The Life of Brad

March 2026 - Sailing Exumas, Bahamas - Incredible. Iguanas, Pigs, Sharks, Floatchella!

noreply@blogger.com (BBB) — Sun, 24 May 2026 12:35:59 +0000

This month was all about the amazing waters of the Exuma Island Chain leaving Nassau to Highbourne Cay, Shroud Cay, Warderick Wells, Little Pipe Cay, Staniel Cay, Rudder Cut Cay, Lee Stocking Island (William's Cay) and George Town. Plus I attended Floatcella at Shroud Cay. Absolutely great sailing and scenery going down and up the Exuma chain.

Captain's Log 2026.03.01 - Anchor: Clifton Bay, Bahamas 25 01.326N 77 32.907W - 17 Nautical miles

Notes: Manual port anchor up in 10 min, waited for cruise ship "Adventures of the Sea" at West entrance to Nassau. All motor, low wind. Used Starboard windlass to drop anchor to hold then dropped port bigger manual anchor and all good.

Very nervous to move the boat solo for the first time including pulling and setting anchor.

Chau Fort Montague

Just blown away by the water, especially when it's calm.

Waited for that monster
to get in to harbour

Happy chappy celebrating with a bbq!

definitely works best on
low wind days

Goulding Cay - afternoon cruise out to try my hand at lobster hunting and anchoring a dinghy (luckily I bought the anchor)

about 2 miles out in roughish
sea with 15 kts cross wind

Anchor holding well

Checked out Jaws Beach 300 metres from the boat.

Peace

Pulled old speaker wire
That's two speakers, wtf

Tank must come out to get
at the pump

Issue with second water pump

found plastic in pump diaphragm

and here's where it came from

Stow away Kermit from
Marathon FL still here

Figured out my pressure cooker

Rented a car from Virgo for $50 for the day to go to marine shop and pick up Roger my crew for the next week. It's a good deal as a taxi from airport is $50 one way. Virgo will pick you up and drop you off for free.

Captain's Log 2026.03.07 - Crew: Roger H - Anchor: Highbourne, Bahamas 24 42.897N 76 49.968W - 55 Nautical miles "East Pound"

Notes: Bow line all the way back to prop and jammed up. Had to jump in with rope around waste, scary. Pounded in to a strong East wind at 16-18kts tws; lost fender off bow trampoline, then lost 3 rods from trampoline, jammed and ripped furling line, knocked out mast lights. Took on a bunch of water over the bow and in to the lockers. And water in battery compartment, how?

Bay buddies -
Flipflop Chris/Lauren
Gemini Max/Amber

Passing the island power plant

Roger ready to go

Going more South then we wanted

Trying to go East in to a heavy 18 kts East wind

Had to go into open ocean under
the boat to cut free a prop motor
that was fouled by a line from
the front of the boat.

Crap day - East Pound

Video explaining the crap day...

Sea water in the battery area

Sea water dripped through
softly closed hatch

Lost 3 of 4 poles for trampoline

Captain's Log 2026.03.08 - Crew: Roger H - Anchor: Shroud, Bahamas 24 32.805N 76 47.576W - 13 Nautical miles

Short jump over to Shroud from Highbourne. Discovered pin on main carr fell out which happened with a bang (turned out we broke a tension pole on 20kts tws not the pin at all).

Chau Highbourne

Roger enjoying the manual anchor lifting

Depth based water colour

Great breakfast underway

throw some rain on us too

Shroud Cay inside the Land and Sea Park
which they charge $0.50/ft...geez

Captain's Log 2026.03.09 - Crew: Roger H - Anchor: Warderick Wells, Bahamas 24 23.049N 76 37.814W - 17 Nautical miles

Before leaving pumped out 500 liters from the fore lockers! Used head sail and second reef on main to avoid the missing pin in lower batten carr. Some very shallow spots on the trip.

Nice to raise the waterline
up 3 or 4 inches by pumping
out 1100lbs from the bow

Quick morning snorkel at Shroud to check it out since we had a shorter day ahead.

Brought my spear for hunting
and protection

big open bay

not much to see

On to Warderick Wells...

chau Shroud Cay

A few tiny islands to avoid

lots of fancy boats

Small 95ft yacht,
$90,000 weekly charter cost

Got in the water 2nd time of the day. Trip is moving fast...

always life in these spots

some fish life, yeah

Anchor looks good.

Took a run over to Doug and Shelley's well rebuilt salvaged 1999 PDQ 36 that originally cost $12k. They took 2 years and put 60-70k in to it and now have a top end PDQ36 (diesel version).

Me, Shelley, Doug and Roger

Tidy panel

mine feels more open with
lower fridge

Really lovely mooring ball area

Sliding door, easier than mine

Not my style though as you can only come in
and out the one way and costs $40 for a ball

Captain's Log 2026.03.10 - Crew: Roger H - Anchor: Iguana Beach(Staniel area), Bahamas 24 08.546N 76 25.065W - 21 Nautical miles

Notes: Tablet GPS flaking out. Nice sail 8 kts on 18kts of wind. Replaced carr pin with 5/32 cotter pin to one below batten.

The Staniel area is famous for a few things, Iguana Beach, Thunderball Grotto (James Bond) and Pig Beach. Plus party nights at the Staniel Yacht Club, but this cay is probably the pricy for those reasons. I would come back later in the month to catch what I missed.

The shallow spots are breathtaking 4-5ft

Figured out magnetics in tablet
messing with compass

This looks promising

Iguana beach anchor

I oddly really loved this

Lots of personality

Thunderball Grotto like many things in the Bahamas is named after a movie that was shot there. This James Bond set was very nice and I can see why they filmed the intense underwater scuba battle here. Due to current its best to go at slack tide like many things in the Bahamas.

Captain's Log 2026.03.11 - Crew: Roger H - Anchor: Rudder Cut Cay, Bahamas 23 52.280N 76 14.353W - 24 Nautical miles

Notes: 6-7 kts on 17kts of wind. Port engine died, vibrating, no go...

Explaining anchoring sort of...

Little cave/cove in Rudder

Art inspiring

Love them turtles

Best snorkel so far in Bahamas

Roger!

Captain's Log 2026.03.12 - Crew: Roger H - Anchor: Williams Cay (Lee Stocking Island), Bahamas 23 45.580N 76 05.234W - 14 Nautical miles

Notes: Autopilot sensor was being confused by katadyne pump motor in storage box with in 1m distance due to magnetic field. Shallows near Pimblico cay down to 1.7ft from keel. Easy motor to Lee Stocking Island.

It's pretty shallow...Like 4 or 5 ft!

Snorkel earlier in the day...

People buying up islands - "Keep out"

Look at these beautiful rays

Natural camouflage

Conch

Captain's Log 2026.03.13 - Crew: Roger H - Anchor: Honeymoon Beach (George Town), Bahamas 23 31.288N 75 45.727W - 25 Nautical miles

Notes: Went through Rat Cut at 10am, no wind, easy. Buddy boat "NoMoya" lead the way. On Exuma Sound small rollers direct on bow at 8kts of wind. 30 minute squall.

Here we go

Nice day for a Cut - Rat Cut

Out in the Exuma Sound

Going need to fix that.
Broke a tension pole

Breaky at Sea

Soft sea state

little squall coming

Just about there

Deeper anchorage 15 ft or more

The supply boat "Mail boat"

All the anchor lights on masts lighting up like
a city. Blue lights and fake flames. Pretty Cool.

Little chat about George Town/Victoria Lake. Can't say George Town lived up to the hype, but maybe I'm living a different life then most cruisers.

Victoria Lake

George town a little pricier than Nassau if that is possible, haha. To be fair meat isn't that pricey, but fruit is ridiculous. Two main stores around Lake Victoria; Shop Rite the cheaper spot for the locals (which isn't much cheaper but has different cheaper versions of basic stuff like oats) and Exuma Markets right beside the dinghy dock so should of course be more expensive (pricy brand name items). Bahamas also has VAT at the cashier added to bill like USA and Canada.

beans in milk...

$10 usd for 2lbs of oats

Chocolate chips, 300 grams $8 usd cheapest

I found corn tortillas! $4usd

When you are at sea for a while everything
becomes reasonable

Thanks Alex for fixing
spliced anchor light wire

Make shift anchor light;
solar light and water proof bag
lifted each night by main line

Look at those dagger boards.
Sign of a fast boat here
in Honeymoon Beach

Big storm one of the nights

This family sailed off
without using engines
Love to see that

Repair mission for tension pole that broke with a little too much wind on too much sail - reef Brad! Good news is that could have been much worse. So I pulled the pole out of the cabin after conferring with Simon Slater the designer and owner of the PDQ company back in the 90's who explained what had happened.

Made my way 3 miles in dinghy to Brown's Marine Store (well kinda) then got out at a private residency of William and Arden and family who let me leave my dinghy at there beach front house then even gave me a ride to Omar's mechanic shop to do the stainless steel welding (or at least welding). Once at Omar's he did the work, only $70 and while he did it lent me his van to go get new bolts at Brown's Marine store. Definitely a laid back place. Omar is a nice Jamaican fellow who married a Bohemian girl 20+ years ago.

Side note: The bolts at Brown's were about the same price as USA. So I bought two, Stainless for $1 each, nice.

Easy to remove ceiling

bolt needed too

Lost after beating into 3 miles
of sea...just go to shore...

Cruising the Queen's highway with Omar's van for a km or 2.

That's at least
double the price
in USA

Omar's shop

Got it!

Parking at William and Arden's

Brown's marina access from
the water to get some gas

On the way back with the wind and waves behind me I stopped at a recent sailboat wreck to check it out. Amazing that no one cleans these up, they just sit there. This is the case around the world.

Brown's dock

Fits perfect!

It was a good day

Chat n Chill Beach and Volley Ball

able to paddle in too

Volley spot, cool posts made from sail masts. Found a few players.

The Hunt! Lead by Alex and Karly we all headed out to the Exuma Sound to find some fish and lobster. Two other killers Dustin and Mark joined as well in a posse of 4 dinghies that beat in to the South wind to get out to the hunting zone and beat back to the boats when the wind shifted to North. A good haul and wild experience to be out in the open sea checking over your shoulder for sharks as the bits of blood from the spearing mixed in to the ocean water. Total trip was around 6 miles.

