Over the years when I’ve told people I’m going out on my boat for Thanksgiving, they give me a look like I’m crazy and that I’ll be having a subpar Thanksgiving. Festive dinners on the boat are no different than what people choose to do at home. Some people like rustic informal, some choose microwave meals, while others like formal, …why would people think just because you’re on a boat it would be any different? Whatever suits your style, a…
A few years back while anchored in Winter Cove off Saturna Island, we decided to take the tender out and venture over to Bennett Bay off Mayne Island. Bennett Bay is a lovely afternoon outing, it offers a long sandy beach for endless fun and a nice short trail to Campbell Point. Bennett Bay offers no dock, but the big sandy beach makes it very easy to take a tender ashore. Bennett Bay is part of the Gulf Island National…
I have to admit that while I enjoy crab, I’m not one of those people where dinner can consist of a whole crab on my plate paired with a bowl of melted butter. I enjoy crab meat in things, but not a dinner of crab with a side of butter. As a boater I sometimes get weird looks from people when they hear this as I seem to be a minority! This past week I stumbled onto a recipe for…
The days may be shorter and the mornings may be dewy, but there is still fantastic fall cruising to be done. Over the next month there are four great cruising destinations. Yes, three of the options may be on Salt Spring Island, but if you’re someone who likes to escape the summer crowds fall cruising can be ideal. Here’s four great options for cruising ideas this fall. Fall Fair – September 16 to September 17 The Salt Spring Island…
British Columbia’s west coast offers endless places to explore by boat. From the Gulf Islands, Desolation Sound, and the Broughton’s, to Nootka Sound and Quatsino Sound, there are endless options for your boating adventures! Amongst all these fantastic options is lesser known Hesquiat Harbour in Clayoquot Sound. Hesquiat Harbour was the home of Ada Annie Rae-Arthur, better know as Cougar Annie (June 19, 1888 to April 28, 1985). Cougar Annie was a pioneer who settled on a remote homestead in…
I love morning coffee time. That quiet part of the day where you can just sit almost cuddling your coffee, pondering your thoughts for the day. The only thing that can make morning coffee time better is fresh baking! While I do love baking from scratch on the boat, there is definitely a time and place for cheater baking. The other year I discovered frozen cinnamon buns and croissants at Country Grocery. Always on the hunt for something new to try…
Forget the crowds, Dionisio Point Provincial Park on the north tip of Galiano Island is one of the best sandy beaches in the Gulf Islands. This beach is absolutely gorgeous, and as it faces the Straight of Gorgia, the water is actually swimmable! This beach is passed regularly by boaters going through Porlier Pass, but as it’s marine access only and doesn’t offer great anchorage, this beach is largely visited by powerboats and kayaks. Dionisio Point Provincial Park does offer…
Wake up in the morning wanting a proper bacon and eggs breakfast and saddened when you realize you don’t have any potatoes for hash browns? This used to be us until some foodie friends introduced us to dehydrated hash browns, they are fantastic! Ok, I know, dehydrated hash browns, really? If I didn’t have foodie friends introduce us I probably would have snubbed my nose up at them, but yes, on the boat they are perfect. Dehydrated mashed potatoes still…
Montague Harbour is a popular anchorage in the Gulf Islands, and not without good reason. This popular anchorage offers a wide range of activities right at your footsteps. The long standing iconic Bakery Boat may be gone, but with a freshened up Marina over the last few years under new ownership, Montague is a lovely destination. Saturday Go For a Walk and Explore the Beach Take your tender to the dinghy dock and go for a lovely walk along the…
The Broughton’s is a great cruising destination in the summer, offering beautiful west coast scenery off the northern part of Vancouver Island. Cruising in the Broughton’s one can feel a little more isolated, as you’re sailing around with fewer boats feeling a little small amongst the huge surrounding wilderness. Sailors can always find a twist on the traditional pub crawl, meaning that when all the random boats head to the few marina’s for the night, the marina’s turns into defacto pubs. Boaters…