Land Travel in the USA

Location:  Victoria, BC

We spent the month of October traveling in the USA.

First stop - New Hampshire for our niece Erin's wedding in Wolfeboro, NH.

The siblings - Julie, Pete and Dave

Cousins of the bride - Derek and Heather

Parents of the bride - Cathy and Pete.

The happy couple - Erin and Mike.

The photo booth - Julie, Ben, Jane, Lynne, Pete, Derek, Heather, B, John and Dave. 

After the wedding, we spent a few days relaxing and spending time with family in Freedom, NH, on Lake Ossipee, near Pete and Cathy's house.  Julie spent the week with us; Ben, Heather and Derek joined us for the weekend of the wedding and Patti and Al came up from Beverly Farms, MA to spend an afternoon.

Cathy enjoying a boat ride on Lake Ossipee.

Our rental house and dock on Lake Ossipee.

Patti with her granddaughter Sienna enjoying a boat ride with Dave at the wheel.

Next Stop - Alabama for a few days on the farm.  We spent most of our time getting the 5th wheel trailer ready for our road trip to Las Vegas.

Our friend Keith worked on getting Big Red (my inheritance - a 1971 International
pickup) road worthy.  We took her into Gantt, AL to put some fuel in the tanks.

Cotton growing on the farm.

Our 5th wheel trailer headed down the "driveway" at the start of our road trip.
  It's the first time we've moved it out from under the barn since we bought the boat.

Next - Our RV trip from Alabama to Las Vegas, NV:

• Biloxi, MS:  We arrived in Biloxi the day after Hurricane Nate came ashore.  It was a fast moving storm and there was very little damage.
• Kinder, LA: A stop at Casino Coushatta to try our luck at the Pai Gow Poker tables.  We managed to leave the casino with a little more money than we started with.  As we drove along I-10 from Louisiana to Houston, the damage from Hurricane Harvey was heart-rending.    Streets in housing developments were lined with furniture, carpet, drywall, etc. from people's homes that had flooded during the storm.  Cars damaged by the water filled acres of land on both the east and west sides of Houston.  The overall impact of the storm was hard to imagine until actually seeing the devastation.
• Austin, TX:  We spent two nights in Austin visiting the kids and the grandkids. We had supper with Heather and Derek one night.  The next day I went with Cat to watch Maggie and Bubby at dance class.  After class we met up with Dave and Ben for a sushi supper.    

Ben (Bubby) getting ready for his Funky - Monkey dance class.

Maggie in her Jazz dance class.

Ben with the snake from the RV.

The snake

When we got back to the trailer, there was a surprise visitor (a snake) waiting for us on the kitchen counter in the RV.

• Van Horn, TX:  A one night stop in the middle of West Texas.
• Deming, NM:  We stopped at the St. Clair Winery and spent the night in their parking lot.  It's part of Harvest Hosts, a group of wineries, farms, orchards and other businesses that let RVers park for the night in exchange for patronizing the business.  We visited the tasting room and enjoyed the wines they had to offer.

Lunch break at a New Mexico rest stop.

Dave in the St. Clair winery tasting room.

• Tucson, AZ:  We stopped in Tucson to visit my Aunt Margaret and cousin Bonnie.

Aunt Margaret, B and Cousin Bonnie

• Cottonwood, AZ:  We spent two nights in Cottonwood.  The first night we went to old town for supper and a stroll.  The next day we drove up to Sedona to admire the red rock formations that surround the town and to hike Oak Creek Canyon.

Oak Creek Canyon, near Sedona, AZ

B outside Indian Gardens restaurant, Oak Creek Canyon

• Las Vegas, NV:  We arrived in Las Vegas on Wednesday, October 18th, just in time to meet up with some of B's friends from Houston.  Since "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" we don't have any pictures... but we did have a good time.
• Washington, D.C.:  I left Dave in Vegas to fend for himself while I went on my annual trip with my mom, Mrs. Donnelly (Barbara) and Marilyn.  This year we went to Washington D.C. for a week of touring and sight-seeing.  

Marilyn and I arrived a day early and spent Sunday doing a few things that weren't included on our tour.  We went to the US Botanic Garden, had lunch in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, took an overview tour at the Newseum, and then went to an organ concert at the National Cathedral.  Back at the hotel, we attended orientation and met the other folks who would be on our tour.  Mom and Barbara arrived later that evening.

