Mike and Beth's Adventures

Desolation Sound is a majestic section of British Columbia that is only accessible by boat or float plane.  It is located ~150 northwest of Anacortes Washington and south of Johnston Straits, which is the entry point into the Broughton Archipelago.   Desolation Sound is characterized by its abundance of islands, passages, snowcapped mountains, lush forests, wildlife, and snug coves which offer quiet anchorages and protection from winds and storms.  BC Parks has improved many of the bays and coves by providing stern tie rings, anchored in rock that allow you to drop your anchor and then the stern of your boat to shore.  Safely parked, you can launch your dinghy and explore the sea or land.  We did both.   Prideaux Haven  Homfray Channel offers a stunning view to the Northeast Rock ledges, above and below the water, demand your full attention as you enter Prideaux Haven Anchorage The outer bay is deep and preferred by the large boats which carr...

Smokehouse Bay - Marco Island February 7 th , 8 th , 2022 Today’s journey was 61 miles from Captiva Island to Marco Island on the west coast of Florida.  Along the way we cruised by Fort Meyers and Naples.  We only took one detour, as I followed the incorrect set of channel markers through the islands off Fort Meyers.  The detour became a "bonus loop" closer to the city front.  This part of the coast is solid with high rise buildings along the beach front.  They go on for miles and miles. The approach to Marco Island is via a constantly the changing estuary of the Marco River.  Our charts did not match the channel at all.  You have to look for the channel markers, which were accurate and provided safe access to the island.  Outside the channel you could see waves breaking on the shoals.  Variations in water color also help you find deeper water.  Another tactic is to watch a couple of “local” boats enter and follow their route.  W...

Mike out Exploring November 18th, 2021 Towboat captains use landmarks to identify their position on the river.  Sometimes they make sense and correspond with features on your charts.  Then sometimes they don't, so you have to use your imagination.  Here is one of those features where the reference name differs from that noted on the charts. The "Dolly Parton Bridge" I would like to share that the north entrance to Big Bayou Canot  is to starboard, as you head downriver, and just beyond the Dolly Parton Bridge. Big Bayou Canot  was our final anchorage on the Black Warrior River.  The shores were lined with cypress trees streaming long strands of Spanish Moss.  The north opening was deep and wide.  We anchored a quarter mile short of an island with some old fishing cabins.  The water was moving faster than expected, but we were under tidal influence from Mobile Bay, about 20 miles south.  To contend with the current, we deployed ...

November 15th, 16th, 17th, 2021 We arrived in Demopolis, excited to have reached this major checkpoint on our trip.   This is an inflection point, as it is the last river city before we reach Mobile, still 216 miles away.   So that fact makes Demopolis a major stop for groceries, topping off fuel and water tanks, and making sure the black water tank is empty on departure.   In the next stretch we will be exclusively anchoring out, no cushy marina nights which means  you have power, water, fuel, pump out, wifi, showers and access to shopping.   So the 4 or 5 days after we leave Demopolis we will need to be entirely self-sufficient.   As when skippering any decent pirate vessel, our first concern when we hit port is our wine supply.   How can pirates adventure without sufficient quantities of the fruit of the vine?   Thank goodness we were back in Alabama as, unlike Mississippi, we could again purchase wine at the groceries store.    ...

Amy Marie is in the water!  We've traveled 3840 miles from Everett Washington to splash Amy Marie in the waters of the Tennessee River.  The Alabama hills are green and lush with trees down to the water.  The mornings are cool and crisp.  Days have warmed to the high 70's with winds rising in the afternoons.   The biggest treat has been southern hospitality.  Beth had contacted a gentleman named Bill, the local AGLCA Harbor Host, whose role is to be your local concierge.  He made our first day much easier.  We arrived after driving 330 miles from Little Rock Arkansas. He and his neighbor Hal met us at the launch ramp and helped us get the boat in the water.  They then drove me over to the marina so we could see our slip assignment.  This greatly simplified moving from the ramp to the dock.  We returned to the boat and motored a short distance to the marina.  Upon arrival we pumped out and then tied up in our slip.  Bi...