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Articles by Lynne Picard
In the Galley: Boatie Burrito Casserole
This is a delightful Tex-Mex-y sort of meal, made with ingredients you can store easily. Usually made ahead with little fuss while underway, this casserole is a favorite among crew and guests alike. Serve it with salsa and, if we have it on board, a handful of cilantro. It goes well with a Greek Salad, or a can of corn on the side. I have been known to add mushrooms, corn and celery to the casserole, as well.
Destinations: Tale of Two Anchorages
The crew of Silom has had some unpleasant anchorages, open to screaming winds or the rolling wake from large ships and ferries. We’ve sat up all night in exposed coves in case we start to drag into the cruiser next door. We’ve been socked in by fog for days with no view of anything on shore. These experiences will sometimes determine if an otherwise protected anchorage makes it into our guides. Two consecutive nights on anchor recently brought this into focus.
In the Galley: Warm Apple Walnut Breakfast
This is a great meal that can be made the day before and stored in the fridge, then popped in the oven to bake while you put on the coffee and get underway. And it can be made in one bowl. It’s comfort food the crew will love, and you can make endless adaptations to suit your boatload! The captain aboard Silom loves being offered a steaming bowl of this aromatic and delicious breakfast in the cockpit. The recipe below serves two, but I generally double it since I am a fan of leftovers.
Destinations: All Quiet in Quait Bay?
Sitting on the bow sipping scotch on a crystal clear August evening in 2020, Jim and I marveled that we were getting back to ‘civilization’ after many weeks making our way south from Cape Scott at the northern tip of Vancouver Island. After exploring the lonely west coast of Vancouver Island, and now in Clayoquot Sound, we were not looking forward to being back into society again.
Destinations: Quietly Memorable Kwakume
Sometimes I just want things to be safe and easy for a night—in an anchorage where I can sleep through most anything the weather throws at us. After leaving Glacier Bay and spending long days on the water as we raced south for a family event, I needed that, and little Kwakume Inlet, across Fitz Hugh Sound from Hecate Island, looked like just the spot. Except, of course, for the dodgy entrance. Looking south from the tiny cove at the top of the inlet.
In the Galley: Boatie Buns
Nothing says summer like hotdogs on the barbecue. And nothing turns a fine hotdog into a gourmet delight like a fresh, soft, light hotdog bun. When I went looking for hotdog buns recently in Hoonah, Alaska, I found a package of eight whole wheat buns. They were at their best-before date and cost $9. So I went in search online for a recipe I might have success with, unlike the previous ones I tried which produced buns that were dense and hard. My homemade hotdog buns were excellent.
Destinations: Hotspots on the Sunshine Coast
Boaters planning a trip to Desolation Sound often ask us to suggest anchorages enroute, on the Sunshine Coast, with the intention of getting north as quickly and safely as possible. Desolation Sound is indeed a stunning marine park, and if your time is limited, getting there quickly might be a necessity. But you’ll be passing coastline that has so much to offer, including the remoteness you may be seeking.
In The Galley: Silom’s Buttermilk Biscuits
One of the highlights for our grandchildren aboard Silom is our traditional breakfast of homemade hot chocolate with fresh hot biscuits slathered in homemade blackberry jelly. Even watching whales seems to lose its novelty after a while for the kids, but they never tire of that breakfast. It’s even better when they are old enough to make the hot chocolate themselves and start to show an interest in making the biscuits.
Destinations: Ghosts of Yorke Island
Port Neville was our destination when we left Port McNeill on a morning in late July but, making remarkably good time sailing east on Johnstone Strait, we decided at the last minute to carry on past the popular stopover. It was still early afternoon, and conditions were in our favor, so we began to look for anchorages farther on.
Destinations: Cozying up to Waiatt Bay
With unsettled weather in our late-season forecast, we wanted a sheltered place to drop the hook for four or five days; an anchorage where we could let out lots of scope, go for long walks and have plenty of shoreline to explore by kayak. Waiatt Bay on the northeast corner of Quadra Island checked all the boxes and we were looking forward to returning there as it had been a couple years.
Destinations: Stuff Happens in Foggy Bay, Alaska
There were high fives all around as we dropped the hook in Foggy Bay, breathing a sigh of relief after navigating the reefy outer bay and transiting the narrow, shallow channel leading to our first Alaskan anchorage. Motor-sailing from Prince Rupert, B.C. in glorious weather with a gentle swell to remind us we were at sea, we had crossed Dixon Entrance and were now the farthest north we had ever sailed.
Destinations: Top Spots in the Gulf Islands
British Columbia’s Gulf Islands rank as a major destination for both US and Canadian cruisers, with many charming marinas, hiking trails, winery tours, and anchorages encircled by sandy beaches. The islands are busy in the summer with family cruisers and chartered vessels looking to enjoy long, warm sunny days on the water.
Destinations: Broughton Anchorages, Part Two
Planning a trip to the Broughton Archipelago can, and should if time allows, include more than the park alone. The waters of Queen Charlotte Sound are vast compared to the labyrinth of islands and inlets in and nearby the marine park. The farther northwest you go, the more remote you will feel, and actually be, but provisioning opportunities are never more than a day or two away.
Destinations: Broughton's Anchorages, Part One
When one studies nautical charts detailing the many islands and inlets in and around the Broughton Archipelago Marine Park, it can be daunting to decide on a cruising itinerary, especially if you are limited for time. If it’s your first visit, you may turn to a library of cruising guides — which might even include ours! — to read about all the anchorages and docks, and then head for those that sound best. It’s a bit overwhelming if you have serious FOMO.
Destinations: Top Stops in Desolation Sound
Among the most common questions we get is: What are your favorite anchorages if we go to Desolation Sound… or the San Juans or Sunshine Coast? Etcetera. So we’ve decided to start a series of blogs with our suggested anchorages and marinas for boaters who may be new to cruising some of the areas we cover. Desolation Sound is a popular destination, so let’s start there.
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