Karly and Alex ready

Pick up Dustin

Traverse the shallow bank to get out to sea

The things you would never do by yourself

Back in action

Lots of "Structure" which is good for hunting

Alex is an animal! Down at 30 ft

Mark and Dustin with a lot!

Good times in George Town

Captain's Log 2026.03.23 - Buddy Boat: Fairwind (Alex P, Karly Z) - Anchor: Rudder Cut Cay, Bahamas 23 52.379N 76 14.523W - 40 NM

Notes: Fairwind an O'Day 34 going 6.5 kts and my PDQ36 only going 5.5 kts. Through Rat Cut 1 hr before high tide with no issues.

So cool to be Buddy Boating with Alex and Karly on Fairwind. I had time before heading East and really wanted to see the Exumas again which I knew I would so this trip back North was exactly what the doctor ordered.

Through Rat Cut

Back to Rudder Cut Cay

Karly and I trying to find the piano "Musician" statue. Alex was trying too, but far from us. Was a quick current so we floated with it and the dinghy. None of us found it on my second time at Rudder!

little nurse shark

Captain's Log 2026.03.24 - Buddy Boat: Fairwind - Anchor: Big Majors North (Staniel Cay), Bahamas 24 11.395N 76 27.617W - 27 NM

Notes: Head sail and main, soft sea state. Again Fairwind left me in the dust. Weird.

Up early

I'll catch up

Sapodillas kinda look like a kiwi
Definitely not good until ripe

Nice resort

Bed still wet from East Pound

Cruisers Beach is the one on the right full of
paraphrenia of cruisers over the years

Alex kicking my butt

Great dinghy bay at Staniel Cay Yacht Club

Side Story: Met Clifton at the bar who was captaining a tender for Wolf of Wallstreet Jordan Belfort's super yacht. This was the smaller of the two dinghies for the boat at 53 ft and I think worth $3 million? Main yacht is 150 ft or so.

Engines; 600 hp each

Much more fun when the sea is calm

Check out the rough sea. I turned back thinking no way my buddies went out in these conditions. But they did...they are in their late 20s, hahaha.

Thought to go hunting, but
the sea wasn't calm
out beyond the sheltered bays

Captain's Log 2026.03.26 - Buddy Boat: Fairwind, Ona (Lukas) - Anchor: Little Pipe Cay, Bahamas 24 14.109N 76 30.237W - 4 NM

Notes: 7 kts on 12 kts of wind. Tight anchorage between rocks and mega sailing catamaran ($3 MM) and deep. Anchor didn't set at first as I was in a pocket 5 ft deeper than the other boats so Simon from Ona had to ride over on the dinghy to help retrieve my manual anchor and I was able to move up and reset it.

Good bye Big Majors,
great spot

Little Pipe Cay only a short trip from Staniel

High current hunting. After everyone else headed back I stayed with my dinghy so Alex could collect the whole ocean dropping him off and picking him up after he would float and hunt for 15 min. We were out there for 2 hours extra. Had an amazing dinner with everyone that night!

Hi Karly

One shot and Karly nailed two fish

Tough to get the spear out
with all the current

Killing Alex's catch, hiya!

Captain's Log 2026.03.27 - Buddy Boat: Fairwind - Anchor: Shroud Cay (Floatcella), Bahamas 24 32.761N 76 47.546W - 28 NM

Notes: 6-7 kts on 12-15 kts of wind, smooth sail.

A little breakdown of the tight anchorage I got myself into in Little Pipe. Thanks Simon for the help.

Chau Little Pipe

Back to Shroud

A party event planned by Sun Chill and others had 10 boats rafted up in Shroud North for a awesome weekend of fun including a float down the river which I missed my first time here.

Water so clear the boat looks like its in the air

On day 2 after recovering from smoking myself out the first night it was on to the dinghy raft up then down the river. Jumped in Mitch and Avi's dinghy from Edmonton "Miocene, it's sailboat life!". Thanks Mark for getting me back to my boat the night before!

Bringing a Sun Chill float took a bit of space

Motored to the Exuma Sound

Felt like more people than the night before!

Even with all the chaos you
can still get some peace

Yet another place Jet Skiers aren't welcome

Mitch towed me back to boats
That was nuts!

Captain's Log 2026.03.29 - Buddy Boat: Mesmariah (Mark K) - Anchor: Warderick Wells, Bahamas 24 23.028N 76 37.604W - 20 NM

Notes: Good start until elbow to Warderick where wind picked up to 20 kts sailing 8 kts and Bang snapped my traveller. Even had one reef in! *Washers over time move a lot and shear bolts off.

Chau Shroud

Sailing South with Mark and company on
his boat Mesmariah

This super yacht has a full size halfcourt basketball court!

Side Story: The plan was to get back to Staniel, but the winds picked up on the Warderick corner and a traveller bolt (two actually) sheared off! It wasn't catastrophic, but knowing Mark and another great skilled buddy Harry were at Warderick I decided better to stay the night and fix the issue which took hours as one of the ends of the bolt was very stubborn. Thanks to Harry and Mark for help and perseverance.

oops

More susceptable to shear with all the
spacer washers. Bad design Dave.

No give up in Harry!

One came out easy and
of course the other not

Done!

Captain's Log 2026.03.30 - Anchor: Big Majors/Pig Beach (Staniel Cay), Bahamas 24 10.947N 76 27.535 45.727W - 17 NM

Notes: Gusts up to 24-30 kts, 3 roll reefed head sail and no main using motor to keep everything calm and smooth. *Took Adit meeting at sea.

Shallow clear water sailing back

Thought I would try
Pig Beach this time

Super friendly nurse shark hanging around the boat.

Love Nurse Sharks

Brown sugar cinnamon taste
to the ripe sapodilla, delicious

Some many girls taking their
selfies at Pig Beach

Other stuff

wire not good enough

epoxied the broken part
Done!

Best way to ripen bananas?
bag, bag with holes, open??
Took these 2+ weeks to yellow

few shots of how gross my electrical is

This will get better!!

Found a few cockroaches,
set traps and seems good now

February 2026 - Varadero, Cuba and sailing over to Nassau, Bahamas

noreply@blogger.com (BBB) — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:50:00 +0000

In this month I spend some weeks in the Varadero area until the USA puts the squeeze on Cuba. Then sailed to Bahamas with essentially no crew and have a few first impressions of the new country where I'll be for the next months.

Good morning Cuba. Put the boat in the Gaviota marina, got Erwin off to his boat and settled in to expat life in Cuba including the Sunday market which is a 1+ hr bus ride (no me gusta).

Getting off customs dock

Everyone helping transport
Erwin's 500 lbs of stuff.

As expected, classic cars

Not bad and only $7

my set up to use shore power
as there is no propane in Cuba

Nathan's great suggestion
"move the knife block"

Sunday market in Santa Marta

It was chilly

The chicken man where you can
get the "other money"

I did not buy meat
only smoked ham

Nice little spot on the tip of Varadero
Gaviota Marina

And they have a bowling alley
Sort of...

Oh crap, left composter too
long with out use and gnats
and eggs everywhere.

And here I thought the corner spot was good

I mean close to shore, but...

Checking out Erwin's monster 65 foot catamaran that normally has a mast, but that was lost at sea. Cuba is a great spot to get work done and the shop can do most services.

Video of the accommodations on Shangri-la.

Doesn't look big in the
distance but like double the
length and width of my boat.
Only $265,000!

My official pass card for
Gaviota marina

Need the pass card for beach access and
getting back in to the marina

First looks at the lovely Paradise beach

A little video about the hotel and marina.

If the price is right I can eat
the same things everyday

At government store the prices
can be crazy high, but not bad

Not much variety and pricey by Cuban standards

Erwin! you can't leave a half
drank beer. The Dutch do
whatever they want

off to Varadero for the night

Fresh chickens

Sargazzo...oh no

The salty gang
Tim, Shawn-ky, Erwin, Ken

A feeling like Varadero has more
money than the rest of Cuba

Little walk around the Harley rally in Varadero. Even with a gas shortage the Harleys still ride.

A little clip of the live music at the Harley Rally. Rock of course!

Not every moment is great...Shawn got a little too drunk and jealous and punchy. After the video the night was ruined and fearing he would do something to my boat I taxi'd back to the marina. Hoping to tell Tim and Ken to watch out for crazy I ran right into him at Tim's boat and a punch in the face. A bad situation for sure and to be on the dock with too many drinks to throw punches I chose to do nothing and walked away. Shawnky immediately realised what a stupid move that was as I got up, grabbed my stuff and went to my boat saying "We're done here".

I took the week off drinking and never really spoke to Shawn except to say "Don't talk to me, or touch my boat and were good". The Ex-Pro Arm Wrestler and bouncer and 25 year steroid user got the point.

Shawnky Punched

The rest of my days were more quiet of course and focused on getting out before the USA bombed or did whatever to Cuba. Sad...

Goodbye Pat and Monica from Calgary

Quick vid to get a feel for the sights and sounds of the Sunday market.

$2 lunch

"We are community"

Boat repairs with the help of the Cuban marina service group at Gaviota lead by Ayala. I would have done a lot more but since I live on my boat I need to prepare for Ayala's crew meaning everything gets turned upside down which is stressful. Plus the Cubans were having struggles getting to work due to fuel storages. Oh and of course Erwin's boat was priorty

Very wise and experienced
Roberto the mechanic

Not the best position for me, but hey he was
fixing the steering cable!

Vid talking about dinghy motor almost dropping in the water. We did it with the forklift putting it back.

better way

Only place to eat at hotel now

Video of hotel closed and no lights on at night

Erwin working hard
to get his boat out
of Cuba too

Ernesto the electrician

removed a few things
and connected a few things

Came up with a solution for
poor designed spinnaker crane

Needed to protect tank due to
aluminum corrosion issue

Erwin lent me some epoxy

Time to go, a little clip explaining the situation

not happy to live

Top of tank all glassed in
"keep an eye on it"

Super happy with this weld and addition for
my crane piece extension $20! ($300 in USA)

Neat; Dinghy glider

Well, during all the boat work
fridge relay got turned off so all
frozen meat needed to be cooked

Decided to try Varadero one more time for a Saturday night and this time going to Havana Club night club. Rented a little airbnb after the hotel tried to rip me off claiming I had to pay a "new" rate when I arrived at the sister hotel to pay by their functioning internet. 3x times the price so I grab a Casa en Renta next door for $15 usd. Close to the beach, close to the centre and next to the main street for the bus the next day to Santa Marta market. Only missing internet, but no big deal for a night.

