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 do we do on a small boat when anchored and raining heavily? We take projects with us to work on, clean, go over charts, read, cook a hearty meal, and most nights we play Mah Jongg. Other than that, we are thankful to have a boat that is cozy inside when it may not be outside. We make do and try to have fun; it’s all part of the adventure.

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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 extends north towards the mainland, creating a cavern of mystical yearning.

The other vantage point draws your attention towards the shore; the lush grassy valley and an endless rocky, tidal beach contrast with the stone-cold and often misty mountain range. And the mountains, along with the grassy meadow, together create a feeling of boundless harmony, working together to make us feel as if we are in some gigantic outdoor theatre.

Hard to believe, but Shoal Bay was once a busy gold rush town in the 1890s; later, logging and fishing sustained the town until the 1950s.

Big Music Festival at Shoal Bay

We have also heard that a big music festival used to be held on the grounds every summer. Not sure if this still happens. I can’t help but think, what a majestic venue to host a music event. The sound created in that special place would be magical, to say the least!

A magical, lush forest backs the valley up with busy creeks making their way to the sea by dancing their way through the mossy woods.

We were at Shoal Bay 10 years ago, and the same couple we met then are still there today, keepers of the realm. The homestead has changed little; it still has the same natural style we came to love during our first stay. Visitors to the dock are welcome to get off their boats to roam the grassy knoll gently, while not disturbing the quiet paradise that the owners, along with Mother Nature, have created.

Mark and Cynthia (The Cottages of Shoal Bay) have a few small cottages for rent on the property. The couple has been there for 28 years. Visitors will also find an outdoor “Boater’s Lounge,” a covered patio for visitors to congregate and enjoy the view, a laundry and shower building with indoor and outdoor bathing areas. There are trails in the woods for guests eager to get away from the confines of their boats and to give their legs a stretch on land.

The garden has the feel of effortless creation

A beautiful garden, with a natural stream running through it, lies at the center of the valley; it looks more like a fairy garden than any forced agricultural construction. While I know some hard work went into those plantings, it has the feel of effortless creation. Flowers, herbs, onions, lettuce, kale, sugar snap peas, broccoli, and more grace the garden, happy to grow in the pristine environment. Visitors to the dock are welcome to enjoy time in the garden, pick produce, and leave a token of their gratitude in the jar provided. We did so twice and had a few freshly picked salads during our two-night stay.

A magical, lush forest backs the valley up with busy creeks making their way to the sea by dancing their way through those mossy woods. The stream is one of the natural sounds you’ll hear while cruising the islands in British Columbia, where nature’s sounds rule the environment.

When we leave Shoal Bay, we will head for Forward Harbour to wait for a weather window to transit through Johnstone Strait and onto the Broughton Islands, where we will spend three to four weeks.

The post Return to Shoal Bay, Thurlow Island, Discovery Islands, British Columbia appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

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 mane jellyfish gliding by our boat as the tide swirled out of the bay. Lion’s mane jellyfish are huge orange blobs that really stand out in the water. They are extremely poisonous, but beautiful to watch float by on a calm day. They were back to greet us the next morning as well. The only other time we’ve seen jellyfish on this trip was at Pendrell Harbour in Desolation Sound. The morning we pulled anchor, smaller white jellyfish surrounded us; there were hundreds of them swimming their way around our boat.

To end our stay, we enjoyed a clear night sky and a stunning Strawberry Moon over the bay, and a wavy moon river illuminating the anchorage.

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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 of us spend most of our time in.

During Our First Visit

We learned about how a couple, or a family, can exist on the edge of the wilderness with only the basics: generators, a well, or water filtered from a waterfall flowing from the mountain above the marina, and small fishing boats, water taxis, or seaplanes for travel around the islands for community and provisions. Of course, everything was new for us that first time. We’ve been back two times since. Different owners each time, something new in the way of upgrading amenities for the boaters who come to spend a few days in paradise. I have to say, one of the most endearing aspects of Toba Wildernest is the spectacular view, with Double Island closest to the marina. You just can’t beat it!

Something new for us this time. We noticed several of the marina offices offer canned horns and bear spray for guests to take on their hikes. Yes, there are bears in these parts, grizzly bears too. Not many sightings this year so far from the marinas we’ve visited, but we are in the area earlier than we were last time.

