Living on what was then remote Olympic Peninsula, only a quarter of a mile from the Strait of Juan de Fuca, where some of my earliest memories included the wispy fog that rolled gently and silently through the stands of second growth fir and alder, drifting across the cleared fields below the house. I would…
Category: Jim’s blog
Who Ya Gonna Call
Editor: Sometimes this writer is glad that he’s saved old tear sheets from stories he published over the years. Looking back also affords him the opportunity to revisit his life’s learning curve. From January 1999 ’48 North’, magazine. Water Nazis! I don’t ever want to hear anyone say that of the Coast Guard again! I…
Juan de Fuca’s Strait
Most of us who grew up in the Pacific Northwest have no Idea who the Straits of Juan de Fuca was named after. Most of us, who lived and sailed around that body of water, just called it “the straits”. But then again when those of my siblings or me sitting in the back seat…
Beautiful River of Moncacht-Ape’
(Man who Kills Difficulties or Fatigues) They say that the progression of a sailor is from sailboat, to powerboat, to motorhome, to nursing home and finally to funeral home. Alas, Becky and I have phased from sailboat straight to a motor home (class B, as in van conversion), mainly after cruising our Pacific Northwest waters…
The Spruce Production Division
In 1914 Europe exploded into what was called the “War to end all wars”, which the USA had tried to stay out of. The war saw the introduction of many new weapons such as the use of ‘Aeroplanes’, which required using light flexible wood for the frames. The best wood to use was from Spruce…