Quiet town these days

Love these peanut bars

Most local transit can not take
foreigners

$6 lobster!

Met siblings Fabian and Laura Colombians who
were in the same situation as me with the hotel

2 blocks from main street

Sargazzo but not the quantity like Mexico

Rental casa

Checked time so I wouldn't
sit in line at the club later
(I still did and paid $5 later
to jump the line)

Even with low energy in Cuba the tourist
spots get priority

Not only delicious cheap good chocolate here
but good meals too at "Casa del Chocolate"

Not open 24 hrs

live show

"Havana Club" like the rum

A bottle of 3 year old $9!

Danny and Yeni, who broke up the next day?

Rental Casa owners

Not many buses these days

Back at marina restaurant

Then it was Bill and Vivian's turn to leave

Quebec Mario seemed friendly enough.
He would be my crew to the Bahamas

Ready?

Erwin's boat getting close to go

A jet ski right out of star wars

Had a little time so decided to clean air conditioning strainer which was full. The bad part was I almost couldn't get it sealed again which put me in panic although I could simply shut the thru-hull valve, but wouldn't be able to run the A/C until that was fixed. I solved it luckily. Good to sail off...

old gasket hard to
re-seat

Time to get out of Cuba. We had hoped to leave at sunrise, but were delayed waiting for the Customs Officer who was helpful but a victim of the limited buses due to fuel shortage.

Captain's Log 2026.02.19 - Crew: Mario B - Anchor: Cay Sal, Bahamas 23 41.774N 80 23.616W - 55 Nautical miles

Varadero to Cay Sal using one motor and sails on close reach all day in order to make it before sunset. Mario claimed to have captain's license, but struggled to keep the boat straight. I suspect he may be retarded.

Side Story: I found out later Mario signed up to go with me as flights back to Montreal were $1500 from Cuba so he could save money by jumping on my boat for 5 days. In the end he only had to pay gas, food and things he broke - $225 usd. Then taxi and flight $50 + $300 from Nassau. Sweet deal for him.

Here we go

deep water

Apparently Mario couldn't keep the boat straight, yet in the video it shows that the boat does it on its own. Oh captain Mario..."Brad, just give me a chance, that's all I ask" (heard this over and over).

So focused or
is he sleeping?

Hated this bike box full of;
bicycle, wind foil, kite board,
25 ft of water ski tow line,
set of golf clubs, etc. 100+lbs
AND too big to fit inside!

Sailing can be very hard but there are pay offs.

Solo sailing basically

Captain's Log 2026.02.20 - Crew: Mario B - Anchor: Damas Cay, Bahamas 23 51.933N 79 46.402W - 37 miles

Motored at 5kts most of day on port engine. Appears crew is wasting lots of water brushing teeth.

Side Story: I noticed a small speed boat around 11pm the night before that had no lights or power and I thought it was an abandon boat, but in the morning as we were getting ready to go 4 men started up the speed boat and drove passed us. They weren't gone far when they decided to turn around and come back. Mario and I grab some kind of weapons preparing for what may come. They stayed 5 boat lengths away asking if I spoke Spanish and then if I wanted cigars. I gave them a stern "NO" and they took off. The irony is I had forgot to buy cigars and wish I could have bought some cigars.

Rise and shine

Kermit still with us from Florida

Chau Cay Sal

A good spot for Mario
Easy to keep an eye on him

Damas Cay video. Feeling accomplished to be into Bahamas yet very isolated. Good to have my home with me.

Freedom and peace...

Captain's Log 2026.02.21 - Crew: Mario B - Anchor: West Side Andros in the middle of nowhere, Bahamas 25 05.871N 78 23.341W - 113 miles (Biggest day yet)

Crew lifted 120ft of anchor manually and we motored into the deep at 3:30am raising a head sail with low wind for the rest of the day needing to make up the most distance of the trip until 23:00. First bucket #2 and wont be the last. Anchored in the dark in the middle of nowhere on a calm evening. Becoming a single hander.

Don't love night "sailing" yet

The fire of the morning sun

Deep crossing over 3000 to 5000 ft (1000 to 1700 m)

Vast and deep

Crew working hard in his
PINK SPEEDO!

Suicidal flying fish

For some reason I feel calm in the shallow water of the Bahamas bank. I'm not a fan of swell in the big sea.

Another day under the belt

Captain's Log 2026.02.22 - Crew: Mario B - Anchor: Morgan's Bluff, Bahamas 25 10.524N 78 01.575W - 50 nm

Made our way up to North passage going over some shallow and basically touching sanding bottom a few times as we watched the Canadians blow the Gold Medal to the USA. A bitter sweet day as we finally had some big wind sailing 18-20kts getting to a max of 8.6 kts!

Lots going on with shallow water, the Olympic Gold Medal and Mario.

The red is between 3 and 0 ft

Big M, Kyle and me at Below Deck

Riding out the big Northerly blow on the wrong anchorage (open to the North), but the only one we could find as we had to check in at Morgan's Bluff. Check in happened the day before on a Sunday. A surprise for sure which came with a price of $50 to immigration and $60 to customs as they travelled (5 min) to Below Deck. At this point I was just relieved to be in Bahamas and close to getting rid of Mario who had run out of food and was likely skimming off of my reserves.

Custom quote: "Do you have any guns on board?" me "No" Customs "you should"

Kyle tried to leave
but engine issue

Captain's Log 2026.02.24 - Crew: Mario B - Anchor: Fort Montague, Bahamas 25 04.331N 77 18.277W - 42 nm

Set all my sails solo, got up to 8.8 kts in route to Nassau crossing the Tongue of the Ocean with depths of 9000 ft. Great to get to Nassau.

A disturbed anchorage due to all the tourist boats, but close to shops and a few restaurants. Nassau has buzz in locked doors on all shops signaling that it definitely isn't a safe place as mention by many. Although I never got the feeling of danger aside from the locks on the doors.

Kicked Mario off the boat Feb 25 which was one of the happiest days of my life (I need to get out more). Took him, huge box, huge luggage, electric guitar and heavy backpack to shore all in one trip and left him there cheering "You're the worst crew ever" as I sped back to the boat to relax getting a relief from the close talker.

Met Harry/Miriam (Calgary, spear pole) SV Delphi and Blaine/Lisa (Ontario, fillet knife) SV Caoan who were just what I needed helping me with a few things, donating gear I would need and having me over for a few sundowners.

Mail boat in to Morgan's

Chau Morgan's Bluff

In the deep again

Nassau ho!

Amazing, so close to land but still deep!

Forrest...

Party over there

I'm so curious about cruise ships. Just so massive!

How many stories

The one on the end!

Fort Montague

Made it

Side Story: At "Poop Deck" for dinner Mario on his phone the whole time, $7 usd for a lemonade!! Then Mario did a shave in the bathroom for 15 minutes while I sat waiting to pay...be gone dumbass.

Not bad for like $25

Fresh Market is the pricier spot, but much closer to the boat!

$10 pineapple

About double the price of Canada

Chau Mario!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Big box out of my life

The gremelin

"Brad can you help me to the taxi"...
"NO! Chau bye (Mario phrase)"

Mario Free

Retarded likely

Preparing for new crew in a week or so.

Port engine "Puta" struggling to run smooth

So it turns out we are
anchored right at the
sailing club...

Fireworks

Grand Theft Auto: Bahamas - Out of nowhere a jet ski / police chase

Little town tour up to the bridge, Super Value foods and back to boat.

At least there is sidewalk,
for a minute any way...

No more sidewalk

Canadian Consulate

Goombay which is also a
good cocktail mix
Goombay Smash

Bridge video, feeling sideways, haha

All the food shacks at the foot of the bridge

True Value is definitely cheaper

Hard to believe sweet potato
cheaper than Canada

Good luck getting the right price at check out

Lemon juice, cheap

Only on Sundays

Police give free bus rides to jail

A little help from new good people! Thanks Blaine, Lisa, Harry and Miriam!!!

It's getting better

Blaine installing crane piece
in rolly sea. Great view of
hammerhead shark under boat

Spinnaker Crane piece

Lisa, Blaine, Harry, Miriam

January 2026 - Marathon, Florida for a month, Key West and then 90 miles to Cuba

noreply@blogger.com (BBB) — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:23:00 +0000

In this month I stayed in Marathon to get to know some of the cruising people in Boot Key and included activities as well checked out Key West and Sailed South to Cuba with Dutch crew.

A few final days of Dale before it was just me socialising and trying to learn and fix boat issues while working on my Bocce skills and riding my bicycle up and down Highway 1 to Home Depot and a few other spots. Also handling dry ice for the first time without a good plan...

My friend Sandra came down from Miami for a visit for a cool night where we all got together to dinghy raft from the open water inlet at Sombrero Beach back to Boot Key Harbor via Sister Creek.

Sorta pirate dressed

down Sister Creek to the sea

Some boats anchored along the Creek

Nice pink house

the gathering

Nice expensive cat going where?

Sombrero Beach inlet

What a good time! Cody was even taking music requests.

Just gorgeous

Lots of photos and videos of life in Marathon off and on the boat over the month.

Love "Buy One Get One" free

Never thought I would pay
$20 usd for guitar strings.
Rust proof, supposedly

Dale was good enough to climb up and trace
the head of the mast so we could build up
the crane piece. Bobcat Metals welder in
Keys wanted $280!
I'm glad I didn't get it made there.

Found a $100 gift card

Learnt that dry ice can be used in soda stream canisters, which is great as refill costs more than $20!

I didn't know how it was supposed to work and I don't think the people who work at Publix know either as they have no safety gear and just put it in a plastic bag saying don't touch it directly... I really didn't think it through grabbing the ice and my other purchases racing home on the bike and dinghying to the boat hoping not to lose too much ice.