New Owners Are Updating the Resort

The new group of owners, who take turns overseeing the marina and resort, is updating it to a very unique resort.  Over the years, Toba has slowly transformed. Where we used to enjoy cocktails on the old dock or on the grassy shore above the docks, there now sits an exquisite “Boater’s Lounge.” We can sit and enjoy the view, even if it’s raining, or meet with other boaters to share information about each other’s travels or good anchor spots. A well-appointed shower building has replaced an old shack, and beautiful new docks for tying up.

Many of these small marinas in the islands of Desolation Sound, Discovery Islands, and the Broughton Islands have a unique personality that differs from one another. Toba Wildernest is trending more toward a comfortable, a little upscale, well-appointed atmosphere.

Our hosts, Nahanni and Paul, and their dockhand, Freya (top-left), and Lisa (top-right) and her husband, Paul, gave us a warm welcome to Toba Wildernest.

The big green fuel tank sits just inside the woods near the marina.

The generator building sits at the beginning of the path into the woods.

Not many of these island marinas accept trash. We had to separate our garbage, but we were happy to do so and offload some of it that had accumulated over the last few weeks.

Wherever we go hiking, we feel like we are in a deeply mysterious place. Old-growth woods are a delight and something we are not used to, coming from Michigan.

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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 was different, the sight to the south is still spectacular.

This was our first time stern-tying during the trip to the PNW. We don’t have a dinghy anymore, but we have a paddleboard we keep on top of the boat. Jim used that to take the stern line to shore and tied it to a tree that had fallen onto the shore.

Jim is getting into his drone practice.

The majesty of Pendrell Sound!

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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 one of the best-stocked stores in the islands. I was so happy to get some of the produce they offered. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, a couple of packs of chicken, and we were good to go.

Besides the store, they have an amazing gift shop in one building on the cliffside property. A fine selection of Yeti products and high-quality gift items. A separate business offers boaters an opportunity to drop off their accumulated trash on a barge; we did so as we left the harbor.

Here are the things to take a moment to plan on a trip like this, specifically these islands in British Columbia: water, fresh food, holding tank waste, garbage, electricity, and connectivity. I’d also like to add, as a secondary level of importance, entertainment for those rainy days stuck on the boat. Books and access to download movies on Netflix when you have a connection to download them. This usually has to be done at a marina with good Wi-Fi. If your Netflix account is from the USA, you’ll need a VPN to access your account while in Canada.

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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 we stayed there, it was chilly with non-stop rain. We’ll have to come back for a night or two on our way back from the Broughtons.

The anchorage is well-protected and a popular spot; however, since we are a little ahead of the summer stream of boaters to the islands, only a few boats were enjoying the anchorage.

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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 wine (did not think I was gonna find that for a while, so pleasant surprise), one grapefruit, and some green peppers. Every bit helps me prepare healthy, tasty meals while on the boat.

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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 calm cove or bay was such a relief.

A two-day stay was needed. Squirrel Cove was the perfect spot. Jim even had time to get the drone out and take some shots.

We had a little excitement as we tried to pull up the anchor to leave. The chain of the anchor had somehow wrapped around what we first thought was a rock, but upon further inspection, Jim said it actually was a 5-6 foot tree, root and all. We couldn’t get it off in the anchorage and dragged it over to the town dock and tried to wrestle it off there, with our boat securely tied to the dock.

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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 store. They also had a sign that the power was out and that they were closed. I hung around for a few minutes, glad I did, cause in less than 5 minutes, the store owner was coming back to open the store because the power was back on.

I got my few items and headed back to the fuel dock. Jim was just settling up with the attendant, and in a few minutes, we were off. Headed to Squirrel Cove to anchor for a couple of nights.

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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 sleeping.

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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.

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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. It was a busy day for us. Jim needed to wash the boat while we had access to water, and this would be the first opportunity to provision at a regular-sized store since we entered Canada. We had made a run to Costco while in Anacortes, but there were many things we were careful not to bring into the country, mostly fruits and vegetables. We had not had proper showers in several days, so after doing chores on the boat, we hit the showers, and boy, did it feel good.

