Winter Power Solutions

We use the sun as our primary source to generate electricity.

Winter Solstice sunrise and sunset.

During winter, it can be problematic. On the shortest day we only get two hours of direct sunlight.

A foggy sunset at Hole in the Wall.

On top of that we get stretches of cloudy weather. Even when the weatherman promises sun, it often turns foggy. So we use several winter power generation alternatives. One is wind. When we get storms it helps charge our battery bank.

Thermoelectric power generation is common in industry. On a small scale, it's more experimental. We tried a unit made in West Virginia, but there was limited success. I still think it's a great idea for woodstove heated homes.

A thermoelectric generator using woodstove heat to create electricity.

Our fallback is a 1000 watt Yamaha generator. It's fuel efficient and relatively quiet. On cloudy days we run it in the evening for five hours to directly power electric devices such as computers and a small television to display movies. 

A fuel efficient and quiet Yamaha 1000 watt gas powered generator.

At the same time it tops off our two battery banks to keep them in good shape and provide us with power for the following day.

The cabin battery bank in its protective storage box.

Our most important winter power solution is to minimize our use of electricity. We monitor our batteries carefully, and switch everything off when levels become low. Being off the grid means we are responsible for meeting our own needs. It also means there are no unexpected power outages during winter storms. I like it that way.

You can read more about float cabin living by selecting Float Cabin Living and Float Cabin Construction in the topic list on the right side of this page.

You can also read about our off-the-grid lifestyle in Wayne's Coastal BC Stories series books including Up the Lake, Farther Up the Lake, Off the Grid and Off the Grid: Getting Started. All books are available in print and e-book formats from most online book sellers. -- Margy

Annual Powell River ATV Club Nanton Lake Campout and Ride

Wayne's ready to ride on his Yamaha Kodiak 450.

Last weekend was the annual Powell River ATV Club campout at Nanton Lake followed by a group poker ride on Saturday. When Wayne and I first came to Powell River in 2001, we knew nothing about riding ATVs, or quads as we call them. Our good friend John, who built our float cabin, introduced us to them and taught us about riding in the backcountry.

Lining up to draw a card for our poker hand.

Soon after, we joined the local quad club. Joining organizations is a good way to get to know people in a new town. And in this case, they could teach us more about the trails and destinations in our local area.

Nineteen quads and about thirty people participated.

We took our quads off the barge and put them on a trailer to get to Nanton Lake. Each spring we like to do this, one local ride with friends and a quad camping trip. Last year it was to Whistler. This year we will be heading over to Vancouver Island to ride in the backcountry near Campbell River.

Cloudy skies and a bit of rain at Little Horseshoe Lake.

The poker ride gave us a little bit of everything, sunshine, clouds and even a rain shower at Little Horseshoe Lake. It was a great weekend and we want to thank the Powell River ATV Club organizers for a nice way to enjoy time with friends and the Powell River region.

Do you belong to any groups or clubs? What's the best part for you? -- Margy

Chip North to Theodosia by ATV

Chip North Logging Roads

Wayne and I usually go quad riding together, but this time I opted to stay with the barge to get some sun and hike the lower roads.

The reason, Wayne and our good friend John were going to ride in steep locations at Chip North on Powell Lake and fresh cut areas with steep slopes make me uncomfortable.

We put our two Yamaha 450s sideways on the barge to make room for John's big Suzuki KingQuad 750. Configured that way, we had room to spare.

The easiest place on Powell Lake to load quads is  Kinsman Beach near the Shinglemill Marina. We land the barge on the shore and lower our ramps. Except on holidays or hot summer afternoons, it isn't busy.

John rides with his big Lab Bro in a cushioned aft box. Bro can sit or lie down, but if there's a bear he's up and howling like an emergency siren.

Chip (Chippewa) North is a fairly new logging area with main roads wide enough for the big off-highway logging trucks called Fat Trucks. The barge ramp is in excellent condition. At the time of this post, the dock is usable but has a sunken spot in the middle.

One advantage of new logging roads is that the sides are open, affording great views. Here's Powell Lake from the road that switchbacks and climbs up the steep slope towards the distant ridge.

On the upper logging road near a stream, they cleared a blockage.  From there, an old logging road continues west following the stream towards Theodosia Inlet. With John in the lead, they were able to continue up the partially overgrown road.

