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And So It Begins

And So It Begins

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Our European journey started off smoothly. Our driver showed up as arranged, the ferry to Seattle was right on time, and we sped through check-in at the airport in near record time. Then I almost caused us to miss our flight.

Things had gone so well that we found ourselves

One More Thing…

One More Thing…

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I didn’t mention Tumbo Island yesterday because I didn’t expect it to be very interesting. It seemed dull in comparison to Cabbage because it wasn’t covered by screaming paddle board jockeys.

Tumbo is another example of an Island who’s owner deeded his property to the province

The End, eh?

The End, eh?

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Our six-week Canadian voyage ends at tiny Cabbage Island.

I was surprised to find so many people here when we arrived just after Noon. Because there is a sand beach and swimmable water, the place is popular with visitors from the BC mainland and Vancouver Island. They zip across the

Swimmin’ Pools, Movie Stars

Swimmin’ Pools, Movie Stars

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Come and listen to a story about a man named Jed(ediah) 
A poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed, 
Then one day he was shootin at some food, 
And up through the ground came a bubblin crude. 

Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.

The Ballad of Jed Clampett

Photos from the Sea

Photos from the Sea

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This happens every time I take a trip. Many photos fit nicely into a narrative, some do not. Here are a few that didn’t.

The Gulf Islands have become a parking lot for freighters waiting to unload at Vancouver. During the pandemic, the crew was not allowed to leave

Pirates Cove

Pirates Cove

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I’ve been avoiding Pirates Cove on De Courcy Island for years. It’s difficult to enter, anchors don’t hold well, and it’s so popular that boats stern-tie (more in this later) so they don’t bump into each other.

But we had a couple of extra days

Princess Louisa Inlet

Princess Louisa Inlet

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The journey from Vancouver to Princess Louisa Inlet was both a return to a favorite place and something new. It was our first time cruising north along the coast of the mainland, known as the Sunshine Coast. It was also our first time with a guest aboard for more than
A Gabriola Island Bike Ride

A Gabriola Island Bike Ride

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First off, let’s get this straight: it’s not GAB-re-ola, it’s GAY-brie-ola. Why? Canada.

Silva Bay, on the east side of Gabriola, is a popular jumping-off point for boaters intending to cross the Strait of Georgia. That’s because Silva Bay opens directly into the Strait, so no

The Land That Time Forgot

The Land That Time Forgot

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Pssst! Wanna see a hippie?l

Galiano Island is a place where counterculture lives. Catch the free bus to the Hummingbird Pub, and Tommy Transit will hand you a rhythm instrument so you can join in the neverending concert. Rock on as the old school bus tries to make it

Genoa Bay

Genoa Bay

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All you folks who’ve been to Italy listen up! This small bay on the eastern shore of Vancouver Island is not GEN-oa Bay, it’s Ge-NO-a Bay. Get it right. Don’t annoy the locals.

Not that anyone around here is easily annoyed. Genoa Bay is a friendly place

A Little Jack

A Little Jack

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It seems like I’ve heard about Lynchburg, Tennessee forever. I can thank the Jack Daniels advertising department for that.

To the casual observer, there’s not much to Lynchburg; basically a single block of shops and restaurants. But what is there is attractive and the surroundings are classic southern

Fairyland

Fairyland

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Fairytales. Like kinky sex, sweet cocktails, and Jerry Lewis movies, they seem fun at first but can turn on you in an instant.

No one plumbed the dark depths of these happy tales better than Stephen Sondheim in his musical Into the Woods. Well, almost no one. Let’s not

Joe-Jah

Joe-Jah

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“Joe-Jah” is how a friend of my parents, Hettie Bates, pronounced Georgia. She was a force of nature, loud and funny. I was told she was issued one of the first IBM Selectric typewriters because she could type so fast that she would jam the keys on a conventional electric
The Towing Museum

The Towing Museum

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Susan assured me that we would not want to miss the National Towing Museum during our visit to Chattanooga. She was right. Who wouldn’t like to see the very first tow truck or a collection of beautifully-restored examples?

Not to mention the Towing Hall of Fame, honoring members of