Lisa Favors, Author at Trailer Trawler Life Blog

Staging at Forward Harbour

Forward Harbour is the spot we staged ourselves for the trip up the Johnstone Strait. Last time we took that trip, it was very choppy the whole way up the Strait, a very uncomfortable ride I won’t forget. When we checked the weather first thing the next morning, we were pleased to see we would have a relatively calm ride through the strait, with Lagoon Cove as our destination for a three-day stay. It rained the whole time we were in Forward Harbour, nothing nasty, just a constant drizzle. I think the humidity in our boat was about 95%. What…

Return to Shoal Bay, Thurlow Island, Discovery Islands, British Columbia

Our Return to Shoal Bay – One of my all-time favorite places on Earth! I tried to capture in photos the magnificence of Shoal Bay, to give our readers an idea of how the atmosphere naturally swallows you up and holds you captive to its charms. One perspective, as we try to describe the character of the bay, is from the government dock, or from the shore looking out towards the mountains. We secured a spot at the end of the Government Dock, with our bow facing shore, putting the snowcapped mountains off our back deck. The enormous mountain range…

Francis Bay Anchorage

Francis Bay was our stop for one night. After leaving Toba Wilderness, Francis Bay was our stop for one night. The dockmaster at Toba had suggested it as a great anchorage to spend the night before heading through the Discovery Islands and onto Shoal Bay, our next day’s destination. When we set the anchor in Francis Bay, there was only one other boat there. Later in the afternoon, we watched the sunlight play across the mountains as the day progressed. A few more boats showed up. Just before we cooked dinner on the grill, the bay filled up with lion’s…

Beautiful Toba Wildernest Sits at the Mouth of Toba Inlet

Beautiful Toba Wildernest Sits at the Mouth of Toba Inlet. The inlet is a deep fjord on the mainland of British Columbia. Directly adjacent to the northern boundary of Desolation Sound The first time we approached Toba Wildernest, (see how it looked the first time we came). I felt a special energy present as we crossed the still, foamy turquoise waters of Pryce Channel. What we found at the little rustic marina on the edge of a mountain (connected to the British Columbia mainland) was something special, away from the hustle and bustle of the busy world most…

Surprise at Pendrell Sound

We were in for a surprise at Pendrell Sound – There was a huge forest fire at the northernmost end of Pendrell Sound, to the northwest a ways, right where we like to anchor. It looks as though it had been a while since it happened, as regrowth was already happening. Before, the woods were so thick that you could not even discern the shape of the big rock behind our boat. Now the bottoms of the tree trunks are black. Scorching has removed the needles and leaves from the trees. Even though the backdrop of our stay…

Not Much Activity at Roscoe Bay–Desolation Sound

Activity at Roscoe Bay–Desolation Sound – We wanted to go back to Roscoe Bay–Desolation Sound again. The anchorage provides a short walk into the woods that leads to a beautiful freshwater lake. It would be an opportunity to take a swim and freshen up from our sometimes multiple days without a shower. With six five-gallon jugs on the back deck, water has been plentiful and not an issue at all during this trip. We’ll certainly need all of them while we are in the Broughton Islands, even at some marinas that just have cedar water to share. However, both days…

Squirrel Cove Dock – Just for a visit!

As luck would have it, we lost the tree trunk on the way. So, we went right into the small town of Squirrel Cove for a short walk and a trip to their grocery store. Most of these grocery stores are the same; some have more, some have less. It’s interesting and makes me wonder about the selections they have and who they cater to, boaters for sure, and local townspeople. Most of them have the absolute essentials, along with some questionable items, and usually a very limited supply of fresh fruit and vegetables. I picked up some white cooking…

Squirrel Cove Is On Cortez Island

Squirrel Cove is on the East Side of Cortez Island – The anchorage is a mile or two past the little town of Squirrel Cove. We went right to the anchorage; we decided we’d visit the town on the way out. We stayed for two days. Traveling every day is very tiring, especially when the days are long. We’ve had a couple of days on fairly open water, and it was very choppy. I told Jim after a couple of hours of banging around that I felt like I had spent the day on a horse. So, arriving in a…