Last time we were here, we visited a Greek restaurant. We remember it because it was so good. We couldn’t find that one again, probably closed during Covid. However, it seems Nanaimo has quite a few Greek restaurants to choose from, and as luck would have it, we found one within a 1/4 of a mile from the marina. We have to say this restaurant blew us away. They were so accommodating in helping us get a reservation; the food was top-notch, but most impressive was the atmosphere. It has been a long time since we had that experience. Diners and staff alike experienced the fun vibe. Asteras Greek Taverna, just up the hill from the marina.

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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 roses after we tied Kismet up to the dock at Conover Cove. We finally had a minute to remember why we are doing this boat trip. Easy to lose sight of that desire when faced with all the details to get there.

Wallace Island Was Once a private Island in the Southern Gulf Islands

Last time we visited there (2017), we anchored in Princess Cove. It is a short hike over from there to Conover Cove. So, we had seen the dock in that cove during our last visit to the PNW, and this time we decided, if there was room, we would try to get a spot at the dock. It would be our first night in Canada and the Gulf Islands. Because we stayed at the dock this time, we did more hikes in the woods during our two-night stay.

We had a fun two days! There was a lot of activity: boats coming and going, family campers bringing gear to camp in the open, grassy area near the dock. Many boats coming and going all day. What especially surprised us were several adventurous people with decked-out kayaks, some with two little sails, one with pedal power, anchoring or tying up to the dock, one sleeping in her kayak at anchor, believe it or not. She arrived in the middle of the night, at 2:00 in the morning. She said the paddling was so good the night before that she just kept going. As she filled her water jugs up at our boat (there is no water available to boaters on the island), she shared with us that her end-goal was Alaska.

A Fun Story…

The island features a popular driftwood shack well-known to local and visiting mariners. Last time we were at Wallace Island, we did not have any tools or paints to carve a personalized plaque to hang on the shack, so we picked up a nice piece of driftwood from the shoreline and thought we would take it with us and bring it back with us when we returned. We thought it would be on the way back from that trip, but we never made it back that year.

We took that driftwood back home with us, and it sat on a shelf in our garage for eight years. In the craziness of departing, we totally forgot that piece of wood. After locating an appropriate piece of driftwood, Jim put on his McGyver hat and used a mallet, screwdriver, and a punch tool to fashion a rustic plaque for the crew of Kismet to leave behind. He did a great job. We took it over to the shack the night before we left and proudly hung it on the outside near the door.

The leaves of the madrona trees are turning yellow and floating to the ground like butterfly wings (above-left). The old-growth forest is an absolute delight to hike through. We can’t get enough of it.

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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 excellent weather since we launched in Anacortes.

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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 push off the dock and head to Canada.

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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 first part of the trip will be through lush forests and small towns, with Lake Superior showing up on and off for some way. By day three or four, we saw the landscape change and get more interesting, first rolling hills turn to rocky mountain ranges, and rapid rivers wind by and under the road.

This was a surprise for us (photo-top right). Jim and I play Mah Jongg all the time, especially while cruising. It was fun to see the RV folks in the middle of a game when we checked in.

We try to go for a walk around the RV parks as soon as we arrive. Helps to stretch our legs and see the surroundings. Riley Creek Recreation Area, near Sandpoint, Idaho, was one of the most beautiful campgrounds we have experienced.

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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, Canada, again. Not sure why I did not think of this myself; it is one of my favorite cruises. I guess it was because I was thinking another trip out west was not in the cards for us. Towing the boat for at least five days to reach Anacortes (and back to Michigan again months later) is grueling and hard on our bodies. However, I have to say, having Jim offer one of our favorite cruising destinations as a future adventure was intriguing.

What we had to give up…

After hashing out the pros and cons of such an endeavour, we both jumped on the idea and set the plan in motion. One thing we had to give up to do this trip was the three months we usually spend in Florida during the winter, January to April. We would have to stay home during the winter of 2025/26, taking that time to plan and prepare for our trip. Unfortunately, last winter in Traverse City was a bad one weather-wise. It seemed unusually long and harsh, with major snowstorms almost into April. We would also give up our cherished time boating on the Great Lakes during the summer of 2026. The beautiful summer months are the reward for suffering through a northern Michigan winter.

The last time we cruised the Broughton Islands was in the summer of 2016. It is, by far, the most remote cruising we have ever experienced. It challenged us as trailerable boaters! New things to learn about provisioning and existing on the small-scale capacity of our tug, Kismet. There are no garbage services, few spots to provision, and no pump-out locations. Finding reliable fresh water in this area is difficult and takes careful planning and additional storage options.