$5/lbs!

1 lbs of dry ice each can

Bought a used Rainman Compact 70 water maker from another boater Dale who upgraded to a system double the size. 20 gallons an hour is good enough for me, but the only drawback was that it is AC so draws quite a bit of power from my batteries. $1800, including filters, TDS monitor and replacement impeller which seems a lot, but the power to make water from the sea is not to be taken lightly, haha.

Feel the power to make your own water!
Those are pink as that was the first batch
after the machine sat pickled for 8 months.
Food grade so drinkable, but weird.

too many zip ties

Some live music at Dockside.

Lots of issues and looks like my boat doesn't like water...leaks when it rains...

Looks like a war room
Lists of things to deal with
Finding Crew, fixing things,
buying things, etc

got to change this out as it is
a bit broken and usa registered

That's not a tidy electric panel

How does this lantern open?

Got it, unscrew the middle

I once thought the wind generator was useless (like many things on the boat), but I adjusted it and it works great! 25 knots gets you 10+ amps/hr.

Water maker Dale also had a dinghy to give away so I jumped on helping him sell it on market place for $400 in 2 days. Buyer was super happy and able to repair the leak. A new 11.5' west marine hypalon dinghy is $5000 btw.

That's wild and likely this guy doesn't leave
Marathon ever...like a lot of them

So many boats

Good to have 2 lighters
Thanks Igor!

Thanks Scott for pulling the
broken spinnaker crane down

No good, too short and ripping
mast head weld.

Look at that Bloody Mary
Thanks for lunch Hans!

You know a restaurant is good
when they have a helicopter pad

Well that's ridculous too!

That's ridculous. Radar doesn't work

Sunset

And then through my lexan tint

Switching out BnG for Standard Horizon

Did have a remote though

Dinner with new friends Alex and Karly

A salty Paella at the Cuba spot
El Siboney

Love this sealer!

Starlink ready to go

Interesting to see protesters for Trump and not across Highway 1 from each other. Blue/green flag is on the Trump side so must be military. Interesting to see the anti-Trump/ICE group flying a Red/White and Blue USA flag.

Bingo night with Mike and Deb
Drink chips; different colours
for different prices.

My neighbour sold me a rod
and a few reels for $25. Deal!

New Standard Horizon installed
so I can put my Canadian MMSI

It's been nice

Snacks for crossing

Key West for a Sunday afternoon to stroll around and watch the Broncos lose to the Patriots. Reminded me a lot of New Orleans actually.

With Shawn and Carol at Porky's

During commercials the DJ would play loud

The famous xmas tree in late Jan

Set sail for Varadero, Cuba!

I met Erwin via other sailors over the last weeks who was in Cuba with a broken boat and needed a bunch of things to make repairs that you can't get in Cuba. So, after a few chats the best way to get his stuff to him and me to Cuba was to have Erwin fly up and sail back with me. Easy enough I suppose and with the smooth talking promise of an amazing time in Cuba I jumped at the chance even though we had to cross the Gulf Stream and make a 90 mile passage through crab pots and big blue waters.

After Erwin loaded up his 300 lbs of stuff and his 280 lbs of himself we were nicely overloaded and ready to go. With almost no weather window we headed out at the end of the month with a 6 hour stop at Sombero Reef to get smashed around by the swell on a mooring ball before heading in to the blue water at 2am (I wanted to wait for the wind to come more from the North than East (very bad) and Erwin went for that). It was a bigger sea but at least we were running with the wind. Lots of rain in the first half of the day making for a chilly time.

We caught 2 hour naps as we could and arrived in the dark at 11pm using autopilot and navionics charts to get there which of course did not account for the missing and miss placed channel markers.

Slept the night at the customs dock and Erwin was back to his boat leaving mine with only a few broken pieces (nothing major just annoying).

Heading out

Erwin my Dutch crew, but not from Holland.
He's from the Netherlands.

The not such a good plan to stay 6 hours at Sombrero Reef which looks like an amazing spot to snorkel.

Sombrero reef

Will need to take the USA flag
down to go to Cuba

Big open water

reminded me of crossing the Gulf in 2018

Rain hitting us from behind

Video to capture the moment of the sea midday.

wet

We getting there

Time to get Cuban!

Coming in to Gaviota Marina in at 11pm!

December 2025 - Back to Canada for a Big Bday, Sailed Hudson to Marathon Florida

noreply@blogger.com (BBB) — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:26:00 +0000

In this month I hit the big one and flew back to Calgary to celebrate with friends. And finally it was time to sail off the Hudson dock and get the next chapter started. Thanks to Fabio, Igor and Dale for crewing and getting me and Costa 49 to Marathon, Florida.

A few days doing more boat tidy ups, repairs and diagnoses.

Tight fit, low bridge deck :(

over a month since bottom paint, need a clean

Fun leak that will need a major repair...

Stock up the cans

$10 for everything

Lettering.com for $100

Not good

Crappy old gas lines that will cause issues

More Florida

One of the things putting
a smile on my face!

in a panic to get engines going
better I paid $90 for 10ft of tube

With this much water in the gas
will those new tubes really help?

Igor showing me the self-drive feature of his Tesla. I also got to "not" drive his Tesla.

Look at the kayak

Back to Canada to celebrate half a century...

Chau for now TPA

Meat bites

Some times the window seat is paradise

Mom just loves here Christmas toys

It happened

A little book on things that happened in 1975

Re-use

Grey Eagle and probably every
Casino gives you $10 on your
Birthday

The Keg; could have chosen a million spots, but the Keg Steakhouse was definitely somewhere we always celebrated and a very Canadian place serving delicious prime rib and other plates like bacon wrapped scallops. Can you believe that steak is now the price of lobster!?

Could be the least prepared birthday song ever as I cleared off the dishes of the table to make space for the gluten and dairy free cake...Dairy allergy 30 years, Gluten allergy 3 years. Looking forward to the next half century.

Good turn out although I was surprised my bro
and a few others left before "happy birthday"
Like leaving a wedding before the "I do"

Thanks Mom!

Very delicious gluten and dairy cupcakes

Good Nate and Chris were there

Thanks Robinsons

Game on Chris

Thanks Mike

Thanks Maria

Thanks Nate

Back to YYC airport and Tampa and Hudson and my "anchor and chain"

Loving the Visa lounge

Finally got crew and ready to head South to Marathon, Florida to prepare boat to go to Bahamas with the help of some experienced sailors at Boot Key Harbour.

Fabio my first crew I met on Cruiserforums.

Quick stop to fill up

And use my gift cards from Chris and Nate!

Side note: Cheap Divorce

Leaving Hudson for good!

This shop could be tidier

I think this was the moment I was happy
in the boat purchasing process

Let's do it

Day 1: Dunedin (25Nm). Passing Tarpon Springs for the last time also...

Sailing on the shallow Gulf of Mexico side

First bridge and radio passage

Kinda chilly

First anchorage near Dunedin

Feels tight, but we had 10 ft

Day 2: Anna Maria Key (41Nm) - Looks good

Is it good? too shallow

Anchor check, not clear and cold, but set

Beautiful, but too swallow, we hit bottom in the
night and had to move out 100 metres at 2am

Everybody has to drink
Turkey 101 if they crew!

Tracking boat movement
on anchor

Day 3: Roberts Bay (40 Nm) near Venice

In part of the ICW

Not much cover from winds for the night

And swallow

Day 4: Staying the night in
Captiva Passage(40Nm)

Calm, but little windy in the night with swell

ICW

It's not comfortable with
motorboats passing

Day 5: Gordon's Pass, 46Nm.

Big boat for these shallows

Surprising second day for Igor

Time to go for Igor and work
on his stomach for next time

Lovely anchorage in the rich area of Gordon's
Pass near Naples, FL

Loaded up

You made it buddy

Thanks so much Rebecca for Sushi dinner!

Lots of expensive yachts

Day 6; Goodland (20 Nm) via a foggy morning, a few stuck in the mud moments including trying to anchor. In the end Fabio made it to the bus at 2pm and Dennis and Inga place was not the spot to service the boat...

Not too foggy to go

Marco Island

Low tide which made easier going under the bridge

Stuck in the mud, checking it out with the SUP

Goodland

Nice sunset

Signs of a liberal paper

Nice ramp

Look at that homemade boat

Amazing time in the bay

Filling up using the dinghy

Low tide its quite a drop

Those needles are done rusted

Yummy BBQ

Welcome back Dale

Delicious

Day 7; Shark River (45 Nm) Opening Christmas presents on Boxing Day in route.

Flying the spinnaker

Shark River for a cool shower

back on the Turkey 101

7 Mile Bridge

Day 8; Marathon (45Nm), Boot Key Harbor.

So many crab pots!

The abandon bridge by the
Boot Key Harbor

Damn, lots of boats, I mean lots!

At the marina office

Dale up the mast

There is Costa 49

NYE at Dockside bar

November 2025 - Is this really sailing?? Checked out St Pete, Miami, Goodland and some Scams!

noreply@blogger.com (BBB) — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:58:00 +0000

In November I basically realised that I am now in a relationship I can't get out of until one of us breaks...Start of the month the boat got off the blocks at Pittman Yacht Services, stranded us at Anclote island and buried in issues and surprises. Plus a road trip to Miami to get away from the boat for a week.

Sad Side Story: about mid month driving down the very accident heavy Hwy 19 a motorbike ripped by me going 75 mph in a 50 mph zone. The highway has lights all along it and usually are set with green lights going both ways then the one direction with less cars gets a red so the busier direction can turn left a few cars to help the back log on the next light. Unfortunately the shorts and tshirt with full face helmet motorbike guy decided to go through the red and a mini van lady turned on the now green signal. I was looking left when out of the corner of my eye I saw a clump of metal blast in to the air. In slow motion the guy landed on his back like a thanksgiving turkey, helmet still on. As I went by I could see blood all over his face through the open visor. He never moved again and even 4 hours later they still had the scene closed off with the 6 foot dent in the side of the mini van and a heap of smooshed motorbike about 20 meters past. Apparently there is one motorbike accident a week on good old Highway 19.

