 8 days of cruising.  As you can see from the track log, we successfully met these boundary conditions and, I assure you, managed to have a wonderful time, new experiences, and meet interesting people all along the way! If you would also like to view last month's track log, please click:   June 2023 Track Log     _________________________________________________ Amy Marie in Victoria British Columbia _____________________________________________________________ Last Night in Canada Amy Marie Visits:  Victoria BC Amy Marie Visits: The South-East Coast of Vancouver Island Amy Marie Visits - Comox The Day the Diesel Died June 2023 Track Log Amy Marie Visits: Refuge Cove Amy Marie Visits: ...

Otter Cove - North Pender Island Roesland Provincial Park Once a farm, Roesland became a resort in the 1920s and remained a popular resort until it closed in 1991. Many of the old cottages remain, and are fun to peek in. The owner's home, built in 1908, was converted for use by the Pender Islands Museum Society.  It is open on weekends and is a wonderful place for picnicking and relaxing and for learning about the history of North and South Pender Island. Watch for eagles, sea stars and Harbor seals.  We walked the path from the museum out to the point.  It is a short walk through the arbutus and Douglas fir trees.  Side trails provide access to the ocean on either side of the peninsula.   Otter Bay Resort is located on the far shore. At the tip of the peninsula there is a nice bench for sitting and admiring the view The head of the bay, and off Roesland Park, are good places to anchor Otter Bay Resort The Marina Office. The Island is serviced by a ferry fr...

What could be better than docking in front of the Empress Hotel Approaching Victoria from the water is an interesting exercise.  The city is located on the southeast corner of Vancouver Island and just off the Straits of Juan de Fuca.  This is an area notorious for strong currents, confused seas, and wild winds.  It did not disappoint.  We experienced all three as we rounded the corner and wove our way through the Chatham Islands towards the inner harbor.  The sea conditions could be compared to boating inside a washing machine.  There were no waves.  That implies some semblance of order.  Instead, the water was jumping and spinning randomly.  We followed two fishing boats, on the assumption that they were locals and knew the best route through the islands, rocks, and reefs.  They were also much larger than us.  If they didn't hit anything, then we would not either.  The plan worked.  We turned to starboard, passed the cru...