Hornby Island Has the Biggest Beach We’ve Seen in the Islands

Hornby Island features one of the biggest beaches we’ve seen in the Strait of Georgia – As we pulled into the anchorage at Hornby Island, we could see and hear the beachgoers on shore as they enjoyed the sun and water. Swimmers, kayakers, float-boards, and dinghies zipped around Tribune Bay until the sun gently set behind the island. I have to mention that we have had the most beautiful weather ever since we launched our boat in Anacortes (5 days so far). Warm during the day, hot in the late afternoon, and welcomingly cool in the evenings, so good for…

Saysutshun Newcastle Island Marine Park – A Short Hop Across from Nanaimo

Saysutshun Marine Park – Newcastle Island is just a short mile or two across from Nanaimo – We have anchored just outside the mooring field in Mark Bay many times when traversing the Newcastle Island Passage. Before anchoring, though, we pulled up to the day-dock so we could stretch our legs by hiking through the island’s woods. Saysutshun is a beautiful Newcastle Island Marine Park. Lots of campers and boaters are taking advantage of the beautiful day. After leaving Newcastle Island Passage, we headed into Departure Bay, then the Strait of Georgia.

Wallace Island’s Conover Cove – A Hub of Activity

Wallace Island's Conover Cove – Seems like our stay at Wallace Island was the first chance we got to relax and take a breath. The last month has been a flurry of preparation and packing for our trip, along with a grinding 8-day road trip from Michigan to the Pacific Northwest (PNW). Lots of things to remember and take care of before leaving home. We were exhausted! It takes a long time to relax your brain and your body from that kind of stress. No one had to twist our arms to get us to sit back and smell the…

On Our Way – One Night in Prevost Harbor – Stuart Island

On our way, with our bow pointed towards Canada Prevost Harbor is a great stop before crossing the border to Poet's Cove, on Pender Island. We have passed customs several times there. Last time we enjoyed time there, we stayed at the dock and could get off the boat easily to hike up to Lover's Leap, or shorter hikes around the woods nearby. Also, more of an opportunity to meet and chat with other boaters. This time, we were too excited to get into Canada and make our way to the Broughton Islands, so we anchored out. We have had…

After Eight Days We Launched Kismet – Anacortes, Washington

What a welcome sight that Anacortes sign was. After eight days on the road, we were ready to finally float on water. Right after we launched Kismet, the work began. No rest for the weary! We still had to load more stuff from the truck into the boat, clean her, do laundry, and do some major provisioning. We spent four days in Anacortes. It is a huge marina, close to the town of Anacortes, and the grocery store is practically across the street. We didn't have much time to check out the town or sights as we were eager to…

The Long Goodbye!

June 6, 2026
Lisa Favors
•BOATERHOMING, •TRAILERING, •USA-WEST, Broughton Islands, CANADA-WEST, CRUISING

The Long Goodbye! – Last summer, Jim and I were brainstorming future travel plans, an exercise we engage in once or twice a year as we look forward to new adventures. After ruling out foreign travel, because we had different ideas about where that might be, or the logistics did not feel right, Jim offered up an idea we both immediately liked. As happens occasionally during this process, our picks usually veer back toward where we can “cruise” next. Jim’s suggestion was for us to tow the boat out to the Pacific Northwest to cruise the Broughton Islands, British Columbia,…

Great Lakes Area Ranger Tugs/Cutwater Boats 2025 Rendezvous – Mackinaw City, Michigan

August 14, 2025
Lisa Favors
•RENDEZVOUS-RANGER TUGS, CRUISING, REN-Great Lakes Area

