The Meadwood Store Garden Centre: The Meadowood Store's Garden Center is jammed packed with starter plants and veggies, bag soils, manure, and fertilizers. Chris Berger says he won't be under-soiled. The folks at the Meadowood Store Garden Center will match sale prices from just about anywhere. Enjoy the relaxing drive to Meadowood, where the bargains are tariff-free and are big. Bigfoot big. The Meadowood General Store in Dashwood is the home of Bigfoot. It's a convenient spot for groceries, deli, propane, and lotto. Come in and have your picture taken with Bigfoot inside or outside the store at 1221 Meadowood Way in Dashwood.

Eddie Van Haddock & The Rockfish: In a little town by the sea where the stories never end, lived Captain Dave and his crew, every child's favorite friend. With a smile as wide as the ocean and a heart that's full of dreams, he sails a mellow submarine where magic gleams and beams. Every morning at sunrise, when the world awakes anew, Captain Dave and his crew set sail in waters deep and blue through the ticking clock of time. Where adventures come alive, they laugh and learn and play each day in their underwater dive.

Dave Graham: Captain Dave adjusted his bright blue captain's hat and peered through the periscope of the Mellow Submarine. "First mate Larry, are we ready to set sail?" Captain Dave called out.

"Aye, aye, Captain," replied Larry the Lobster, clicking his bright red claws together.

Larry wasn't an ordinary lobster. He wore a tiny sailor's hat and he could talk. He was Captain Dave's best friend and helper on all their adventures. Today was a special day. Captain Dave and Larry were going to navigate through Active Pass, a narrow channel of water between Mayne Island and Galiano Island in the beautiful Gulf Islands.

"Do you remember what we need to check before we sail?" Captain Dave asked, turning to a group of children sitting on colorful cushions inside the boat.

"The weather!" called out a little girl with pigtails.

"The tide charts!" shouted a boy with freckles.

"And our navigation equipment!" added another child.

"Excellent," Captain Dave beamed. "You are all going to be wonderful sailors someday."

Captain Dave loved taking children on educational adventures around the Gulf Islands. He taught them about the sea, marine life, and how sailors find their way across the water.

Larry scuttled over to the weather station and checked the small computer screen. "Clear skies with light winds from the northwest, Captain. Perfect day for sailing through Active Pass, and the tide is coming in. That's called a flood tide," Larry explained to the children. "It means the water is flowing from the Strait of Georgia into the pass. We should have a nice current helping us along."

Captain Dave nodded approvingly. "That's right. And in navigation, we always want to know about currents because they can either help push our boat along or work against us."

"Like when you're swimming," said one of the children. "It's easier to swim with the current than against it."

"Exactly!" Larry clicked his claws excitedly.

Captain Dave started the engine and, with a gentle purr, the Mellow Submarine moved away from the dock. The water sparkled in the morning sunlight, and seagulls soared overhead.

"Everyone put on your life jackets," Captain Dave reminded them. Safety was always the first priority on the Mellow Submarine.

As they chugged along, Captain Dave showed the children how to use a compass. "A compass always points north," he explained, holding up a shiny brass compass. "And when we know which way is north, we can figure out all the other directions."

"But how do you know where to go if you can't see land?" asked a curious little boy.

"Great question," Captain Dave smiled. "For that, we use charts, which are special maps for the sea, and we can use landmarks like lighthouses to help us know exactly where we are."

"Speaking of lighthouses," Larry piped up, "we'll be passing by the Active Pass lighthouse."

Soon the children gathered at the windows, excited to see their first lighthouse of the day. As the Mellow Submarine approached Active Pass, something strange began to happen. The clear blue sky suddenly darkened, and a patch of fog appeared right in front of them, but only in the pass itself.

"That's odd," Captain Dave said, furrowing his brow. "The forecast didn't mention any fog today."

The children looked nervous as the Mellow Submarine entered the misty passage. The fog was thick and swirling.

"Don't worry, everyone," Captain Dave said reassuringly. "We have modern navigation equipment to help us. The radar uses radio waves to detect objects around us, even in fog, and we also have GPS, which uses satellites to tell us exactly where we are."

Despite the high-tech equipment, Captain Dave reduced their speed. "When visibility is poor, good navigators always slow down," he explained. "Safety first."

Larry anxiously clicked his claws as he peered into the fog. "Captain, something feels different about this fog. It's almost as if it's... magical."

Just as Larry said this, a faint glow appeared in the distance. Through the swirling mist, a shape began to emerge.

"Is that a... a ship?" whispered one of the children.

Indeed, a vessel was taking form through the fog. It had tall masts with large, billowing sails. It looked old-fashioned, like something from a history book.

"That's a sailing ship from long ago," Captain Dave said, amazement in his voice. "It looks like it's from the early 1900s."

As they drew closer, they could see that the ship had an eerie, glowing quality. The wooden hull seemed to shimmer, and they could almost see through parts of it.

"It's a ghost ship!" gasped Larry, his eyes wide with wonder.

The phantom ship was sailing slowly, as if it wanted the Mellow Submarine to follow it. Its sails were full even though there was no wind in the foggy pass.

"What should we do, Captain?" Larry asked.

"We'll follow it, but carefully," Captain Dave decided. "This could be something special." He checked their position on the GPS and made sure they weren't near any dangerous rocks or shallow areas. Even when following ghost ships, a good captain always maintains proper safety protocols.

The mysterious sailing vessel led them through the narrowest part of Active Pass, where the currents were strongest. "In the days before engines, ships had to time their passage perfectly with the tides," Captain Dave told the children. "If they got it wrong, they could be stuck waiting for hours or even run aground."

Suddenly, the ghost ship veered toward the Galiano Island shore, heading into a small inlet that Captain Dave had never noticed before.