Orchids at the US Botanic Garden

The Washington D.C. marathon - we watched the runners come around the 
  Garfield Monument traffic circle near the Botanic Garden.

Marilyn and the organ at the National Cathedral.

Monday:  Our day started with a lecture about media and politics.  Next we boarded our bus and went to the Jefferson Memorial and then to the Kennedy Center for lunch and a tour.  After lunch, we went to the Saudi Arabian Embassy and then to the US Air Force Memorial.  Back to the hotel for a short rest and then to supper at a nearby restaurant.  After supper, we went to the North Lawn of the White House.

The Hall of Nations at the Kennedy Center

A view of the White House from the North Lawn

Members of our tour group model traditional clothing at the Saudi Arabian Embassy

Tuesday:  This morning our lecture was about the Supreme Court.  After the lecture, we hopped on the bus and went to the National mall to see the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Veterans Memorial.  For lunch we went to the National Gallery of Art Cafe and then spent some time touring the Gallery.  Our last stop of the afternoon was the World War II Memorial.  Back to the hotel, a short rest and then supper at a nearby restaurant.

Our tour group in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

The Korean War Veterans Memorial.

Barbara and Louise at the Lincoln Memorial.

Wednesday:  No lecture this morning.  We boarded our bus and went to Capitol Hill for visits to the Supreme Court Building, the Library of Congress - Jefferson Building and the Capitol Building.  We spent the afternoon at the Smithsonian museums.  Mom, Marilyn and I sent to the Air and Space Museum and Barbara went to the American Indian Museum.  It was our free night, so the four of us went to Georgetown for supper and then went to the Kennedy Center to see the play Shear Madness.

The Capitol Building.

Thursday:  Our lecture this morning was about Money and Politics.  Next we visited the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and then went for lunch at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.  Marilyn spent her afternoon there while Mom, Barbara and I went to the African American Museum.  Back to the hotel for a short rest, then to a restaurant in Arlington, VA for supper.  After supper, we went to see "The Price" at the Mead Center - Arena Stage.

Our tour group near the Washington Monument.

Friday:  Today was our last day and our travel day.  We started with a lecture about ranked choice voting and then everyone said their goodbyes and headed home.  I flew back to Las Vegas and Dave picked me up at the airport.

We spent the weekend in Las Vegas, then parked the truck and RV in a storage lot and flew back to the boat in Victoria, BC on November 1st.  We have been settling in to our winter routine, doing chores and maintenance, working out at the gym and exploring nearby pubs and restaurants.

Until next time...

West Coast Vancouver Island - South

Location:  Victoria, BC

Cruising the southern half of the west coast of Vancouver Island has been interesting.  It has been a mix of marinas and anchorages and civilization slowly snuck up on us as we got closer and closer to Victoria.

Seabiscuit at the dock, Westview Marina, Tahsis, BC

Sunday, September 10^th, Tahsis to Moutcha Bay Resort:  We left the Westview Marina dock at 9:00 a.m. and headed south down Tahsis Inlet and then north up Tlupana Inlet.  Our chartplotter GPS quit working so we used our back-up system on the iPad.  We wanted to stop at Critter Cove Marina for the night but as we got close we could see that they were shut down for the season.  We continued north and decided to try Moutcha Bay Resort, a new sport fishing resort located in Moutcha Bay at the north end of Tlupana Inlet.  Their primary business is fishing charters and they aren’t really set-up for cruising boats.  We tied up at one of the finger piers, no power and no water, and walked up to the lodge to check-in.  They were in the process of the end of the season shut-down, the restaurant / bar was closed and the resort crew had a serious case of end-of-season-itis.

Salmon caught by a fisherman operating out of Westview Marina, Tahsis, BC

From the bow of the boat, we could see salmon gill-net fishermen setting their nets just outside the marina.  We watched three stellar sea lions swim up to the nets, work a salmon out, carry it about 100 meters away and then thrash their heads side to side above the water to kill the fish and break it into edible chunks.  A flock of seagulls swarmed over the sea lion’s heads hoping to get a piece of the salmon.  Although it must have been frustrating for the fishermen to see their catch get taken, it was fascinating to watch.