Just before a slash in the Theodosia area, they came upon old logging trucks abandoned in the bush. Such finds are always exciting.

John loves to check out old equipment.

Rather than continue, they reversed course. While they rode, I relaxed and read. My only regret was not seeing the old equipment.

At this time, Chip North is inactive. If you need information about active logging in the Powell Lake area, contact the Western Forest Products office at (604) 485-3100 or the hotline at (604) 485-3132. -- Margy

Return to Goat Island

Mowat Bay launch ramp.

Wayne and I've gone on lots of quad trips using our barge, but until recently haven't taken any friends along. To accommodate a third (a large Yamaha Grizzly), we turned our two smaller Kodiaks sideways and headed south to Mowat Bay to pick up our friends Dave and Marg.

Goat Island's Dunn Dock and barge ramp.

Dave grew up in Powell River and is a past president of the Powell River ATV Club. He and his wife Marg ride frequently, but going to Goat Island in the middle of Powell Lake is a rarity. Wayne and I were glad we could share it them.

Forest harvester.

The last time Wayne and I went to Goat Island, there was active logging just inland from the dock. Large equipment was parked on the road, taking the weekend off. The large forest harvester was the same model Western Forest Products demonstrated last year on the Forestry Tour.

Logs blocked our way on old logging roads.

It's been a while since Dave was on Goat, but he knew his way around.  We headed up Spire Main, and Dave got us to the right logging road to overlook Spire Lake. It was a lot larger than I expected, and a great picnic spot with view.

Spire Lake on Goat Island.

Wayne pinpointed the two trees we can see from our cabin on his GPS. We got close, but couldn't see through the trees to the ridge overlooking Powell Lake and Hole in the Wall. Maybe future logging will lead us closer, but for now we'll have to be content with our view from below.

We all headed for the main Clover Dock to check things out before returning to the barge and heading home. It was a fun day of riding, picnicking, exploring, and being with good friends. Thanks for sharing it with us Dave and Marg. -- Margy

ATV Quad Covers

Since our float cabin doesn't have any flat land, when Wayne and I aren't riding our quads they stay parked on our barge.

When we get back from a dirty ride, Wayne hooks up the garden hose to our Hewscraft Ocean Pro's deck rinsing system and gives the bikes a good washing. Fortunately, we live on a fresh water lake.

Then, to protect the quads from the elements (sun, rain, snow depending on the season) we purchased a set of QB (Quad Boss) ATV Quad Covers. We chose black, but they also come in woodlands camouflage.  The XL size completely covers our Yamaha 450s from top to bottom. They also come in 2XL for larger quads. The cloth is water-repellent and UV resistant. Elastic hems tuck the edges in to keep them from blowing off, but to be extra sure we use several long bungees to make them ultra secure for our windy winter weather.

Not only are our quads well protected, but they look neat and tidy parked at the back of the cabin on our floating "garage."

UPDATE: Well, they worked great for one year and three months, but being outdoors 24/7 took it's toll. I would still give them a good recommendation as long as you know that constant use in sun, rain, wind, and snow can shorten their lifespan. (December 30, 2015) -- Margy

My New Kodiak 450 4X4

When I started riding a quad, I had a snazzy red two-wheel drive Honda, but I couldn't climb uphill like the "big boys" with four-wheel drive. I had to get a running start and hope I made it to the top. It was always an uncomfortable feeling.

Now I have a silver Kodiak 450 4X4 and can climb uphill a lot better.


When Wayne and I follow our good friend John on the logging roads and trails around Powell River, he will raise his arm and extend four fingers to let us know it's time to shift into four-wheel drive for an uphill leg. This illustration entitled "Four" from Up the Main was drawn by John's father, Ed.

I love my Yamaha 4X4 Kodiak 450 (now called the Grizzly 450). I got mine at Quality Parts in Powell River. Shopping local is important. It supports local businesses, and it's good for the customer, especially in a remote locations like ours. If I purchased a model that didn't have a local dealer, I would have to travel on a ferry (or two) to get warranty service and maintenance. That's not easy or convenient. -- Margy

Quad Riding in Powell River, BC

At the beginning of this round, I posted "A is for ATV Enthusiast." I told how I got started with quadding with a 2-wheel drive Honda 250, then upgraded to my current 4-wheel drive Yamaha 450. When I ordered my quad from Danny at Quality Parts, I had to have the hard to get (at least in Powell River) silver model.

