CRUISING Archives — Trailer Trawler Life Blog

Foggy at Goat Islet Anchorage

It was a Foggy Morning at Our Goat Islet Anchorage Goat Islet Anchorage is a protected cove used by cruisers exploring Knight's Inlet and Johnstone Strait. By the time we left, the fog had lifted, but what beautiful scenery we enjoyed while anchored there. We just stayed one night, so much territory yet to cover in the Broughton Islands. Tomorrow we'll go looking for whales in Johnstone Strait and Blackney Passage. Kelley, from Lagoon Cove, gave us some info as to where people seem to always spot whales, Cracoft Island. We would love to get a glimpse of some humpback…

Potts Lagoon – West Cracroft Island

Potts Lagoon - West Cracroft Island was the perfect spot for our first anchorage while in the Broughton Islands – Potts Lagoon, named for Murray Clark Potts, the area’s first settler who staked a claim there, way back in 1908, is convenient for accessing the islands closest to Vancouver Island and Port McNeill, in the northern Johnstone Strait / Broughton Archipelago region of British Columbia, Canada. As we headed into the anchorage, we passed a logging business on shore and a few float homes. Not much to report on our stay there, as we were mostly alone in the anchorage…

Our First Stop In The Broughton’s – Lagoon Cove Will Help Make Your Crew Feel Welcome!

Lagoon Cove is one of the more scenic small marinas in the Broughton Islands. We started planning this trip about a year ago. The excitement aboard Kismet is palpable. Today, we arrive in Lagoon Cove for the start of our Broughton Islands cruise. This is our first stop in the remote archipelago, after transiting the Johnstone Strait from Forward Harbour. It was appropriate that we picked Lagoon Cove as our first stop, since it was the last stop on our 2016 trip to the Broughtons. Kinda, picking up where we left off! When we were here ten years ago, it…

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…

Refuge Cove-Desolation Sound – Showers and Shopping

June 28, 2026
Lisa Favors
CRUISING

Showers and shopping at Refuge Cove-Desolation Sound – Last time we stayed at Refuge Cove, they had power and water available for those renting dock space. They have not had those services available for several years now. After two days and nights in Roscoe Bay, we needed warm showers and to get off the boat. Refuge Cove-Desolation Sound offers showers for $5.00. Boats can tie up to the docks for 4 hours, so we took advantage of the showers and the well-stocked grocery store. The store had a nice selection of produce and frozen meats. I would say it is…

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…

Lund for a Fuel Stop!

Lund for a Fuel Stop – Time to refuel while we can, and we stopped in Lund. Lund is at Mile 0 (often called the northern starting or ending point) of Highway 101, which stretches over 15,000 kilometers to Chile. On the Sunshine Coast. As we were tying up to the fuel dock, we noticed a sign on the fuel pump, Sorry, power is out. No FUEL! Jim went to investigate, and I still needed a few items from a grocery store. So, after tying up to the fuel dock, I jumped off the boat and headed to the grocery…

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.

Nanaimo – Shopping, Hot Showers and a Night Out

June 21, 2026
Lisa Favors
CRUISING

On Our Way to Nanaimo, We Sheltered in Pirate's Cove for One Night – After Wallace Cove, we spent one night anchored in Pirate’s Cove. Thankfully, we had protection because it was very windy that night. It was a rocky night, but somehow we slept through most of it and woke to a calm morning on the hook. Our plan that morning was to get up early to navigate through Dodd Narrows, tidal rapids, on our way to Nanaimo. No problems getting through the narrows, and we had a beautiful day to arrive at the Nanaimo Municipal Marina, right downtown…

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…

Boaterhoming – Michigan to Washington State

June 14, 2026
Lisa Favors
CRUISING

Boaterhoming – Michigan to Washington State After saying our goodbyes at home, we were off on an eight-day cross-country trek, boaterhoming our way to Anacortes, WA. It is a pretty heady feeling to close the door on our house and jump into the truck for a three-month adventure. It took us eight days to reach our destination of Anacortes, Washington. We’ve done this route before, so we knew what we were in for. Our chosen path for this trip is the northern Route 2, which took us the whole way across country, just short of Anacortes. This simplified navigation. The…

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…

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…

Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
…
Page 20
Next

Women On Ranger Tugs —Women Ranger Tugs Owners Discover Boating As A Rewarding Lifestyle Choice.
SEE MORE!

Upside Of Downsizing To A Trailerable Trawler —Learn about the inherent benefits of owning a trailerable trawler.
Flexibility, Mobility & Affordability!
SEE MORE!

Women On Board Cruising – Want to inspire your wife, girlfriend or partner to do the Loop with you? Have them read this book. Twenty-five veteran women boaters share the trials, tribulations, helpful tips and humor about their long-distance cruising adventures. SEE MORE!

When the Water Calls… We Follow – Reflections On the Great Loop Adventure. Read how these “Loopers” prepared for the trip, overcame obstacles, also see what they enjoyed and learned while undertaking their Great Loop adventures.
SEE MORE!