We met some folks on row boats here. Row boats… 19’.

Liz and Ben. They were in their early 30’s and they live in Haines, Alaska. They took the ferry with their row boats down to Bellingham 1 month ago and have been rowing north to get home.

We met them last night, and asked if they needed anything… A charge on their devices? Water? Internet? Anything. She asked what our water situation was like. I know that this means they need water, but want to make sure we’re ok too. I said we have a water maker… We can make water at any time, so we have plenty of extra.

She said, oh my gosh, if I could fill up my water drum, that would be so helpful. We said yeah, absolutely, no problem.

She asked what time we were leaving.

I said in the morning, around 8am.

She talked about how challenging it was for them to get water in the gulf islands… Yep. Which was precisely why we installed the watermaker last year.

This morning, she stopped by to fill up water, and we chatted.

Talking to her was really inspiring.

She has been traveling from the same location as me, for the same amount of time, and she has been manually getting here. I just… Wow, that’s amazing!!

Endurance travel… Endurance sport… It is SUCH a test of the mind, body, spirit. Liz mentioned one of the hardest endurance activities she’s done was a 10 day meditation. It was last December and changed her life. Maybe I’ll try that some day. Because I’m always on the hunt for things to change me.

She said if you’re ever in Haines Alaska, ask around for Liz. But there’s a ton of us, so say ‘the younger one’

Just before we left, we gave her our internet guest password. She had internet for 10 mins to get updated info about the weather for today and upcoming days.

We wished them well and parted ways.

Butedale is an old cannery site. With a decent trail and a small waterfall.

We also spent the evening chatting with Ruth and Paul from Happily Marooned.

Maui gets along well with their dogs, and they were all on their best behavior seeking out popcorn treats. (Eye roll here). It’s been fun getting to know King Charles Cavaliers.

Boats docked at the Butedale cannery site with forested mountains and old buildings on a sunny day

Old green cannery machinery on the dock at Butedale with sailboats and mountains in the background

Abandoned concrete powerhouse building with a rusted pipe straddling a waterfall in the Butedale rainforest

A small waterfall cascading over mossy rocks through lush green forest near Butedale

Weathered white and red cannery building being reclaimed by vegetation at Butedale

Colorful row boats and dry bags on the dock at Butedale with the old cannery building across the water

Paul feeding treats to Maui and two King Charles Cavaliers in the cockpit at Butedale

Three dogs looking up expectantly begging for popcorn on the boat deck at Butedale