Mike and Beth's Adventures

  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...

We have completed the nautical portion of our summer of '23 in British Columbia.  Amy Marie has been hauled and it getting a well deserved "spa" treatment in Olympia Washington.  When we return, she will be sporting new bottom paint and be shining from a good washing and waxing. In the meantime, we are off on a road trip to the Canadian Rockies.  How could we be this close and not make the effort to see this fabulous area.  Our first impression is that the BIG up here puts Texas big to shame.  The vistas in every direction are breathtaking.  It is amazing that the earth's crust can be twisted and thrust at such harsh angles towards the sky.  The striations in the rock provide emphasis to the forces which displaced them.     Unlike many mountain towns that were initially were mining settlements, Banff got its start in the 1880's as a tourist destination.  During the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, in 1883, the stunning ...

Refuge Cove is exactly as its name suggests.  It is a refuge from weather and a place to recharge and provision.  There are only a couple of spots in Desolation Sounds at which you can accomplish these tasks. As there are no roads in this region, all supplies arrive via boat or plane.  Knowing this, you will have the best selection immediately following the arrival of the re-supply boat.  The facility is managed by a resident Coop of twenty-two families.  During the boating season they rotate through a portion of the positions with other staffers being seasonal workers.  All were extremely helpful and friendly.   A navigation aide marks the entrance to Refuge Cove.   We berthed with our bow facing out.  This orientation allows an easy departure. Beth points out the signpost offering direction information... This is the fanciest book exchange we've seen at any marina. It was like a small library! The view out over the docks. All was ...

Beth celebrates our crossing of Mobile Bay November 21st, 2021 Lulu's Jimmy Buffet's sister, Lulu, has a place on the Gulf Intra-Coastal Waterway (GICW) that is a wonderful stop to reward yourself for having completed the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and successfully made the transition from fresh to salt water.  She has thoughtfully provide guest dockage so you can tie up just outside.  It is easy to find on the north side  of the channel in Gulf Shores Alabama.  The timing is great too.  We arrived just after the lunch crowd departed, around 2pm.  We could see other Loopers were already in the attached Homeport Marina.  So overnight berthing is available too.  We recognized the names of boats whose crews we meet while travelling the inland waters. I'm a happy camper So what do you have to eat?  The menu had many good items, including lots of seafood choices.  In my mind though, the choice was obvious.   I didn't even need a m...