Greg's Wanderings

Author: Greg H

  • Two-Ferry Trip

    Two-Ferry Trip

    April 2 – Thursday morning we got up early to start a travel day that would include two ferry crossings and one international border transit.  Our objective was to rendezvous with Pam’s cousin, Karen and her husband, Roland at their home in White Rock, BC.  We would then load our stuff into their car and drive north to catch a second ferry, eventually reaching their vacation home on the Sechelt Inlet.

    Traveling around Puget Sound and the Salish Sea means taking the long way around.  When we arrived at Karen & Roland’s house in White Rock, we could look across the water and see Turtlehead Mountain – where we started our morning – about 27 miles away.  But getting there meant driving 20 minutes across the island to get in line for the 8:55 ferry and waiting an hour to board. Then a ferry ride of just over an hour back to Anacortes and then a then a 90 minute dash up I-5.  We were asked to be to their home by noon so we had time to leave for the next ferry.  As we got off the boat in Anacortes, GPS said our arrival would be 11:50. 

    Busy morning in the San Juans as two other ferries cross near us.

    Our travel was smooth sailing until just south of Bellingham, where we encountered warning signs that I-5 was closed ahead.  We took a detour that added another six minutes to our route.  Fortunately, there were only a couple cars ahead of us at the border crossing and we passed through without incident.

    Our official greeter at the Canadian border

    We quickly moved our bags to Roland’s car and added in the lunch Karen had packed of us.  Then it was a 90 minute drive north through Vancouver to the ferry terminal at Horseshoe Bay.  The BC Ferries are much newer (and nicer) than the Washington State Ferries.  We had a pleasant ride around Bowen Island and across the bay to Gibsons, where we disembarked.  Another 30 minutes up the coastline and we arrived at a beautiful home in Sechelt.  The town of Sechelt is on the Sunshine Coast of BC.  Their house, however is on the inlet that is only accessed from way further north.

    After an Indian curry dinner in town, we went back to the house where Karen & Roland’s son and his family had joined us.


  • Orcas Island – Day 2

    Orcas Island – Day 2

    March 31 – Tuesday morning, we awoke to another beautiful blue sky. It was cloudy overnight, so the temperature was a little warmer than the previous morning.

    After a hearty breakfast, we headed out into the garden for another morning of earning our keep as Ellen’s house guests.

    I ran the rototiller while Pam helped lay out more of the garden. This is the fourth year that Pam has helped with the organization of the garden and her efforts over the years have turned it into a beautiful work of art that also produces lots of food.

    Pam adds wood ash before planting the shallots.
    After tilling, the potato boxes are put in place and eyes are planted. The adjacent wire fencing will having beans planted once the soil warms a bit more.

    We spent the morning in the garden and then ventured up to the marina where we met up with Pam‘s friend Linda; and Ross, who is Pam‘s partner in the ownership of the Island Gypsy.  

    We left Deer Harbor and headed out to Spieden Island, which is an uninhabited nature preserve. Back in the 1970s there was a failed attempt to introduce it as a wild game hunting preserve and to this day several non-native species roam the island.

    Our next stop was a sheltered channel on Stuart Island, where we docked and had a lovely picnic lunch. We’re just a couple miles from the Canadian border and our cell phones keep welcoming us to Canada as our signal catches  closest cell tower across the border on Pender Island.  

    Island Gypsy
    Pam and Greg on a cruise on the Island Gypsy.
    Moufon sheep at rest on Speiden Island
    Stellar sea loins basking in the sun.
    Juvenile bald eagle on Speiden Island.
    Having a picnic lunch on Stuart Island with Pam’s friends Linda & Ross.

    Once we got back ashore, we rushed over to Pam’s former nextdoor neighbors for a dinner party. Great food and conversation with two lovely couples. Our hostess, Sheila is an artist and made the sculpture below to share her feelings.

    Our dinner host created this sculpture. It was part of the No Kings Day event on Orcas.
  • A visit to the San Juans

    A visit to the San Juans

    March 29-30 – Not every adventure needs to take you overseas. And while my next epic hike is just a few weeks away, I wanted to share a delightful trip I’m on with my girlfriend, Pam, to the San Juan Islands and British Columbia. 

    Last year, Pam sold her place on Orcas Island and moved to the Oregon Coast.  She wanted to visit to the Island so I can meet her friends.

    Sunday, we got an early start and drove up from Portland to Anacortes to catch the ferry.  We stopped at a farmer’s co-op in Mount Vernon and picked up a whole bunch of vegetable starts for her friend, Ellen, who is hosting us during our visit.

