Margy, Margy, how does your garden grow?

With peas,


and beans,


and strawberries and lettuce all in a row.


That is if Ms. Woodrat hasn't mowed everything down by now.

Wayne and I will be home in our float cabin this week, away from the Internet. When I get back to town I'll let you know how things are going. - Margy

Nesting Tree Swallows

Wow, that flight from Baja was a long one. I know we got a break each night in a marsh or grove of trees with all our friends, but I'm beat.

What do you think about this place? I know it looks a little shabby on the outside, but it has a nice lived-in feel. And you couldn't ask for a better location or view.

So, what do you think? Wanna stay? There's lots of insects to eat and friends for precision flight training each morning and evening.

Yes, hon, this is the place. Come on in and see how cozy it is inside. It puts me in a nesting mood, if you know what I mean. Home sweet home.

Learn more about Tree Swallows here. -- Margy

Unsettled Spring Weather

Our warm sunny spring weather has been interspersed with clouds and showers for the last week.

 On a recent trip to Seattle, the clouds had swirls and twists.

Embedded lenticular clouds are a pilot's nemesis. They are caused by air passing over mountains, creating turbulent waves. They are a sure sign of bumpy conditions. Taking pictures from the ground is much more pleasant (and safer). -- Margy

Coastal BC Birds: Violet-Green Swallows

Violet-Green Swallows

At the cabin, we have three kinds of swallows: Barn Swallows, Tree Swallows, and Violet-green Swallows. The Barn Swallows are easy to spot because of their tawny breasts and V-shaped tail. The Tree Swallows and Violet-green Swallows have more in common. On the fly, it's hard (at least for me) to identify one from the other. But when they roost, the unique white curl around the eyes of the Violet-green Swallow makes them stand out.

Like Tree Swallows, they build nests in vacant holes in dead trees, or nesting boxes. While Mom's inside with the kids, Dad often perches on top to keep an eye on things.



Wayne and I got our boxes at a local store, but loggers make their own and place them on trees around Powell Lake. In Chippewa Bay, almost every snag had a box well above the high water mark.

We like having Swallows around. They're fun to watch as they swoop and dive after insects, occasionally dipping into the water to catch their prey. Plus, they keep the mosquito population down for better outdoor enjoyment and sleeping. -- Margy

Airplane Camping at Siletz Bay Airport

Our trusty Piper Arrow 997 spent the last six weeks in the avionics shop getting her radios refurbished. Immediately after getting her back, we were ready for an airplane camping trip.

We had a good weather window last week (for flying and sleeping outdoors), so we packed up our gear and headed out.

Camping by airplane is like the car camping I did as a kid. You take a tent, sleeping bags, air mattress, and other basic gear. At your destination, you set up camp. The difference is your "campground" is next to your plane on an airport.

Our destination for the first night was Siletz Bay Airport (S45) at Gleneden, Oregon.


It's one of our favorite spots when skies are clear because there's no IFR (instrument) approach.

Gleneden Beach, Oregon is about two hours of flying time away from our home base at Bellingham International Airport. So far, we’ve had the camping area all to ourselves. That's our preferred place to stay, but we've also walked north along Highway 101 to the stay at the Salishan Spa and Golf Resort.

We love to eat out. There are two excellent restaurants within walking distance. One is the at the Salishan. Our favourite is the Side Door Café. Cross Highway 101 where a trail leads up to the Gleneden Beach Loop and the restaurant. They are closed on Tuesdays, so we walked to the Boar's Head Deli across from the resort. It's only open for lunch, so we got a salad to take back to camp for dinner.

There are many interesting things within walking distance of the airport. Take the Gleneden Beach Loop and walk past beautiful beachfront homes. Take the Loop south to Wesler Street and turn west to the Gleneden Beach State Recreation Site and the mighty Pacific Ocean. North of the Salishan Resort is Siletz Bay. It's a bird-watcher’s paradise. Whether you are looking for a dinner or overnight destination, try Siletz Bay State Airport at Gleneden Beach.

Want to learn more about flying to remote airports along the Pacific Coast and in Canada? Try Wayne's book Up the Airway. You'll enjoy it whether your are a pilot or adventurer at heart. -- 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

Trolling for Trout

Wayne and I do most of our fishing near our float cabin home on Powell Lake. At the end of a warm spring or summer day, you'll find us out in our tin boat trolling for trout through First Narrows and out into the main lake.

We use a Garmin Fishfinder 160C to help guide us to likely spots.  Newer models are here. It's full colour display is easy to read and gives us information about depth, water temperature, and the bottom structure. It also displays images of cute little fish swimming below the surface. Dark ones are below the boat, outlined ones are swimming nearby. Don't ask me how that works, magic I guess.

Wayne trolls with a rod holder and Scotty Laketroller downrigger. His line is down about twenty feet. I troll the old fashioned way by casting, playing out my line, and holding the rod. Whether using old fashioned fishing skills or new fangled technology, the fish are here.

Powell Lake is open April 1 to October 31. You need a BC freshwater license if you are 16 or older to catch Cutthroat and Rainbow Trout. Use barbless hooks to make it easier to catch and release and give your fish a second chance. -- Margy