Sad Side Story Scene

For the first week of the month we went back and forth to Pitman to play around on the boat, figure things out and inventory what was there. A total mess, now my total mess!

found a few Bahama dollars

New AC panel, Dave paid!

Gonna need new batteries
Dave paid!

Big Golden Coral feed

That took a lot to get off

Bottom paint, only $450/gallon

All looks good

Gluten free oreos!

Name change coming

Time to paint the last spots

Shall we put those on the
sailboat? My god!

Here we go...

Oh, wait, maybe you guys
should paint the bottom of the
keels???

Once Dave got his money, he was gone and it was my turn to drive the boat for the first time ever... Dropped right in to the deep end! It was awesome for 20 minutes until port engine died, then we decided to anchor at Anclote Island as we wouldn't make it back to Dave's place in Hudson. As we anchored we lost the starboard engine. Well, what ya going do...sniff around and find a bottle of Wild Turkey 101 (50%!).

i'm crapping myself Dale!

Alright so that might get one engine going

Maybe we'll use the dinghy to
tow the boat back

Great find

Take it easy Dale!

This is awesome or that's the Turkey talking

Ok these blue hoes are f'ed

yeah you drive a bit buddy, i'm done

a few miles of channel back

Super shallow here

Maybe this boat is more a stay at home boat

Side Story: one of the Winn Dixies near by was going out of business and it was so cheap that I went back in and worked hard to spend $160usd! Check out the haul at the end.

take em all!

getting thin

I would never buy $9 chips!
But for less than $3 i'm in

All good until probiotic cans
started blowing up!

Bought 50 of these at $.40/ea

Took Dale to the airport then picked up a few market place items and checked out St Pete and Clearwater.

love those blue highway logos

Bridge over to St Pete's

check out phone number "poop"

St. Pete's is pretty chill

route 666, really?

Clearwater looks a like more hoity toity

Dive bars don't have to have
shit service do they? 15 min...
Monkey bar in Clearwater

Now just me solo messing with the boat

going through manuals

Guy before Dave was organised
Mr. Bartholet

Lots of finds on boat for sure

Quick tour

Dave organised, haha

A video addressing a few things to do

Do I have these?

First thing, cut carpet!

A few things to stack in the boat

Just doesn't look great

Did a major clean up

a little AC/DC learning

At least I had their dock to
use to get sorted

The panel to no where...

Old Port Richey town centre

great name

Kills the Covid 19 Virus!

Good to have in 1960's
Asbestos -Garbage-

When Dave put a "bed in a box" in the captain's quarters it almost put him through the wall. Will likely never be removed.

Using main halyard to clean under bed

get up you sexy SOB!

Dinghy inspiration -
a floating door with motor

repaired binnacle

Neighbours

Name gone...

Let's check it out

Not bad to move around

A positive for the boat

This part is really only for me. Issues with shower sump set up...boring and annoying.

cleaned and re-siliconed pan

old hose and tight tolerance

Where does it all even come and go. Shower sump drains in to bilge than pumps out so always water in starboard which is unacceptable to me.

Added isolation between bilge and shower
(apparently I'm not the only one to do it)

Then pump sump working intermittently

New bikes! Why not save on rental cars for a week..

Twins Ernie and Gerry ($100)

Pretty smooth Boardwalk folding bike with coaster brake.

Turkey $0.98/lbs!

Why not a good steak

Boom!

No idea how I got these fibers

Well this needs to be redone

A little live entertainment at Fisherman's Shack

Dave and Mel finally had renters for the AirBnB and asked that I not stay at night on the boat. I decided to head to Miami for a few nights even though after I met the guests they actually asked me to stay on the boat at night. Lovely couple Anthony and Nancy from NY.

So I rode my bike first to a hotel that night then to the rental car the next day only to find out...

Scammy Side Story: Through a sequence of events I was told by Hertz they may not have a car for me so I called what I thought was their main office who booked me another car at what they claimed was a sister agency Avis. Rode all the way down there 12km total to be told the money I prepaid went to Orbit Tickets and I owed more than quoted to Avis. It was refunded and I realised that this happens often in the USA. I luckily kept my first cheaper price reservation and they did get me a car the day I wanted it. Why did they even panic me to start...Fear mongering USA?

Still see the odd rebel dixie in the South

Scammy Side Story 2: At Days Inn after returning to front desk for the third time to get my room key reset I pulled on the other lobby door which was broken to which they tried to charge me $100 in the morning to fix it. Luckily the receptionist in the morning told me that was BS as it was already broken for some weeks. Brutal. And you wonder why so many US hotels have 3 out of 5 ratings.

Good exercise if nothing else

Not a full tank i'd say

Second hotel night before going South

Motel 6 for $40!
Can rent monthly for $20/nt

Packed up and good night.

Hit the trail and went to visit Sandra in Coral Gables beside Miami and then Goodland to catch up with Dennis and Inga investigating how their spot was for bringing my boat in to his ramp to play around. Fun little road trip and even brought one of the folding bikes.

I kinda trust my GPS, but anyhow up for the adventure.

that's what a full tank looks like Hertz

Breaky Sandra style

Warm ride and about 12 km, but good

Back to the car then over to
South Beach to play volley!

Whos that vball champ with Mexico skill

Its Ronny

A good day out

South Beach

Off to Goodland crossing
the Florida Everglades

Straight two hours, but good

Drive your luxury car man!

How not to build a boat over 12 years...

Front entrance

no space on a 49 footer

Dyneema stay, wow

a few hazards to have an injury

Near North Port

Igor's fav place

My healthy version from Walmart

This guy having way too much fun on his scooter!

October 2025 - 3D Printing, Last Moments in Calgary, Intro to my PDQ 36 Catamaran

noreply@blogger.com (BBB) — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 14:19:00 +0000

In October I tidied up a few lose ends before setting sail, kinda...3D printing a key holder, last meal with the boys, house tidy, flew off to Tampa, FL to get to know my new boat and all its quirks...

So yes, second half of the month I began the new big adventure and transition in to boat life completing the purchase of a 1991 PDQ 36 named "Dame" (stay turn for the changes!). There were about 200 PDQs made and a lot of them came with outboard motors which is what I wanted so I now I have one...

How did this happened Mom?

Shocked and happy

Lucky to play with a outstanding golfer, Landen
at High River's Highwood

It was a great day and I shot fantastic

Last supper with the boys before flying off to Tampa, Florida in a few days to start boat life.

Love all you can eat Korean BBQ

It really is like this in Korea

Good times Nate and Chris

A few final preparations before the trip. Had to get house in order and any last minute stuff.

Finally we figured out a 7 year
long, tub draining issue

Better get this here for the boat
as it may be tricky in USA

She's cleaning up!

Good night gents

Tidied

The lose Sailing Plan

Early morning to the airport in the middle of the month with the plan to get to Tampa, uber to Hudson, check out my PDQ 36 catamaran, get a bottom paint done and sail for Bahamas...Perfect plan until you get punched you in the nose! (Mike Tyson)

Goodbye Alberta sky

Hope you make it

Using up a Visa Lounge Pass

Boat tour. Definitely in the happy phase of buying the boat before you dig in to what you have invested in. The good and the bad is there is lots on the boat and lots to learn about, but I wish I knew this before buying this boat.

The "happy" moment they talk
about when buying a boat

Nice mermaids, I'll keep those

Dave was a little different than
the guy I met in June

not sure it should be this messy

Lots going on here, I wonder what works

Waiting for its new captain

Boats don't have convenient
anything

How the composting works

Lots here, but maybe its a little old?

Steering cable finding its way

wrecked cover on steering cable

neat system to lift motors

Just a signal of how Dave does
things, a little twisted, haha

Game plan; sail to Tarpon Springs to haul boat out, survey and do bottom paint at Pitman Yacht Services. Great plan, Nose punch one; Starboard engine failure and Port engine having issues. Turn around. Although tricky to re-schedule it did give me time to check out the boat more.

Here we...(don't) go

I think the boat is scared to leave home

Nice little find

Code zero sail

Going through the spinnaker rig set up.

What fear of heights??

Going up, Hi Mel

Hi Dave

Hi Brad

The quiet Hudson cannels.

Dale's schematic of the Electrical

Who needs glasses

Good Mexican "El Mezcal"

hmmm, what's going on here?

A visit from Igor with Russian food!

Volley ball buddy from Mexico

Great idea Igor, but a little
too old

America F yeah!

Let's take this boat to the yard for a bottom job and maybe more. Had a survey at that point too which picked up a bunch of issues. Would have been good to find that out before hand purchase, but Dave made sure there was pressure to buy.

All smiles to head out, lost instruments halfway
to Tarpon and another engine issue.

parked and ready to lift Monday morning

Nervous more than excited

Tight fit, slammed in good, haha

Definitely need a bottom job

Bill the surveyor getting in there

That's more than a bottom paint
Gonna cost you Dave! $8k

That's missing some rubber

Something else not working?

Tech did half of steering cable
job in 8 hrs, Pittman the other
3 hrs. $3400!

Final touches on the contract

Up and down with tons of equipment

Bottom done

Other Stuff

Yep needed brakes

So easy

Great little roadside BBQ spot

Ollie's bar near by Hudson

Some side entertainment as one of the very big ex-cons jumped in to the water on a Friday afternoon for $250! Good to see the not so personable PJ lose his money.

September 2025 - House Painting, Golfing with Dinosaurs, Ghost Dam Sailing

noreply@blogger.com (BBB) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 22:19:00 +0000

In this month I finally finished the house painting, enjoyed an incredibly scenic round of golf in Drumheller and we did our annual Ghost Dam sail. Check out the Other Stuff for the usual randomness and commentaries on The Life of Brad...

Three weeks of 5-6 hour days of going deeper and deeper into the wood siding like a drug addict chasing the dragon I finally said that was enough. To do it all over again I would have applied chemicals and pressure washed then peeled the last of the paint off. The one thing that held me back from going to bare wood was the more bare wood the more paint needed and the more expensive and more time it would have been to apply. Either way when my friends told me it was a big job, they weren't kidding. Thanks to Roger, Dale and Stuart for lending me some needed tools to do this massive job.