Wayne and I've been riding the trails in our area for several years now. Here are some of our favourite trips.


Giovanno Lake and Marg's Manor
Giavanno Lake and Poki's Place
The Head of Powell Lake
Granite Lake Trail
Misty Beach
The Blue Trail
Tony Lake
Elephant Lakes
Mt. Mahony
Appleton Creek
Lakes Loop
Khartoum Lake
Khartoum Lake (video) 
Blue Ridge Viewpoint
The Washout and Fred's Trail

Want to read more about riding the backroads and trails in Powell River? Here are a few links:

Powell River ATV Club
ATV/BC 
Up the Main
Farther Up the Main
Western Forest Products Logging Roads (PDF map)
Westlake Woodlands Logging Roads (PDF map)
Powell River Community Forest (map)
ATV Trail Guide (available at Powell River ATV stores)

Want to read about more quad rides in the Powell River area? Check out the new Powell River Quad Rides blog. 

Do you ride in the Powell River area? Where are dome of your favourite destinations? -- Margy

ATV Enthusiast

Before I discovered Powell River, I was a horse woman. As a kid I saved my allowance to rent a horse for an hour a week. I pestered my parents until I got Misty in junior high. I lived in Compton, California, so having a horse meant boarding it along the Los Angeles River. 

In the early years, the Los Angeles River was natural with sand, willows and Horned Toads. By the time I got my first horse Misty, it was a cement channel with trails along the side. Next came Burke, then another Misty, followed by Cowboy.

Soon after Wayne and I bought our float cabin on Powell Lake, our good friend John introduced us to off-road riding. My first try was a Honda 100 off-road motorcycle. I had one riding lesson at the gravel pit and it was clear, bike riding wasn't for me.

John suggested a quad (easier to stay upright) with an automatic transmission. So I purchased a Honda Fourtrax TRX250 ES. It was love at first sight. I used that 2-wheel drive quad for several years, and it kept me going almost everywhere with the "big guys."

But then I yearned for a 4X4 that would get me over that last hill with everyone else. So, my next ride was a Yamaha Kodiak 450 4X4. I always thought my smaller quad was easier to drive, but I was wrong. This time it was love at first ride. Wayne, on his own Kodiak, and I ride the many Powell River back country roads and trails. Click here to see some of our adventures. We are also members of the Powell River ATV Club. Riding with John and our quad Club friends helps us learn more about the wonderful place we live. -- Margy

Winter Power Backup

We try to rely on renewable resources using solar, wind, and thermoelectric power, but on occasion we need a generator to give our batteries a good charge. If they drop too low, especially in the winter, it's very difficult to get them recharged enough to use our cabin electrical system.

Our first gas generator is an older portable Coleman. It has 1400 watts of output and still provides us with power options, especially when we want to use power hungry tools such as a circular saw.

We just purchased a new Yamaha EF1000iS, mainly because it is quieter and more fuel efficient. To the left, one of the AC outlets is being used with a plug-in 12V slow trickle charger attached to our secondary battery bank in Wayne's remodeled boat. There is also a DC connector for a fast charge. However, it's recommended not to use both at the same time.

Because there are two AC outlets, the 1000 watt capacity can run two trickle chargers at the same time. This allows us to efficiently boost the batteries in the boat's isolated system and the cabin's electrical cabinet at the same time.

The Yamaha has a "Smart Throttle" that is load sensing and can automatically change the rpm to match the need. The result is a lower (and quieter) engine speed for most applications.

The following video is at full power while using the CD charger.

While charging is going on, we still want to use electrical devices in the cabin. An additional heavy-duty extension cord from the second AC plug bypasses the inverter and plugs the generator directly into the cabin's electrical system. This way we can recharge our portable Nautilus battery pack, computers, cell phones, gameboys and have lights without affecting our battery banks.

