Mike and Beth's Adventures

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...

Sidney Spit is a curving fine grained sand beach on the north end of Sidney Island.  It is maintained by Parks Canada and offers mooring balls, a dock and campsites on land.  The town of Sidney is two miles to the west.  This closeness to Sidney makes it a popular destination for a all watercraft.  It is enjoyed on both daytrips as well as overnight stays.  On summer weekends, a ferry provides access to the island.  We chose a mooring ball, $14/night, and dinghied to shore to hike the perimeter of the park.  We also saw many boats on anchor.  Anchoring is free but is discouraged to preserve the eel grass habitat on the sea floor.  Travelers must be self-contained as there is no water, pump-out, or power available. The public dock at Sidney Spit Amy Marie tie to a mooring ball with the sandy beach in the background   The views from our mooring were wonderful.  We watched a Norwegian Cruise ship transit the channel on the far side...

Beth on the Park Dock in Prevost Harbor on Stuart Island After 50 years I returned to Stuart Island.   In the early 1970’s I tagged along with Lee and Lorraine Sims and their extended family in a 3-boat convoy to the San Juan Islands.   I had not seen or visited this wonderland until they invited me along.   That trip was the moment I fell in love with the Pacific Northwest.   On this trip we are visiting some of the spots at which we stopped on that initial exploration.    Mike on the Park Dock at Reid Harbor.  Amy Marie in the background. The Reid Harbor dinghy dock A shore side campsite with Amy Marie in the distance As we have more time to linger on this trip, many more locations will be found, explored and enjoyed.   The beauty which originally captivated my imagination is still present.   Just this morning we awoke to a family of otters playing in the water and on a nearby dock.   Yesterday a deer casually walked by us as we sat ea...

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...