Mike and Beth's Adventures

God bless the National Weather Service!  They accurately predicted a strong Pacific Northwest Storm with 35 knot winds and rain.  We were anchored in a idyllic bay on U-shaped Stuart Island when we received the warning.  It arrived with sufficient lead time to move to shelter in Friday Harbor, safely tied to a dock.  The orientation of the hills surrounding the harbor provide good protection.  As the storm had not yet arrived, we got off the boat for a good walk around Friday Harbor.  It is not large so easy to walk. Beth's first stop was the thrift store (it was closed), while mine was the coffee shop.  Next we visited the market for storm supplies and then scoped out the fish market but did not buy. This was followed by investigating the public transit options and checking out a few shops.  This brought us back to the harbor and a view across the marina and out towards Shaw Island. Once back aboard Amy Marie we completed various chores, did our ...

This afternoon I'm sitting on Amy Marie and listening to live classical violin  being played by the skipper of the vessel Vya Lynn.  The notes just seem to hang in the air.  A perfect compliment to a lovely location.  We are in a typical PNW cove on the north side of Jones Island.  Why the north side?  Today some nasty cold south winds have been blowing and we sought shelter here.  It really is a sanctuary of sorts.  Our fellow voyagers are a mix a small cruisers and sailboats.  Throw in a couple of motor vessels approaching 40 feet in length and you have the whole crowd.   We meet one fellow who has been here a week.  He motored over from Anacortes on his 16 foot center console.  He is retired and travels with his dog, a  Corgi.  He and the Corgi were camped in  an orange dome tent from the '80's.  Those of you who use to backpack know the tent.  It used to be ubiquitous back then.  You could...

  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...

A sailor is obsessive about many things, one of the most important being the weather.  It is a constant topic of conversation and investigation.  Prior to leaving Mill Bay we had to select a destination.  This can not be accomplished without checking the weather, tides and currents.  Tides by the way vary between 12 and 14 feet in this portion of British Columbia.  The weather report indicated a low pressure area would pass just north of us with 25 knot winds from the southwest and gusts in excess of 40 knots.  Our next stop would need to provide very good protection from these conditions. A vista point overlooking Saanich Inlet We settled on Tod Inlet, just south of Butchart Gardens.  It is enter via a narrow channel and is surrounded on 4 sides by tall forested ridges.  We had a day of good weather to get there and settle in prior to the blow. We walked to the entrance of Butchart Gardens This inlet has a lot to offer.  The bottom is heavy ...