Mike and Beth's Adventures

Sidney Folk & Fiddle Festival   The highlight of our port of call in Sidney was the opportunity to attend day 1 of the Sidney Folk and Fiddle Festival at the Mary Winspear Community Centre.  As the name suggests, it was a celebration of Canadian Folk and Blue Grass artists.  We were fortunate to see the following performances: Jake Vaadeland & The Sturgeon River Boys :  Jake Vaadeland’s style was a blend of Bluegrass and 50’s rockabilly.  is song Retro Man was one of my favorites.  Stephen Fearing :  He could be the “Pete Seeger” of Canada.  He spoke to social issues and connected with listeners on a visceral level. The Fretless :  This has to be the highest energy string quartet group I’ve ever heard.  Their music really fires you up.  I played cello for 10 years, and saw bow techniques that were completely new to me.  A singer name Madeleine Roger joined them for several songs. Jake Vaadeland and the Sturgeon ...

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...