GREAT LAKES AREA RANGER TUGS/CUTWATER BOATS 2025 RENDEZVOUS – Mackinaw City, Michigan – We just put a wrap on our ninth Great Lakes Area Ranger Tugs 2025 Rendezvous. This year, we held it in Mackinaw City, Michigan. Twenty-four boats of all sizes and 53 people (representing 7 states) joined us (some came by land) for social activities and presentations from sponsors, including a session by Jared Dunning from the Ranger Tugs Factory. Jared spent all three days of the event walking the docks, talking to owners, getting on their boats, answering questions, or creating a plan to address the problem…

Trailer Tales – Overland Boating – Power & MotorYacht

June 9, 2025
Lisa Favors
•BOATERHOMING, •MAGAZINE ARTICLES, •TRAILERING, CRUISING

Trailer Tales – Overland Boating Jim and I have been trailering our boat, Kismet (we are on our third Ranger Tug, an R25) to cruising areas around the United States and Canada, ever since we completed our second Great Loop adventure in 2010 (we did those two Loops on two 40-foot boats). After experiencing the joys of Looping, many boaters gain a thirst to explore new cruising territory. That’s what happened to us. Once we took to the road, trailering our boat, there was no going back. Early on, we coined the term “boaterhoming” for this type of land/water recreation. If…

Great Lakes Area Ranger Tugs 2024 Rendezvous – Traverse City, Michigan

August 2, 2024
Lisa Favors
•RENDEZVOUS-RANGER TUGS, REN-Great Lakes Area

GREAT LAKES AREA RANGER TUGS/CUTWATER BOATS 2024 RENDEZVOUS – Traverse City, Michigan – We just put a wrap on our eighth Great Lakes Area Ranger Tugs 2024 Rendezvous. It was again at Clinch Park Marina, in our hometown of Traverse City this year. It has been a couple of years since Traverse City has seen so many Ranger Tugs in one place at once. Seventeen boats of all sizes and 48 people joined us (some came by land) for social activities and presentations from sponsors, including a session by Jared Dunning from the Ranger Tugs Factory. Jared spent all three…

Blackfin Resort & Marina – Marathon, Florida

April 12, 2023
Lisa Favors
•USA-EAST, CRUISING, FLORIDA, Florida Keys

Blackfin Resort and Marina, Marathon, Florida, is an island paradise and a welcome slice of old Florida. Jim and I have been wintering at this marina since 2013. Because of its old Florida character and its relaxed atmosphere, we keep coming back. In our minds, when we leave Traverse City, Michigan, for Florida, after the holidays each year, we head to a warm, friendly place where our friends are also returning. We look forward to soaking up the sun and ending each day with beautiful daily sunsets over Florida Bay. Blackfin is not a high-end, fancy place, and that’s…

Grandkids Cruise-Big Chute—Trent Severn Waterway-Part-6

March 1, 2023
Lisa Favors
CANADA-EAST, CRUISING, Grandkids Cruise, Trent Severn Waterway

The Big Chute Marine Railway—One of the unique locks on the Trent Severn Waterway — Last leg of the Grandkids Cruise on the Trent Severn Waterway. Shortly after we pulled the boat out of the water and left Orillia, we arrived at the Big Chute Marine Railway, in Coldwater, Ontario. Had we stayed with our initial PLAN A, we would have started our trip in Severn, Ontario. The Big Chute would have been the first lock on our trip with that plan. However, in the summer of 2022, this lock was closed on and off all summer. The day before we would have…

Grandkids Cruise-Orillia—Trent Severn Waterway-Part-5

February 28, 2023
Lisa Favors
CANADA-EAST, CRUISING, Grandkids Cruise, Trent Severn Waterway

The Stretch from Fenelon Falls to Orillia Was the Last Leg of Our Boat Trip. Grandkids Cruise-Orillia. We will pull the boat out here to drive to the Big Chute to see the boats being carried over land. If we had gone with PLAN A, the Big Chute would have been our first lock, instead of our last. On this day we had fun taking the Kirkfield Lift Lock (below). This lock is similar to the one in Peterborough. Look what we spotted today (above). We immediately stocked up on Butter Tarts, while exploring downtown and the big park by…

