Mike and Beth's Adventures

I am always a bit sad when our time in the PNW draws to a close.  Each visit is amazing.  Maybe I feel this way because of the grandeur of the experience.  One never knows when or if you will again visit.  It is like saying goodbye to an old friend who lives far away, hence there is uncertainty about future time together.  The PNW experience invokes strong emotions, feelings and thoughts.  It is beautiful in its stature and harmonious in its vastness.  It is the kind of emotion that feeds the soul.  You do not want it to end.  Being in nature reminds you that there is a rhythm to life that is simplifying in that it strips away the unnecessary chaos which waits to assault upon return to “civilization”.  Perhaps my reluctance to leave is procrastination.  I like the simple rhythm and want to delay the tenseness and harshness that accompanies chaos.  Perhaps this all boils down to the fact that I like being on vacation and the sim...

Cruising the azure waters of British Columbia is to bear witness to the awesome beauty of nature.  On a calm day the sea mirrors the sky and provides a perfect framing for the snow capped mountains, the vast forests whose towering trees stand straight and tall, and the harsh rocky shores along which the wild life searches for their next meal.  Visitors must be self reliant and well prepared to survive and enjoy their visit as it demands you be at the top of your game to survive the strong currents, rocky shoals, navigation challenges, scarce services, and wind and weather.  For boaters, it is the ultimate skills challenge.  The reward is the opportunity to immerse yourself in rugged beauty that is accessible if you are willing to accept the challenge. We waited for 4 days for weather suitable for crossing the Strait of Georgia from Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island,  to Secret Cove, on the mainland.  If you are lucky, you may encounter a calm day to cross. ...

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 Sn...