Bad line for sure

Thought the primer would fill

The End!

Done. Looks good from far, but far from...

The Thursday group made it to Drumheller (famous for dinosaur findings) and the boys couldn't stop talking about how great a place it was. After the first 9 I thought it was nice then the back 9 blown me away. It was so picturesque, but impossible to play! Worth the 1.5 hr drive each way to see this landscape from above. Thanks Roger for driving.

We're in T-Rex territory

Looks nice

Fun front 9 and a good score going to back 9

Where are we climbing to?

No way, on top of the Hoodoos...

Phil was ready, I was not

Never lost so many balls, like 1 per hole

Spectacular

Another ADIT golf tourney (Blue Devil this year), which for a small company is basically a foursome. Highlight was when Alex smashed his driver over the water on Hole number 6 to get within 30 yards of the green. He had to carry 220 yards over the water to where there was virtually no place land!

Me, Dale, Andrew, Alex

Finally got out to Ghost Dam for the annual sail and camping trip on Dale and I's Siren 17. Unfortunately due to a stormy evening coming, high water giving low options for land fall to over night and no winds the next day we decided to only go for the day. It was fantastic regardless!

Other Stuff

So healthy...not

All about the cash and rules
Canada's new medical system

At Maria's hanging with Maestro

Thomas' new batch of chickens

Trying my new blocks for
mom's oil change

backyard steak

Nice to be a country to bend
over backwards for everyone

Made me check my bag which
felt like Mexico...things are
changing in Canada.

Weirdest book station

Oops...spilly Brad

Last sail of the year...what a finish

Picked up a safe getting rid of
my bank deposit box

Look at those vintage clothes

A sign to let you know everyone
is included except the
freedom to be yourself

The winning team at Mugs trivia

Oh man I love polish lunch

Yep, change those brake pads

Making a birch sculpture

yikes, change that breather out

August 2025 - Sold Stryker, Strip the House, Big Garage Sale

noreply@blogger.com (BBB) — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 13:33:00 +0000

In the month I took a stroll down memory lane, Black Berry Bold Classic coming back, Sold Stryker, had a few weekends of Garage Saling and the big battle...started Stripping Paint off my house...bad idea...

A bunch of Calgary August saw lots of rain , but came right at the midway point in time for selling off some stuff.

Look at all those vintage items

Check out the Blackberry Bold Classic from 2015 still rocking in 2025!

so much stuff that
never gets used

Look at that moon...

Bought my 2017 Vstrom 650 "Stryker" in 2020 never expected to buy something so new, but hey the Pandemic changed us all. Had some great day with my yellow buddy (rode over 10,000 km), but now with my new adventure on the horizon I truly didn't need two motorbikes in the garage. Good bye my friend. Brennan was so pumped for his first bike.

First bike for Brennan

They'll both be ok

garage saling!

Buying up for boat captaining

Tott me!

At Swigs with Lando

hey little guy

backyard bevies

its for sale

Sapphire chasing a coyote

On the res

Decided to jump in to a little, that became big project of painting the siding on my house...The paint on the sunny side was in bad shape and only 10 years old. It was done poorly by a pro Michael Wallace, a drummer, I gave a shot to help finance his music career. It all looked good, but suffered air trapped under the primer. This was going to take some effort...

How many different tools...

Do I need to buy more?

Dale's suggested tools

Roger's suggested tools

And Stuart's suggested tools. I used them all!

good to protect the back fence
after all these years...

Where else would you store
your oil based paint brush

Still kinda smiling

So...maybe more than a few days

You don't have to leave home to
see drunk girls in bikinis

Down the river!

Chestermere golf course

took forever, like 7 years to
go from 210k km to 250k km

The golf ball story...
ask me about it some time

How can import beef from NZ
be less expensive??

nice find from Vietnam at
the dollar store

A full downtown

July 2025 - Off one saddle and on to another

noreply@blogger.com (BBB) — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 12:04:00 +0000

Back in the saddle just in time for Stampede and a bunch of catch up and tidy up and general Canadian summer life. Plus playing with Bicycle, Motorcycle, Truck and Sailboat.

A well preserved Crush jumps to life with ease. Excited video for sure as it had been since early October 2024 when he was crushing last.

shinny truck

Blue back in the garage too

Some rations from mom

Bike ride across the new reservoir bridge

Deal! Pennies don't exist!!

Blue dye from carrot bag...?

oops...last year's boat scar

JB weld marine!

Stampede 113, but probably my 30th...

3rd drink invention...
Slippery Cougar (ginger ale,
lime juice) to go
with Whiskyroni
and Ginsky

Lara and Matt shooting up at Josh's office

Day 1 Saturday...going well

Day 2 Monday

Jenga at the Wildhorse

How is this possible during
Stampede??? That many drinks
for $50! Cheap Unicorn!

Day 3 at Wildhorse

Sloan

Keeping track

Old buddy Steve!

Day 4 Tundra Party, Megan W

Day 5 and my last

Rodeo time with Ryan B
and Loren M

Amazing

Loren and I, thumbs up and out

Wildhorse again

Great finish to Stampede 113 - 2025

Had the pleasure of going down to watch some open mic at Mugs. Eventually Tom got up for his first time and I jumped on later. We would have went together but there was only one right hand guitar.

Regulars playing together

Tommy's first time!! "Dead Flowers" Rolling Stones

I just had to talk about this amazing Joe Rocket Tankbag that I have had since I started riding 20 years ago! It's seen a lot.

The boys
Stryker and Blue

Had to clean out the gutters on my house to make sure the rain flows away from the basement, then realised my neighbour's were packed and her water was flooding my shed and backyard.

Nature in the city

that's not going to drain

Cleaning up some branches

View from my neighbour's roof

worse than mine

Some trees out of hand

Missing downspout

blocked downspout

I re-run some to help

My shed flooding before repair

Other Stuff

New Key 2 batt

A bunch of old BBs

Repairing hot water tank pipe

Nice

Golf golf golf

Trivia night
Peter, Dale, Holly

Night out for some tunes

View from a lovely downtown apartment

my first bookmark...

Thanks mom

Sell!!!

Might be leaving soon

I guess that's a fix for now

"Indian Cuisine" close by

Vintage Tennis Pumps

Adidas field

Discovered a lost cheque from
Grandma when I lived in NZ

Where have doctors gone???

Post 400!!! June 2025 USA Part 5: Big Piney WY, Rigby ID, Choteau MT and Home

noreply@blogger.com (BBB) — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 06:31:00 +0000

Part 5, the finale, and probably the best overall riding of the trip. I will come back down here being so close to Canada. Bunkabikers all the way with lots of twist, turns, open road, views to Big Piney staying with Steve and Kara, to Rigby staying with Wyn and Kathy to Choteau staying with Bruce and Sara to Calgary. Ranging weather from 18C to 32C with threats of rain. Amazing parks and road. What a way to end the trip! Also see bottom of post for over all impressions of the USA and Mexico.

Day 32 (600 km) Big Piney. Took local advise from Wayne to cruise by the dam in Harvey Gap on my way North then stopped at the The Tank in Rangely for a guided tour with Elaine (Urie Trucking) and acapella using the amazing acoustics. Nice to meet Elaine and Britany when I came in to ask if I missed the town and gas station, lol. Randomness...Continued on through Utah and back to Wyoming to picturesque rocky desert and settled in at Steve and Kara's for a good meal and cuddle with a white skunk "Daisy". Lovely dog Bow too. Top hosts for sure!!

Harvey Gap C5R6T2V8 a wonderful little road to start the day. Hwy 13 to 64 C3R7T2V8 then to Rangely C3-5R5-7T2V8 sweeps. Hwy 40 Utah to Vernal C3R6T2/3V8. On to 191 up to turn to Flaming gorge C5R5-7T2V8 then down in to the gorge avoiding a loose driving truck and trailer and cruising past the dam C7R8T3V8. 191 up to state line Wyoming C5R6T2V9! More 191 to I-80 was incredible with distance valley views C5R6/7T2V8/9. I-80 to 372 C2R7T3V7 then to 189 catching some construction for 20 min stop C1-2R6/7T1-8V7. And finally last leg to Big Piney on hwy 189 C3R7T2V7.

Back to the open road

wonderful

Harvey gap

remember I take photos at 100+ kph

The pole climber

Britney, Elaine,

Inside "the Tank" singing along

What a side story!

into Utah

Hwy 40

Vernal

Down to 85 Octane

Taco Tuesday at La Cabana...2.5 out of 5...greasy

Steinaker State Park

Flaming Gorge

That's a big towing bill

Wyoming State Line

Made it to Big Piney

Daisy

Steve and Kara

Day 33 (300 km) Rigby. Starting out in 18C but eventually getting up to temp at a mild 32C. Through Teton Forest for a lunch stop at Smokey River Roadhouse. A nice relaxing day getting in mid afternoon to stay in Wyn's spacious RV. He went over his involvement in Mountain Men and the 1800's guns he gets to play with when doing their re-enactments. Plus, enjoyed a birthday dinner with Kathy and Wyn at a incredible Mexicana restaurant Pachanga's that had scallop fajitas!!!

Hwy 191/189 Daniel to Teton Forest C6R6-8T2V8 nice valley ride. Hwy 24/89 Hoback to Alpine C6R6-8T2-4V8 then 261 to Swan Valley C6/7R7T2V8. Hwy 261 to Rigby/Idaho Falls C2-3R7T2-3V6-8.

Good morning

so sweet of them

Rock and Roll!

In my office and here we go

Bridger-Teton National Forest

Ripping near Teton Forest

Elk warning

Must get snowy here

Definitely gets snowy

Coming up to Alpine, WY

State Line!

Snake River

Palisades Dam

Snake River Roadhouse in Sun Valley

Klim headquarters (motorbike gear)

What an RV!!!

Japanese bidet!!!

Wyn going through the two different gun types in the 1800s. Flintlock and Percussion cap. Very interesting video. It's amazing anyone was able to actually shot anyone else in those days.

Delicious!

Kathy's bday at Pachanga's in Idaho Falls

Living like a king!