Old growth cedar tree in the forest along the boardwalk to the hotsprings

Dave walking along the boardwalk to the hotsprings

Monday, September 11^th, Moutcha Bay to Hot Springs Cove:  We left Moutcha Bay at 8:15.  It was raining and the wind and seas outside of Nootka Sound didn’t sound very promising.  The weather forecast was for a front to move in later in the day.  We cruised south of Nootka Light Station for a look at the seas and decided they were ok to make our run south along the coast and around Estevan Point.  The seas were confused and we saw some wind gusts greater than 25 knots.  We made it around Estevan Point at 12:30, crossed Hesquiat Harbour and turned north into Hot Springs Cove about 14:00.  We dropped anchor and settled in just north of the Hot Springs Park public dock.  The Hot Springs are one of the prime tourist destinations for people visiting Tofino and we had a good view of the tour boats and float planes coming and going.

View of the tidal pools from the hotsprings

Tuesday, September 12^th, Hot Springs Cove to West White Pine Cove:  We launched the dinghy and tied up at the public dock for a visit to the hot springs.  It’s a mile walk through the forest along a boardwalk to get to the hot springs.  We timed it right and when we got to the springs we had them to ourselves.  We sat and enjoyed the soak in the hot pools with a great view across Sharp Point and Clayoquot Sound.

We heaved anchor early afternoon and voyaged around the north and west sides of Flores Island to West White Pine Cove, just northwest of Bawden Bay.  This was a beautiful anchorage, well-protected and calm.  We anchored in the middle of the outer cove.  We took advantage of the sun and did some reading on the stern and some outside chores.  As the sun went down, we saw a bear feeding on the grassy flats on the east side of the cove and a dolphin feeding nearby.

Mergansers, West White Pine Cove

Kayaking, West White Pine Cove, notice how clear the water is

Wednesday, September 13^th, West White Pine Cove:  We launched the kayaks and went for a paddle around the inner and outer coves and explored the mouths of several creeks that drain into the coves.  Another sunny day so we spent the afternoon doing outside chores.  After supper, I went for a sunset kayak cruise around the coves looking for wildlife.  I didn’t see any bears but I did see a weasel-like animal on the rocks along the shore.  He was very curious and scampered back and forth while checking me out.

B out for a sunset kayak tour, West White Pine Cove

Weasel on the shoreline rocks, West White Pine Cove

Thursday, September 14^th, West White Pine Cove to Tranquilito Cove:  We heaved anchor at 7:45 and cruised from West Clayoquot Sound to East Clayoquot Sound via the Matlset Narrows on the north side of Meares Island.  It was sunny and clear and a nice day for a cruise amongst the islands.  We dropped anchor just after 12:00, had our lunch and settled in.  Tranquilito Cove is a small cove on the east side of Tranquil Inlet, very picturesque with rock walls on the north side of the cove and a good view of the grassy flats at the head of Tranquil Inlet.  We sat on the stern and did some reading while enjoying the afternoon sun, then did a few outside chores.  For supper we barbequed steaks.  We saw a bear walking along the rocks on the south side of the cove.

Dave doing an outside chore (sanding and painting), Tranquilito Cove

Seals sunning themselves, Tranquil Inlet

Friday, September 15^th, Tranquilito Cove to Ucluelet:  We got underway at 7:00 and cruised out of Clayoquot Sound, around Amphitrite Point and into Ucluelet Inlet.  We docked in the Ucluelet Small Craft Harbour and walked into town for lunch.  We spent the afternoon planning our next few days of cruising, did some laundry and went to the Float House Restaurant, located in the small craft harbour, for supper.

View of Tofino

Sea otter near Ucluelet, BC

Saturday, September 16^th, Ucluelet:  Saturday morning we walked up to the grocery store to stock up with enough stuff to keep us fed until we got to Victoria.  For lunch, we went to a nearby bowling alley/restaurant/pub.  For our afternoon activity, we walked the trail around the Amphitrite Point Lighthouse then walked back along the coast road.  We stopped at the Black Rock Resort for happy hour.  They have a beautiful view of the ocean, the beach and the rocky shoreline.

Tree on the trail near Amphitrite Lighthouse

Amphitrite Lighthouse

Sunday, September 17^th, Ucluelet to Turtle Bay:  We left Ucluelet at 8:30 before the rain started and the wind picked up.  We cruised about 11 nm to Turtle Bay (Joes Bay) between Dodd, Willis and Turtle Islands.  These islands are part of The Broken Group in Barkley Sound.  The weather for the next few days was forecast to be wet and windy so we tucked in to wait it out.