Managing power sources and needs during short winter days is a challenge, but one we enjoy. It allows us to live a simple lifestyle off the grid with a few comforts of home. -- Margy

ATVing in Powell River, BC

After Wayne and I came to Powell River, we wanted to explore the back country. Since our good friend John had a quad, we thought it would be a good way for us to learn about our new home.

Following John has taken us to some really beautiful places.

I started with a small Honda Recon 250 (229cc). It was bright red and really easy to ride. I loved the way it handled and it took me almost everywhere the other guys with 4X4 could go. I rode it for two years before I decided to get a new bike.

My new quad is a Yamaha Kodiak 450 4X4. The model is now called a Grizzly 450. With my little Honda I had to take a running start to make it up some of the steeper hills. With the extra power and 4X4, I can now crawl up slopes in a safer manner. And the automatic transmission is a nice feature. If you move up to the 550 you can also get power steering.

Here are a few of the wonderful quad trails in Powell River.

Kent's Beach Poker Ride
Theodosia Inlet to Powell Lake
Khartoum Lake
Mt. Mahony
Appleton Creek
Lakes Loop
Blue Ridge Viewpoint

And here's one of my YouTube videos for your viewing pleasure.



You can also read more about Powell River back country experiences in Up the Main available online at www.PowellRiverBooks.com. -- Margy

Powell River Lakes Loop by Quad

This time of year you need to take full advantage of sunny (even partly cloudy) days. When we start a quad ride from town, we have to get up early and take our boat down the lake. Our destination -- the airport hanger where we store our quads on a tandem trailer.

We head south of Powell River on Highway 101. It’s hard to believe, but this is the northern extension of the same highway that passed our former home in California. A left turn at Dixon Road takes us off the pavement and onto Goat Lake Main. The main is a busy logging road on weekdays and has plenty of potholes, but is safe to travel with our large trailer in tow on weekends and holidays.

We like to park at Tin Hat Junction where there's a large turnout and map signboard. Today we are taking what I call the Lakes Loop. We offload our quads and continue north on the main to intercept Spring Lake Main branching off to the left. This junction is well marked with signs pointing to Lewis Lake and Tin Hat Mountain.

Logging in the area has created new roads through cut blocks. Following the most traveled sections we came to another sign at the entrance to the Lewis Lake Campground. We were surprised to find a large camper topped by a canoe towing an enclosed quad trailer. He must really trust his rig to bring it so far back into the bush, but what a way to see the country.

We had our lunch at the lake and Wayne tried a few casts from the wobbly dock.

After leaving Lewis Lake, we took the narrow trail down to Spring Lake. This lake is small and shallow, but there’s a beautiful view between the trees that shade the hand-built picnic area. The last part of the trail had a steep spot. This is exactly why I got my Yamaha Kodiak 450 with 4-wheel drive, but did I remember to turn it on? NO!

After a little tipsy-turvy spell, I came to a stop facing a tree. I engaged my 4X4, backed easily onto the trail, and the rest of the way down.

Back on Spring Lake Main we turned onto Giavanni (Giavanno on some maps) Main. From its lofty track we could look down on the head of Haslam Lake (Powell River’s water supply) and then Giavanni Lake. This part of the ride was very familiar to me. We popped out into the remains of Fiddlehead Farm (only a few apple trees now) and then onto Rainbow Main, skirting the southern edge of Powell and Goat Lakes. It's been a few years since there has been active logging along this section and the steep sides have grow over with alders and brush. That was good for me and my fear of heights ("Quad Acrophobia" in Up the Main).

At the junction of Goat Lake Main, we headed back south towards the truck. But first we made a short stop at the picnic area at the north end of Windsor Lake and then the Powell River Canoe Route portage at the north end of Dodd Lake. Time (and sunlight) was running out, so we made a dash down the main past Ireland and Nanton Lakes without stopping. Our trusty truck and trailer were waiting to receive us and take us past our final lake of the day, Lois Lake.

That was our Lakes Loop day trip. There are so many choices for short, long, easy and hard rides right at our doorstep. Want to read about more of them? ATV adventures in and around Powell River, BC, are the focus of the books Up the Main and Farther Up the Main. You can go to PowellRiverBooks.com to get more information.

Also, stop by Tourism Powell River to purchase the new Powell River recreation map.

Do you ride a quad or bike? What are some of your favorite places to get away, relax and see the backcountry? -- Margy