    We caught the afternoon ferry to Orcas and arrived at Ellen’s beautiful place near Deer Harbor.  Her family has owned a huge expanse of land on this end of the island for nearly 50 years.  Her father built several houses, a large shop, barn, greenhouse and saw mill.  I should have listed the sawmill first, as all the buildings,, along with the fencing and other structures were built with wood milled on site. The property has numerous lakes and beautiful pastures for the horses they stable.

    Pam and I are staying in a guest log cabin on a little bluff overlooking the gardens, barn and one of the lakes.  We are going to earn our keep by helping Ellen get her garden going for the spring.  But first, we had to enjoy our first sunset. 

    View from the deck on our cabin.

    We got up Monday to a chilly, but bright and blue morning and enjoyed a hearty breakfast, thanks to the provisions Ellen left for us in the cabin.  Then it was off to work.  First order of business was to weed the 16 raised bed gardens and refill them with compost.  Having a horse stable, sawdust, last years garden clippings and a peat bog on premise means there are all the needed ingredients on site to make the most delicious soil blend for veggies to thrive.  A dozen or so wheelbarrow loads and all the beds were topped off and ready for planting.  Hungry voles have been a big problem in prior years, so every bed was first planted with various members of the allium family (garlic, shallots, onions, etc.).  Then, in went the colder weather starts:  broccoli, kale, lettuce, peas and celery.

    We took a break in the afternoon for a “forest goat hike,” which is exactly what it sounds like.  Ellen’s next door neighbor, Mike, lead us on a hike through Ellen’s property along with his two border collies, Zoe and Cooper and seven of his ten goats.  Ellen and her Bernese Mountain Dog, Oskar also came along.

    We finished off the evening with dinner at a local Irish Pub and then sat around the wood burning stove in our cozy cabin.

    View of the garden from our cabin. This shot taken before the start of our efforts to prep for planting.
    “Before” photo of the garden area
    Raised beds weeded, refilled and ready for planting.
    Real 2×12 timber frames. Thanks to the on-site lumber mill.
    Efforts wrapped up for the day.
    Goats on a forest hike
    Zoe the border collie and Cream Cheese the goat.
    A view of the cabin as sun sets.

  • Day 35 – homeward bound

    Day 35 – homeward bound

    Oct 15

    My accommodations last night were extremely comfortable and convenient. The place was billed as “The Coolest Place Near the Airport ” and it lived up to the name. It was a large private residence that had converted its upper level to four guest rooms.

    Mine was huge. I swear, my private bath was larger than the hotel room I stayed in my first two nights in Lisbon last month.

    My flight today departs at 7:10. I received multiple alerts to arrive at least 3 hours early, as the EU just implemented new entry/exit processes on Monday and border control was taking significantly longer than normal. That meant getting to the airport just after 4 am.

    I was all packed before going to bed and set my alarm for 3:30. I woke up naturally at 3:15 and was out the door in short order. It was a pleasant walk to the airport as the temperature was already 18 C (64 F). The way was well lit and much busier than I expected given the early hour.

    Since I had purchased hiking poles and a larger pocket knife since arriving, I decided to check my backpack to avoid having to leave those items behind.

    After dropping off my bag, we hit our first snag, as to get to our gates (and passport control) we first had to pass through the duty free mall – which didn’t open until 4:30. It wasn’t a long wait and I was in the first wave, so when I did get to passport control the were only a handful of people ahead of me.

    I’m now waiting at the gate for my first of three flight legs. Lisbon to Dublin to Reykjavik to Portland.

    The flight to Dublin was uneventful – except somehow I lost my straw fedora hat at the airport. I remember taking it off when I went up to the immigration agent and then putting it back on again, but while seated in the gate waiting area, I suddenly realized it wasn’t with me any longer. Oh well, I thought it was a little dorky and considered abandoning it in Lisbon. It served its purpose.

    The second flight to Reykjavik got in early and then the outbound flight was pushed back 30 minutes, so there was a 4 hour layover to contend with. Fortunately, there was an abundance of power outlets, so I was able to charge up both my phone and power bank to 100% for the 8-hour flight home.

    We had a smooth final flight to PDX. Although the plane was very full, I was fortunate to be sitting next to one of the only vacant center seats. I passed the time nodding off, watching movies and listening to audiobooks. Even with those distractions, eight hours makes for a long time.

    When I got home, I had arranged for my daughter to be ready to record my dog’s reaction to me coming home. I’ll include the video once she shares with me.

    It was a wonderful trip, but I am grateful to be home.

    My spacious room near the airport.
    My bathroom was larger than the room I stayed in my first two nights in Lisbon
    Using FindMy to make sure my checked backpack gets on the plane
    After 18 hours of traveling, nothing is more fun than waiting nearly an hour at PDX to catch the shuttle after customs.