Monday / Tuesday, September 18-19, Turtle Bay:  Monday it rained most of the day so we stayed on the boat, reading, unlaxing and doing inside chores.  Tuesday morning was clear.  We finished some chores in the morning.  Tuesday afternoon we launched the dinghy and went fishing west and north of Dodd Island.  We didn’t catch anything.  A light rain started at about 15:00 so we went back to the boat for the rest of the afternoon.

Sunrise, Turtle Bay

Wednesday, September 20^th, Turtle Bay to Bamfield:  We left Turtle Bay at 10:45 and headed toward Bamfield.  We stopped to do some fishing along the way but didn’t catch anything but we did see a whale feeding in Trevor Channel.  We cruised into Bamfield Inlet and tied up to the public dock on the west side of town.  The town is divided by the inlet and has facilities both on the east and west sides.  We walked the boardwalk along the shore to the coast guard station, then walked the dirt road across Mills Peninsula to Brady’s Beach.  We picked up a pizza from the store on our way back to the boat.

Seal lion swimming between the docks, Bamfield

Bamfield Water Taxi

Thursday, September 21^st, Bamfield:  Another beautiful, sunny day.  We spent the morning fresh-water rinsing and stowing our fishing gear and doing maintenance.  We did some outside chores, took down the bimini, stowed the stern-tie line and went for a walk along the boardwalk.  For supper, we launched the dinghy, crossed the inlet to the east side of town and ate at the local pub.

Brady Beach, Bamfield, BC

Dave enjoying a cold beer on the patio at the Bamfield Pub

The Francis Barkley, a ferry that runs between Port Alberni and Bamfield

Friday, September 22^nd, Bamfield to Port Renfrew:  We had a nice two day weather window to make the run down Juan de Fuca Strait to Victoria.  The first leg, from Bamfield to Port Renfrew, was 42 nms.  We left the dock at 7:45, exited Barkley Sound and turned east around Cape Beale.  There was a low swell and very little wind and the voyage was uneventful.   We saw three orcas heading west, one male with a huge dorsal fin and two females.  We turned into Port San Juan mid-afternoon and tied up at the dock at the Pacific Gateway Marina.  For supper we walked down to the Port Renfrew Pub near the government dock.

Port Renfrew Pub

Orca dorsal fin

Saturday, September 23^rd, Port Renfrew to Esquimalt:  The second leg of the voyage, from Port Renfrew to Victoria, was 50 nms.  Another nice day to travel with very little swell and light winds.  As we neared Sooke, the water was full of small fishing vessels and we saw a few reel in fish.  We didn’t see any whales but as we got close to Victoria, we saw lots of whale watching tour boats.  Esquimalt Harbour is only five miles from the Victoria Inner Harbour and is the base for Canada’s Pacific Naval Fleet.  We pulled in and anchored south of Cole Island which used to be a munitions storage area between 1860 and 1938.

Fisgard Lighthouse at the entrance to Esquimalt Harbour

Sunday, September 24^th, Esquimalt:  Today we launched the dinghy and went sightseeing around the harbor.  We landed at the float on Cole Island and explored the old munitions storage buildings.  The tide was up so we were able to cross the tidal flats and cruise underneath the Island Highway Bridge that crosses Mill Stream.  There is some very creative graffiti under the bridge along with areas used by skateboarders.  We beached the dinghy at Parsons Bridge Park, walked along the shoreline path and then went up the stairs to Six Mile House for happy hour and supper.  Six Mile House was established in 1855 and holds the longest continuous pub license in the province.

Ammunition storage building, Cole Island

Ammunition storage building, Cole Island

Dinghy beached near Parsons Bridge Park

Six Mile House Pub, Victoria, BC

Monday, September 25^th, Esquimalt to Victoria:  Our last voyage of the summer season.  We heaved anchor at 9:30 for the voyage to the Victoria Inner Harbour.  The inner harbor is still busy with tourist activities, several whale watching tours were leaving the harbor as we were entering and three float planes landed.  We are tied up at the Wharf Street docks and are in the process of settling in for the winter.

Seabiscuit in her winter berth, Wharf Street Marina, Victoria, BC

Tuesday / Wednesday, September 26th & 27, Victoria:  We're spending our time running errands and getting the boat ready to leave it at the dock for the month of October while we do some land based traveling.  Tomorrow we fly to New Hampshire to visit family and to attend our niece, Erin's, wedding.

Until next time…

Topiary orcas near the Empress Hotel, Victoria, BC