Our Route…

In addition, as we make our way to the Broughtons, we’ll pass along Vancouver Island, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Strait of Georgia, the Gulf Islands, the Salish Sea, the Discovery Islands, and Desolation Sound. On the way back, we’ll head down the eastern side of BC’s mainland Malaspina Strait, visiting the Sunshine Coast’s Princess Louisa Inlet and Chatterbox Falls.

Many of the marinas in the Broughtons and local points of interest exist in places you can only reach by boat or floatplane. Most marinas were unlike any we had ever experienced before, each one different from the others with a natural, unique charm reflecting the owner’s personality, paired with interesting aspects of remote boating.

So, in the middle of winter, we began getting organized. Jim concentrated on the trip routes out west, both road and water travel. He also started several lists of spare boat parts to purchase and what needed fixing on the boat to get it ready. I started my list of what we would need to purchase and pack to survive in the wilderness. We both also had lists of what we needed to do to our house to get it ready for our absence. We tried to look forward while remembering what the challenges were the last time we cruised the Broughton Islands. That process helped us prepare for a successful trip.

The Long Goodbye…

Spring arrived, and we got the boat out of storage and started loading supplies onto it. Then, the long goodbye started! We arranged extra time with our adult sons, daughter-in-law, our grandchildren, and friends. As I have said before, when you embark on an adventure, there is always someone/thing you leave behind. We had a lot of support from them all, but saying goodbye is never easy for me.

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Many Thanks!

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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 we head out to explore on the other side of the country, we use our boat as an RV, staying at campgrounds as we trailer it across the country. We took this photo (above) of our first Ranger Tug (an R27) in Zion National Park. We had stayed at a campground just outside the park for one night, then drove through the park the next day. It was a shortcut to our destination of Lake Powell, otherwise, we would have had to go a couple of hundred miles out of our way.

The opportunity to take part in an interview with POWER & MOTORYACHT magazine (May 2025 issue) was exciting for us. Any chance to share a different way of boating with others has been our goal since we realized how much fun trailerable boating is.

Trailerable boats are lower on maintenance and ongoing expenses, due to their size.
They are more affordable and lower cost on, storage, dockage, and insurance.

Our trailerable boats may not be big and roomy, like most that cruise on America’s waterways, but in our way of thinking, they are big on possibilities for exploration and ease of use. There is a growing community of boaters who have discovered the benefits of this type of overland boating, we have met many on our travels. Jim and I feel that we have not compromised our thirst for adventure by owning a smaller, trailerable boat. In fact, we have taken that enthusiasm to another level to expand our cruising horizons.

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Many Thanks!

Jared Dunning (above and below), a customer Service Field Technician from Ranger Tugs, brought us all up to date on new things happening at Ranger Tugs.

Ben Belyea, from Global Marine Insurance, gave a presentation on the current state of boat insurance.

Mark Derene, from Reed Yacht Sales gave a presentation and answered questions on the first day.

On the second night, we always play “Last Person Standing” a card game to win boating-related prizes. The last person standing got a $250 logo wear apparel from Fluid Motion. Pam Stave (below-left), on “Shenanigans” won that prize this time.

Lisa & Gary Vidor of America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association (AGLCA) gave an informative presentation about the Great Loop Adventure.

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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 what we love most about it. The energy and friendliness of everyone, staff, and boaters are palpable. Many of the same boaters come back every winter, making it a home away from home for most of us.

From the perspective of being trailerable boaters, we find Blackfin satisfies all our winter, boating needs. We switched to a trailerable boat 13 years ago. One of our objectives was to lengthen our boating season and get more use out of our boats (we’ve had three trailerable boats since 2011), by towing them south, to escape Michigan’s harsh winters. At best, we might get only 4-5 months of boating in the Great Lakes.

