Mike and Beth's Adventures

Kingston Washington Waterfront The majestic terrain and contrast of mountains, forests, and water have lured us back to the Pacific Northwest for another summer of cruising.  It is simultaneously peaceful and powerful.  It is the essence of harmony until a storm arrives and then it is the chaos and fury of wind, rain, and tumultuous seas.  All attract us to visit.  We are outdoor people and spend as much time as possible outside.  However nothing, with the exception of backpacking, has ever brought us continuously closer to nature than boating the PNW.   It's second virtue is it ability to slow and focus your life.  The stress of city living melts away as soon as we splash the boat.  The many competing electronic connections of our overly intrusive push communication world are put on hold.  It is such a relief.  Have we perhaps overdone it?  Instead the focus is on weather, sea conditions, tides, currents, winds, provisioning, ...

Saturday is the best day to visit the town of Ganges on Vancouver Island as that is the day you will find the Salt Springs Island Village Market is held in Centennial Park from mid-March to the end of October.  We needed fresh produce, so we arrived at the Kanaka Public Dock ready to shop.  It was a rainy morning so we slipped into our rain gear, shouldered our dry bag and walked up the ramp, past the Tree House Café and over to the area where tents were erected to provided shelter for the market merchants.   Beth is excited to see what treasures she can find at the market She quickly zeroed in on the fresh produce The rain did not deter the shoppers It was well attended Right at the entrance, there was a pre-teen young man selling home made cookies - $2/each.  He was doing a brisk business.  Beth found some good fresh produce so we are set for the next week or so.  Arts and crafts, fresh bread and pastries, pizza, BBQ and Indian food were also availab...