Grandkids Cruise-Fenelon Falls—Trent Severn Waterway-Part-4

February 28, 2023
Lisa Favors
CANADA-EAST, CRUISING, Grandkids Cruise, Trent Severn Waterway

Something for Everyone! Fenelon Falls, Ontario — Grandkids Cruise-Fenelon Falls. We have another fun stop today. Fenelon Falls has it all. The lock is right downtown and there is a magnificent park available within a short walking distance of the lock where we usually try to dock. We remembered from the last time we were here that there is a museum next to the park and they have lots of activities for kids. Grabbing a spot on the lock wall in Fenelon Falls means a chance to have water and electricity access. Sometimes Wi-Fi access is available at the park…

Grandkids Cruise-Bobcaygeon—Trent Severn Waterway-Part-3

February 28, 2023
Lisa Favors
CANADA-EAST, CRUISING, Grandkids Cruise, Trent Severn Waterway

Bobcaygeon Is A Popular Town on the Trent Severn Waterway — Grandkids Cruise-Bobcaygeon. One of our favorite places on the Trent Severn Waterway (TSW) is the charming town of Bobcaygeon. A popular stop for Loopers, Bobcaygeon has many things boaters are looking for while cruising the TSW. We looked forward to visiting this town with the kids. The last time we were in Bobcaygeon was when we cruised from Orillia, Ontario, on the TSW to Montreal, on the Rideau Canal. After we went through the lock wall, we secured a spot on the park side of the lock. I tried…

Grandkids Cruise-Buckhorn—Trent Severn Waterway-Part-2

February 19, 2023
Lisa Favors
CANADA-EAST, CRUISING, Trent Severn Waterway

Grandkids Cruise-Buckhorn, On the Trent Severn Waterway — After leaving Peterborough, we made our way along the waterway to Buckhorn, stopping at Stoney Lake to anchor for one night. On the first two days of cruising the Trent Severn Waterway, we traversed 12 locks. That’s a lot!!! Safety First! Jim and I discussed how best to manage the kids while locking through. For safety reasons, we decided they had to sit still, inside or on the “Queen Seat,” while Jim and I handled the mechanics of catching lock wall ropes and securing the boat in the lock. While launching the…

Grandkid’s Cruise to Peterborough-Trent Severn Waterway-Part-1

February 10, 2023
Lisa Favors
CANADA-EAST, CRUISING, Grandkids Cruise, Trent Severn Waterway

Grandkid's Cruise To Peterborough—First Leg of a 12-day Adventure The idea for the “Grandkid's Cruise” came almost a year before we actually set out on the road trip to Ontario, Canada with the boat in tow. We wanted the cruise to be educational by visiting somewhere, by boat, which had some historical content and some boating features. The Trent Severn Waterway (TSW) immediately came to mind. The kids would learn about how early commerce transportation came to be in Canada and the historical significance of traveling a waterway with a lock system in place. PROVISIONING AND PLANNING Our oldest grandson, Silas,…

More Photos From the 2022 Ranger Tugs & Cutwater Boats Great Lakes Area Rendezvous

September 3, 2022
Lisa Favors
•RENDEZVOUS-RANGER TUGS, REN-Great Lakes Area

Traverse City has never seen so many Ranger Tugs. All Saturday and Sunday, the boats slowly rolled in for the 2022 Ranger Tugs & Cutwater Boats Great Lakes Area Rendezvous. With 25 boats on the docks, and a total of 56 attendees, some arriving by car, this was the largest event we have hosted to date. A Big Thank-You to Our Sponsors ... Fluid Motion, Volvo Penta, Garmin, Reed Yacht Sales, Global Marine Insurance, and Chesapeake Jewelers. This event would not have been a reality without their support. Also, a big thank-you to Kim Russo, America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association (AGLCA) for coming…

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