For the first few years, as trailerable boaters,
we explored both coasts of Florida, especially the Gulf Coast.
It is a little less built up and we feel it has more natural areas to enjoy. So, after driving south, for 3-4 days, we typically would launch the boat in Tarpon Springs and spend a few weeks cruising down the Intracoastal Waterway. We would anchor or stay at little marinas along the way. It was fun to explore the little towns we could walk to, stroll the beaches, and talk with other boaters along the way. From Tarpon Springs, we would cruise down to Fort Myers, to our other favorite marina in Florida, Legacy Harbor Marina. We might stay there a few weeks, or a month before we continued on to the Florida Keys. Our route would take us around the Everglades in Florida Bay, or by crossing the state on the Caloosahatchee River. Either way, we would cruise south to the Keys. After a while, we switched that route around by launching in Marathon and cruising north, the same route but south to north, to Fort Myers. Our thinking is that it is a little warmer in the Keys, in January. So why not start there?

At the beginning of our Florida cruising, we stayed on Stock Island (one island up from Key West) at Key West Marina. We had docked there before, while doing the Great Loop, in our bigger boats. When dockage anywhere near Key West became almost prohibitive, we looked for other options and landed at Blackfin Resort & Marina. Key West is only an hour’s drive from Marathon. Since we towed the boat with our truck, we had transportation to drive down to Key West when desired. Occasionally, we’d cruise the boat down to Key West for a few days of fun.

The last few years we have spent most of our time between Fort Myers and Marathon, with shorter side trips, away from the marina, during those stays, and one to two weeks in between marinas to anchor our way to the next.

Since we tow our boat around the country, and it is only a 25-footer, we don’t have room to host visitors overnight. Another thing we like about Blackfin Resort and Marina is that it has a motel as well. We like to take advantage of the proximity of the motel to the marina when friends come to visit. They can rent a room, but hang out with us on the dock, join us for a day trip, on the boat, around the islands, or a drive to Key West, or the point where everyone gathers at night, to watch the sunset.

We like to be outside!
Blackfin encourages people to not only make their boat and dock their home but the surrounding area as well. All the boats have a picnic table at the end of the dock. Boaters encourage each other to top their nautical, beachy-themed outdoor decor. Competition is fierce! Socialization is key to a great marina stay. If Chris, the manager, does not make a special main dish for an occasional potluck, plenty of food, shared musical talents, fun, and conversations occur around our picnic tables. Plenty of walkable access to nearby grocery stores, a drug store, Home Depot, and many outstanding restaurants.

Blackfin’s boat ramp offers guests easy access to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Boat slips can accommodate vessels up to 40 feet. Slips are available on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Electric (30 amp), water, wireless internet, and pump-out service included. Fishing, swimming, throwing cast nets, etc., are all allowed and encouraged on the lighthouse side of the beach area. Call for current rates and availability.

BLACKFIN RESORT AND MARINA
(305)-743-2393

As we left, in March, spring flowers were popping up all over the island resort.

Lots of dedicated places to grill and have a meal in the shade.

This fella (above) jumped into the pool while were there. In January, the iguanas are still used to roaming around the resort, but as it gets busy, they are hard to find.

Lighthouse Point (above and below). A relaxing spot to have happy hour, a meal, or to watch the sunset over Florida Bay.

There’s Kismet (above, on the right).

Blackfin is a small marina channel cut out of the coral the island is made of, when that was allowed many years ago.

The is the owner of the beautiful blue boat, Fishtales (above and below). We asked how many fish he caught that day. We ended up with several bags of freshly caught Spanish Mackerel and a lesson on how to easily clean and cut up fish. We don’t fish — so, it is a very interesting process for us.

Our family Scott and Denna came to visit us at Blackfin. They rented a room at the motel and we got to watch many sunsets together.

A typical evening at Blackfin Marina and Resort. Drinks, music, lots of food, and fun!

This year Kismet was joined by seven other trailerable trawlers. The photos (above and below) show three of them, our Ranger Tug, a C-Dory, and a Rosborough.

One of the many potlucks we enjoyed at the resort. The manager, Chris, and his wife, Ruthie, can sure cook up a storm.

Potlucks we attended included beef brisket, roasted pig, BBQ chicken and fish boil.

Chris is at it again, a fish boil this time.

Our friends, from Traverse City, Lisa, and Fred are staying on their sailboat at a nearby marina. They were headed to the Bahamas after we saw them.

Meals are often a group effort at Blackfin, shared onshore near our boats.

Manatees frequent the marina. We had many delightful encounters with these gentle giants.

We also had two Nimble Nomads with us at the marina. They each pulled their boats out by the ramp at the marina.

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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 arrived in Severn, we heard it was closed. So, with the help of our friend, Mark, we came up with PLAN B.