Day 34 (650 km) Choteau. My final stop before making it to Canada and a great one! Another awesome riding day skirting Yellowstone National Park, a huge rain storm and the 80 mph speed limit!! That's 130 km/hr! Stayed the night with sweet Sara and Bruce bunkabikers in their lovely little refurbished guesthouse. It was a big day, but absolutely amazing! Falls, wildlife, river valleys, mountain, superb roads, and wide open foothills looking West to Glacier National Park.

Hwy 20 to Ashton C2R7T2V6 then right turn side track on 47 to Lower Mesa Falls C7-3R6T2V7. Back to Hwy 20 to 191 C3R7T5V6 traffic. Hwy 191 all the way up to I-90 was fantastic C6/7R6/7T2V8. I-90 was a ripper hitting top speeds of the trip after first traversing on Hwy 85 which is dead straight for the 8 miles(C0R7T7V5), I-90 to Three Forks C2R6T3V6. Hwy 287 to Helena C2R7T2/3V7/8 as the clouds built, then I-15 through Wolf Creek C2-7R7T2V8. Finally on to Hwy 287 again all the way to Choteau C2-6R7T1V8.

Wyn, you're a legend amigo.

Start with some construction

I-20

Side tour to see Mesa Falls

Excellent on hwy 47.

Lower Mesa Falls

Traffic built up near Yellowstone

Tourist town on the West side

70mph and 55mph night

Then 65mph and 55mph night?

Cute little bambi

Goodbye Yellowstone

US 191 running with the Gallatin River

Just doing a casual 20km/hr over at 150km/hr!

Missouri River

This is looking a bit stormy approaching Helena

But no, I managed to skirt it the whole way

Incredible section of road near Wolf Creek

This cloud was ...no words!

Final leg on to Hwy 287

A little chat about the rain and where I am.

That storm still wants me

Barren sweeping highway, great

Choteau

Long amazing day to a lovely finish

Healthy feast

That will do the trick

View from their lookout

Peaceful

Quaint guesthouse

Lost a few pounds on the trip
about 10-12 lbs

Thanks Bruce and Sara!

Day 35 (450 km) The end of the road leads to home. A brisk morning dropping down to 13-15C, but a great final day passed Browning going through the Carway border which is beside Glacier National and Waterton Parks. Beautifully distracting. And then a straight shot to Calgary that for some reason had more to it this time after riding over 12,500 km over 35 days through Mexico and the US. Sore wrists and elbows but such an epic trip with so much on.

Hwy 89 to Browning C3/4R7T2V7/8 nearing the mountains. Continuing on to the border at Carway C3-7R7T2V8/9. Back in Canada Cardston to Fort Macleod C0R7T2V7. Then Hwy 2 all the way back C2R6T2/3V6/7.

Hwy 89

Native ceremonial ground

Quick spot in Browning, people said Don't...ah

Hard to believe I went from
overheating 35 days before to
freezing my butt off

Always a good sign for the road ahead!

Hard to choose which photos to post!

Chief Mountain

Will they let me back in?

It's been a while.

Helping Americans convert

Side story: Met a couple riding up from Vegas who had no idea the Canadian dollar was a different value than the US. "Wow, that's why the hotel was cheaper when I paid in USD".

Getting there

The big city again

Job done!

Brought these BBQ sauces
all the way from Texas!

Tough Trip Summary

An incredibly difficult trip due to heat, bike issues, age and lack of time YET it was an incredible trip with large thanks to my family and bunkabiker hosts.

I was happy to get out of Mexico due to extreme heat, expensive road tolls ($1/10km), rough roads, gas $1.80/litre and really no where good to stop. Well Tuxpan maybe.

The USA was great for cheap gas, friendly people, nice roads and route options. But a country of gluttony; owning 3 to 5 motorbikes, countless enormous people 350lbs to 600 lbs, chain restaurants everywhere which are more expensive than Canada! Also jacked trucks and more...America F Yeah!

June 2025 USA 4; Branson MS, Manhattan KS, Colorado Springs and Silt CO

noreply@blogger.com (BBB) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 04:08:00 +0000

In part 4 I was right in the meat of the US from Missouri to Colorado staying with more Bunkabiker's David in Branson, Emmily in Manhattan and Wayne in Silt with a couple days stop with cousin Mahaley, who I had never met, in Colorado Springs. Great weather aside from the wind in Kansas, really great people and excellent riding. Also, a quick thanks to Mahaley's neighbour Eric who give me a hand driving me to a change my rear tire out.

Day 26 (500km) Branson. Had no idea what to expect...Great ride crossing the Mississippi River, avoiding rain and getting in to the Ozarks. David of bunkabiker with a nice Goldwing, side car for Zeus and a amazing beachfront place. I thought the place would be in the sticks, but it was like a midwest Vegas /Kelowna type place.

Highway 105 to 51 C5/6R5/6T2V6 then 51 to 412 C2/3R7T2V6. Hwy 412 through Arkansas including Missouri C2-4R7/8T2V5-7 over the Mississippi. More 412, Black Rock /Imboden to Hardy C4/5R6/7T4/3V6. People were super friendly, but lack signaling. Ashflat to Mountain Home C4R6/7T4V6/7 then to Harrison C3R6T4V6. And finally Hwy 65 to Branson C2/3R7T2/3V7

Good morning

hwy 105

Hwy 51

The Mississippi

Missouri state line

Avoiding the rain

Kum and Go

Into Arkansas

Made with rock

Chuck's, the old Walmart? haha

Welcome to the Ozarks

Love that swampy colour

Got Jesus?

$6.66

Back in to Missouri

Don't worry they weren't for me

Oh I can work with this, and an ensuite

Table Rock Lake in front of David's place.

Nice area

Golden Corral - Cattle Barn?

Some recent flooding at Table Rock Lake

David's ride

A nice little ride with David, other guest Staple Steve on HWY 76 including 39, 86, 13, 265 C3-6R6T2V6.

Steve on his CanAm

Hwy 76

good to have a hip flask

Zeus having a blast!

More or less the route

At Table Rock Lake 20 second drive from house

Not my best pose

$16 Bloody Mary, but its a meal

Vegas type area

They have 9 Go-kart tracks on their strip

Day 28 (500 km) Manhattan. Headed mostly North out of the Ozarks. Lots of side highways making for a great day including highway 99! Late afternoon I arrived to Emmily's of bunkabiker with a cozy place, cute dog and a couple Harleys. Headed in to Manhattan to Aggieville Brew and BBQ and luckily caught a great young band named "Sapio Bottom". Tasty food and drinks in Kansas State University town.

Highway 65 to 13 C2R7T3/4V5/6 then on to Clinton C2R7T3V6. Hwy 7 to Harrisonville C2R7T3V6. Hwy 2 to Kansas state line C4R7T2V6 on to Hwy 68 to Ottawa, KS C1R6/7T2/3V6 continuing East. Took hwy 31 to Osage City C1R8T2V6 then 56 to 99 C2R6T2V6. Hwy 99 was great to 18 Wabaunsee C2-5R6-8T2V6-8. And finally hwy 18 to Manhattan C4R7T3V7.

cute deer to start the day

Very Trump Country

Young guy learning from old

What do we even want to call this set up?

Watch out for the Amish

State line!

Not a lot of security at these
drive through banks

The old peeing on a Chevy sticker

Nice day for the town pool

Move to the front biker

Trains have gotten crazy heavy

Seems like this farm vehicle could be great 4x4

Gretzky Highway!

Lake Wabaunsee

Reminded me of Clearwater Lake, SK

Bobby Orr or Wayne Gretzky

Oh yeah, chocolate and rice crisp

9'? you have jacked trucks!!!

"Giv'em a Brake"

Manhattan

Nice spot Emmily, Thank you!

Sapio Bottom

Good times at Aggieville Brew and BBQ

Great stay

Day 29-30 (800km) Colorado Springs. Windy and hot like the Wizard of Oz as I shot across Kansas on I-70 for the first 400kms. Dropped in to side highways for the rest of the day which were good even though a little rough. Stayed with my cousin Mahaley who I had never met, the daughter of Kara, and here two dogs Mavis and Pepper. Thanks for the tour of the town including Garden of the Gods and for all the wonderful home cooked meals. And thanks to Eric for helping get my rear tire changed on short notice.

I-70 for 400km to Hwy 40 C1/2R7T2V6. Hwy 40 to State line C2R6/7T2V6/7 then up to Hwy 94 C2R6T2V6/7. Finally hwy 94 in to Colorado Springs, luckily I didn't forget to gas up before this 120 km no gas C1-3R4-6T1V6/7.

Side Story: Mavis a dog of health issues, but so cute and has love in her eyes was coming up the outdoor stairs smiling at me when she missed the 2nd step from the top and rolled all the way down to the bottom...I freaked and ran to the stairs to see her getting up and shaking the 12 step roll/fall off. It was one of the funniest yet oddest things I have ever seen an animal do.

Quick start on a short piece of 177

Big shadow, must be early

pretty straight I-70

Crazy windy!!!

They have road closures for too much wind?!

Look at the lean of the RV

I wonder if the wind takes the trains out?

Highway 40

Peaceful

Colorado State Line

no snow plows today

Wind pushing still

about 38 C

Bates motel??

Tornado temptations

hwy 94

One car bitch, entertaining... Also, passed 10,000 km for the trip.

Huge military presents in Colorado Springs

Pepper and Mavis

Great shower view

Trendy and pricy farmers market, the usual

Garden of the Gods

Mahaley and me

City look out

Looks so much like my friend Andrew P
Thanks Eric

$40 usd, no time to balance. Fine

Day 31 (350km) Silt. Chilly 20C start to 35C at the peak. Incredible riding day crossing Wilkerson Pass and the Continental Divide. Some traffic slowdowns on the beginning and end of the day, especially around Aspen which I had expected to be much different and more rural. Thanks so much to Wayne another bunkabiker that set me up in his sweet RV with a view in Silt. Beautiful bikes and guns, America, F yeah!

Hwy 24 trafficked up due to some event then on to Wilkerson Pass C4R5T5V7/8. Wilkerson to Buena Vista C4R7T4V8/9. Then CO-82 C5R5/6T3V8/9 to Independence Pass and the Continental Divide. CO-82 to Aspen C5R6T3V8. And Finally on to I-70 to Silt C3R6/7T6V6.

