Geo: 48.7931, -123.167Saturna Island (September 3rd 2015)As we motor towards Saturna Island, Janet and I decide to deal with our abundance of blackberries. We go into the galley, wash the berries and put them into a large pot with a little water and sugar to cook down into what we hope will be a yummy syrupy goo.Picking blackberries (and blueberries) is a childhood activity I remember very fondly. Though John is six years older than I am, I remember being with him when we lived WAY out in the country and us picking berries in the summer heat. Our mother made the best blackberry jam ever - and that is a task I have taken on myself. Every year my brothers get homemade blackberry jam from me. But, alas, here on the boat there are no ... read more

Geo: 48.7232, -123.338We awoke after spending the night in Royal Cove on Portland Island, and after breakfast (cereals and fruit with ample quantities of coffee), decide to go ashore to hike. John has equipped himself with a plastic bowl and lid - his intentions are clearly not hiking!Back in the dinghy, over to the dock we all start out together. John peels off at a "Y" in the trail to go berry picking down the path we followed yesterday. Janet, Jeff, Al and I start on the long trail around the island. It is beautiful - think verdant forest, green, green moss on the trees, on the ground, ferns - sword and bracken intermixed. Green and moist everywhere. Add to that the quiet of the forest except the occasional sound of a kingfisher.Al points out a ... read more

Geo: 48.6373, -123.328Sidney Island / Portland Island (August 30th, 2015)Last night when we moored at Sidney, I noticed a little tiny peninsula bit of land which looked like it had some sticks poking out of it. This morning when I went "up top", holy mackerel! There was a long wide 'spit' of land there! The tide had gone out, and land appeared.After Jeff made a breakfast of vegan french toast, juice and fruit, (yum!), Al and John got the dinghy off the front of the boat, and brought it around to the back. The dinghy seats 3 (or a weight of XX pounds). The 5 of us are within the XX pounds and clamor aboard. Clamor is not quite the right word; we all have our assigned seats based on weight distribution. Jeff and I are ... read more

Geo: 48.4644, -123.38Oh, Canada... (August 28, 2015) Here we are in Canada. Funny how a "short" trip like this takes the whole day and is so tiring. We dinked around the house "waiting" for our agreed upon depature time. A nice relaxing morning.When we arrived at the US Airport parking lot and turned off the car, Jeff looked at me and said, "Oh Crap!" Actually he didn't say "crap", but this is a family blog so we'll say "crap." "I forgot my hat!"Well, this is a disaster. Jeff bought this wonderful hat specifically for this trip - it was a Tilley and designed not to blow off, it was expensive, and it was still in our hall closet. Crap is right. Our flight to Seattle was uneventful, though it was a small plane, two seats per ... read more

Geo: 40.3927, -105.074After a very early morning, and an hour flight delay leaving Dallas, we arrived home safe but tired.A nap is in order as we have tickets to see the "Passing Zone Saves the World" tonight in Fort Collins. Home again, Home again, Hippety Hop!... read more