We continued to drive south to the end of our originally planned destination and worked our way from Peterborough, northwest, to Orillia. One way or the other, we wanted the kids to at least see the Big Chute in operation. We figured our chances would be better if we waited to see it at the end of our trip. We were right in that thinking, but we did not have time left on our trip to continue by boat, from Orillia to Severn. After we pulled the boat out, in Orillia, we soon arrived in Coldwater. The rain stopped and the sun broke out of the clouds. Within a few minutes, the operations for the day began with a few boats being carried over the railway.

The red line on the map (below) shows the portion of the TSW we traveled to this year with the grandkids.

Big Chute—Constructed: 1917; 1923; 1978
“In 1914, contracts were awarded to build locks to connect the Severn River to Georgian Bay, with one lock being #44. Wartime shortages stalled the start of construction, but they built the first marine railway in 1917 and then replaced it in 1923. The current marine railway opened to the public in 1978 and has helped to halt the spread of sea lamprey to inland lakes.” —Parks Canada

Big Chute Marine Railway is a patent slip at Lock 44. It works on an inclined plane to carry boats in individual cradles over land and a change of height of about 60 feet.

A few takeaways from doing this trip, with grandkids
To have a more enjoyable experience, try to get to your destination on the first day, or at the very least, the first part of the next day. We found ourselves in the truck with the kids for two and a half days, five days total. Too much! As I noted a few posts ago, kids need to burn off all their excess energy. On the trip back to Michigan, we fired up the iPad, where I had loaded a bunch of kid’s movies the day before. The kids were tired, and the movies helped them relax. Next time we will plan better on that, but we are all happy we did the trip. It was very successful and will be something we will all remember.

Before we left home, we got written permission from the parents to let us take the kids out of the country to Canada. They did not have passports, so we took copies of their birth certificates with us. Jim filed those documents along with our paperwork and passports in a binder, kept in the truck.

We asked the parents to pack one bag each with enough clothes to wear for two weeks. They wore most for two days. We did not want to find or use laundry facilities while on the trip. Jim and I followed suit.

One of the first things we did when we got settled in Peterborough was to sit down with the kids and talk about safety on and around boats. We wanted to make sure they knew who was in charge — the captain of the boat, always. We discussed when they would wear lifejackets and what to do, and not do while underway and going through locks. During this talk, Jim also shared an overview of the history and why the Trent Severn Waterway was created.

Take lots of games, drawing materials, and activity starters. We did not allow any tablets, except for the one we always carry to watch movies while anchored out.

Before the trip, ask the kids and their parents what their current food preferences are. Then, come up with a provisioning plan that works for everyone. We took a case of flavored soda water, ones which the kids love, but we limited it to one each, per day. We discussed this ahead of time, so they knew this was part of conserving resources while cruising.

The kids learned what it’s like to go through USA/CANADIAN Customs.

First through customs and soon after, we cross the Mackinac Bridge.

Closer to home and the end of a successful trip with the grandkids.

Grandkids Cruise-Big Chute

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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 the marina. We also managed a visit with friends, Mark and Jodi on our last night on the boat, in the water.

Another Ranger Tug at the marina.

We talked about these butter tarts the whole trip. The kids were pretty excited to finally get some. We’ve had a lot of butter tarts when in Canada, but the ones in Orillia are by far the best! We never miss a trip to Wilkie’s Bakery to buy at least a dozen tarts.

Another Ranger Tug at the marina (above).

Another beautiful park is right by the marina. Canadians know how to create spaces for family recreation.

Our friends, Mark and Jodi, were instrumental in helping us position our truck and trailer, at the beginning of our trip.

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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. Today we were lucky. We got the last spot on the wall, near the park. We had access to not only water and electricity but also a picnic table.

Heading to see the lock well and the rapids. The view from both is very striking.

Maryboro Lodge Museum is a volunteer-managed community museum, offering programs for all ages, hosting special events, Teas, summer school, community events, concerts in the park, open mics, daily activities, play space, and a family program each Saturday in July, and August. They also maintain a local history archive. They had some amazing activities around the museum for kids to pass away the time.

This activity was our favorite. Kids can crank the water pump to create a working lock system.

As the day ended, we liked to just sit in the boat’s cockpit and review how our day went and to plan the next.

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