Climbing up out of Colorado Springs

Red rock

50k on the bike

50,000 km on Blue Demon

Where I hit 50,000km.

Look at this valley! Wilkerson Pass.

Pee investigation in the middle of nowhere.

Lovely river valley riding

Climbing to the Divide

Thought it was a motorbike
accident, but was bicycle

sweet cop bike

Canyon riding heading to Aspen

Tight 2 way lane

Trafficked up the As-pen

2 lane highway out of nowhere...

Where's the front of the house?

Love this set up

Half size door for bathroom

Wayne's got the toys

Culvers

What a spot

for guns!

and bikes

Awesome hosting Wayne!

June 2025 USA 3; Cottageville, Goose Creek SC, Lake Toxaway NC, Tail of the Dragon, Nashville, Rutherford TN

noreply@blogger.com (BBB) — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 07:40:00 +0000

In part 3 of the trip I cruised up to South Carolina staying with Bunkabiker April in Cottageville then on to my long lost cousin Kara I had not seen for 40 years, and after some nights with her in Goose Creek I started heading towards Calgary stopping in Toxaway and Tail of the Dragon before visiting Nashville and a final Tennessee spot in Rutherford. Big thanks to April, Kara and Ronnie, Duane and Ann, and Maurcie and Jim for hosting me. Plus I checked out a few more PDQ 36 Catamarans before buying Dave's from Hudson finalising the contract at his cabin in Tamassee.

Day 19 (600km) Cottageville. A few stops to look at 2 more PDQs before shooting North all the way to South Carolina via Georgia. Warm day with some showers near the end. Unfortunately there was a chance to see a SpaceX launch, but it was pushed to the next day. Damn damn.

Highway 1 to Westland Marina along the coast with some views out to SpaceX launch platforms C2/3R6/7T2/3V8. Then on to Titusville to see "Beach Bum" C2/3R6/7T3V7. I-95 to Georgia state line C2R7T5/6V5/6 then up to Savanah C2R7T4V5. More I-95 to turn to Cottageville C2R6/7T3V4.

Big and fast

Launch pad in the distance

Surprisingly near Titusville

PDQ "New Horizons" which actually already had an accepted offer the day making me a little panicky. Likely sold for around $105k USD. That's pretty good fora 1996.

This was a good boat and had Canadian owners.
I probably would have bought it if it hadn't sold.

PDQ "Beach Bum" which looked pretty good too and had another Canadian owner. But much pricier and without a dinghy so I sent Dave the owner of "Dame" in Hudson an offer ASAP and he accepted.

Nice big davits and a washer / dryer!

Daytona 500!

Buckees

Harley riding lady

Getting close to Jacksonville

Seeing some industry

Big trucks in Florida

Silver alert for dangerous suspect and car

What's burning?

Took a minute to read the sign

Georgia State Line

rules of the hwy

not a planned photo

Short few miles on hwy 16 in to Savanah

Tried to have a meal in town
but ended up eating my apple

Nice main street just off the water

Bye Savanah

oh crap...rain?

back on I-95

Oh no...No wonder they don't allow
passenger vehicles at some truck rest stops.

Steak and all-u-can eat sub-par
salad bar at Ruby Tuesday's

Powell family plot

Jamming away with April's good buddy Willie who traded his Washburn guitar that I was playing to April for a Bradley Gullwing car that night.

Are we putting you to sleep?

was it a motorbike crash?

April's a pool shark, well it is her table

cozy

She's got it all.

Day 20-22 (60km) Goose Creek. A quick skip over to my cousin's for a few nights. We had not seen each other in 40 years and I was amazed how well we got on. Thanks to Kara and Ronnie for having me at their place. Saw some cousins from years back and new ones I had never met, as well as a tour of the Charleston area which was really lovely. A good relaxing break.

And I even got to try my first Harley! That was very different from my "Metric" bike as they call Japanese bikes in the USA. I also managed to lose my Vietnamese sunglasses on the short 20 mile ride...

Almost took him with me

Wild side!

Good bike parking, but those
damn mosquitoes!

Sleepy Hallow type backroads

Beauty road side park I thought was a golf course

Arriving in Goose Creek
just before the rain

Oliver looks like a beaver in this!

In need of this fuel filter
since Mexico.

Old army barracks

The heart of Charleston

Walk atop the sea wall

Horse drawn as expected

as expected as well

Pickett Bridge

Used to be a car bridge here
or horse at least

Over to Folly Beach

Beach is actually on an island

sweet way to get around

Beach front is awesome until there's a storm

Not sure how high tide is but it comes in a lot

Cousin Kara and me

4 x great Grammy Morrison

Part of the extended family
Kara, Cynthia, Jennifer, Andy, Karissa, Joe

Enjoying some Southern spirits

Southern motorbikes...Road King

First ever driving a Harley! Interesting, but I'll stick with "Metric" bikes.

Ronnie on Blue Demon

And back to his Road King

I didn't last long on
the mid ape hangers

The point where I lost my
sunglasses from Vietnam... :(

Ronnie and I trying to understand the other's motorbike

Day 23 (450km) Lake Toxaway. Big good riding day through Smokey and Blue mountains in South Carolina and North Carolina. Early part of the day I stopped in to sign a contract with Dave for his 1991 PDQ36 sailing catamaran that I checked out near Tampa the week before. So that was great! Then continued on to stay the night with Duane and Ann another Bunkabiker host, thank you so much. Plus a bonus great Mexican lunch near Toxaway, "Casa Amigos."

Interstate 26 to 385 C2/3R7T3V6 then on to the Capitol in Columbia, SC on 385 to Pickens C3R7T3V5/6. Took a bunch of roads that were all very good, Hwy 64, 11, 130 and 107 into North Carolina C6/7R6T2-4V6/7.

As loaded as the bike ever got now with tire!

Into Columbia, SC

I-385

Shot that turn gap!

Very quaint area in this cottage land

Friendly boat owners Dave and Mel

Dave took my guitar and bag
to the boat in Florida

hitchhiking bug

another church, no way

Casa Amigos!

All that for under $20 usd

Duane's bikes

Nice brat dinner

Super cool to have the camper for the night
So peaceful.

Day 24 (500km) Nashville. Excited about riding the "Tail of the Dragon" one of the most famous motorbike rides in the US and then arriving in to Music City for a lively night out. Also got to check out another Capitol! Quite the day and I was exhausted by the end of it. Thanks for the riding tips Duane!

Excellent road 281 to 107 C8R6/7T2V7, sweepy and mountainy and over a dam. Hwy 107 to Sylva C4R7T4V7 like Hope, BC area. Hwy 74 to 28 the Apalachin Highway C4/5R7/8T2/3V7/8 awesome. Then Tail of the Dragon US-129 C8R7/8T3/4V6-8. Hwy 72 to 321 lost on side road to Lenoir C5R7T2V7. Then on to I-40 C4R7/8T3V6/7. I-40 C2R7T3-5V6 in to Nashville.

Duane and Ann morning send off

A sign bikers want! Danger!

Hwy 281

This is good

Lovely little dammed lake

Loving Hwy 281

Lenoir

Apalachin Highway

Fontana Dam / Lake

Look at this old pump

Reminded me of BC on my way to Alaska 2008

Hwy 28

Anything the Blackberry can't do!

Tail of the Dragon starting at Deals Gap. Like 300 curves in 11 miles.

Rolling in to Deals Gap

Art and History

Find the gap in starters and go

Hit Tennessee almost right away

So Cool

Midway through more or less

Good bye Dragon

Caught a hawk on camera
while riding at 120km/hr

Lost in more Sleepy Hallow?

Lots of nice acreages

Looks like fireworks are legal in Tennessee

Back on track in Lenoir

On I-40 closing on Nashville

Near Emory River

A murder?...of crows

Cops holding everyone up

Backed up traffic leaving Nashville

like 20 miles???

Nashville looked great once I got in. Stayed across the water from the centre trying to keep costs reasonable. Hotel plus a few food court meals and a few whiskeys still put the whole day with gas around $300 CAD. Definitely seems like a livable city with a Vegas type main tourist street and Capitol Hill.

Nice style to Nashville

Cross bridge from hotel then to centre. 20 min

Knights Inn had good reviews
Even though hard to find lobby.

Looking towards the State Capitol.

Didn't expect to see this in Nashville

Broadway, not the NYC one

Tennessee Titans stadium

Home of the Predators!

Eddie Vedder Resto in Nashville?

I always forget I'm gluten-free

Recommended by a local to go to Robert's Western World bar which was good, but I was so exhausted I could only do a few whiskeys.

A good band, definitely not their first night playing together.

The fiddler was a stand out

Catching a few sites on the way home

Bail bonds and Pawn shops

Luckily I ran to beat this train. Saved 10min wait

Day 25 (350km) Rutherford, TN. Temperature controlled by a few smacks of rain especially to start the day on Natchez Trace Parkway which is not an ideal way to start any day even though it was a nice ride. Continued West across Tennessee to the small town of Rutherford for the night with yet another great couple hosting me on Bunkabiker. Thanks Jim and Maurcie!

Natchez Trace Parkway C7R7T2V6 sweeps and no shoulder. I-40 over to Hwy 70 all the way to Huntingdon for lunch C3R6T3V6/7. Finally Hwy 105 to Rutherford C5R6T2V6

This parking comes in handy

Near hwy 100

On to Natchez Trace Parkway

Damn...

Mad at myself for so many
reasons

could be a long day

Doing my best to avoid rain

Driving out of rain, Great!

No parking? Where would you

Cops passed this guy

The video will help understand why the cops should have stopped this guy

You got lucky buddy

Small towns America

8000km on the trip from Playa del Carmen so far

Huntingdon

Tasty BBQ at Pappy's

"BBQ" actually means pulled pork here

Hwy 105, excellent

Bradford....

This building is "the town" and mayor's office

Bradford

Dangerous candies everywhere

Hen on Nest

Jim and Maurcie the collectors

Awesome signed Bball collection

Really nice experience guys
Unfortunately I didn't get a photo of the dogs
Chloe, Maggie, Bella, George, Ozzie