"That's strange," he muttered. "I don't remember seeing that inlet on the charts."

Larry examined the nautical chart. "It's not marked here, Captain."

The phantom ship continued toward the hidden inlet, then turned and seemed to beckon to them. Its lantern swinging back and forth like a signal.

"It wants us to follow," whispered a wide-eyed little boy.

Captain Dave checked their depth finder to make sure there was enough water, then cautiously steered towards the mysterious inlet. As they approached the shore, the fog began to thin. The ghost ship sailed into the hidden inlet and slowly faded away until it disappeared completely.

The fog lifted entirely, revealing a perfect little cove surrounded by tall evergreen trees. At the back of the cove stood an old, weathered building—a small lighthouse that looked like it hadn't been used in many years.

"I've never seen this place before," Captain Dave said, his voice filled with wonder, "and I thought I knew every inch of these islands."

"It's like the fog and the ghost ship wanted to show us something," Larry said thoughtfully.

Captain Dave carefully guided the Mellow Submarine into the hidden cove and anchored in the calm water. Soon they were rowing to shore. The old lighthouse stood on a small rocky point, its white paint peeling and faded.

"It looks abandoned," observed one of the children.

"Yes, but not dangerous," Captain Dave assured them. The structure seemed solid.

As they walked up the path, Captain Dave explained how lighthouses worked. "Before GPS and modern navigation tools, lighthouses were essential for sailors. Each lighthouse had its own special light pattern, called a characteristic, so sailors could identify which lighthouse they were seeing."

"Like a fingerprint for lighthouses," said a curious girl.

"Exactly!" Captain Dave beamed.

When they reached the lighthouse, they found the door unlocked. Inside was a single round room with a spiral staircase leading up to the lantern room. Everything was covered in dust, but it looked as if someone had just stepped out and never returned.

There was an old wooden desk with papers still on it, a chair pushed back, and a half-empty cup of what had once been tea. Captain Dave picked up one of the papers. It was yellowed with age but still legible.

"May 12th, 1923. Fog has persisted for three days now. The foghorn is working overtime. I worry about ships navigating the pass in these conditions. My log book has all the records of ships passing through. Some nearly missed the rocks. Must remember to send the logbook to the maritime authority when the supply boat comes next week."

"It's from the lighthouse keeper!" exclaimed Larry.

"Yes, but where is the logbook he mentioned?" Captain Dave wondered.

The children began carefully looking around the lighthouse. A little boy called out from the foot of the spiral staircase, pointing to a small door built into the wall underneath the stairs.

Captain Dave opened the tiny door and found a thick book bound in faded leather.

"The log book!" everyone cried at once.

When Captain Dave opened it, they saw page after page of neat handwriting, recording dates, times, and names of ships that had passed through Active Pass, along with weather conditions and unusual events.

The final entry was dated May 15th, 1923: "Fog. Thicker than ever. Heard a ship's bell close by, but couldn't see the vessel. Strange lights in the fog tonight. Supply boat three days overdue. Running low on fuel for the lamp. If no one comes soon, the light will go out. I fear for the ships. I must try to reach the village for help. I'm leaving this logbook here for safekeeping until I return."

"He never came back," Larry said softly. "The logbook has been waiting here for a hundred years."

On the very last page, they discovered a folded piece of paper. It was a letter addressed to the maritime authority:

"To whom it may concern, I have documented in this log book evidence of dangerous unmarked rocks in the North Passage that have damaged several vessels. The current charts are wrong. I have drawn the correct locations on the enclosed map. This information must reach the proper authorities to prevent future shipwrecks. Lives depend on it."

It was signed "Harold Jenkins, Lighthouse Keeper." Behind the letter was a carefully drawn map of Active Pass showing several rocks that weren't marked on the official charts at the time.

"Even with modern technology, this information could still be important," Captain Dave said. "Some of these hazards might not have been properly documented even in our updated charts."

"So the ghost ship wanted us to find this information to keep other boats safe," Larry concluded.

"I think you're right," agreed Captain Dave. "The lighthouse keeper never made it back with his important information, and his ghost ship has been trying to get someone to discover it ever since."

"Can we help finish his mission?" asked the children eagerly.

Captain Dave smiled. "Absolutely. We'll take this logbook and map to the Maritime Museum and the Coast Guard."

As they carefully packed up the logbook, a warm breeze blew through the lighthouse door, and for just a moment, they thought they heard the faint sound of a bell and saw the shimmering outline of a sailing ship in the cove.

Back aboard the Mellow Submarine with the precious log book safely stowed, Captain Dave turned their return journey into a navigation lesson.

"Before engines and GPS, how did sailors know where they were?" asked a thoughtful boy.

Captain Dave spread out a chart of the Gulf Islands. "Sailors used several methods. First, they had charts like this, though not as detailed as our modern ones."

"And a compass," added Larry, holding up the brass compass.

"Right! The compass tells us direction," Captain Dave affirmed, "but sailors also needed to know their position. For that, they used landmarks like lighthouses or distinctive coastlines." Captain Dave demonstrated how to take a bearing using the compass. "If you can see two or more landmarks, you can figure out exactly where you are on the chart. This is called triangulation. Today we use GPS satellites," he explained, showing them the small GPS device, "but it's still important to know the old methods. Electronics can fail, but skills and knowledge won't let you down."

As they made their way back through Active Pass, Captain Dave pointed out the modern lighthouse. "Active Pass can be tricky because of strong currents and the way it narrows in certain spots."

"Like a funnel," said one of the children.

"Exactly! When water gets squeezed through a narrow space, it speeds up, just like when you squeeze a water hose." Captain Dave slowed down and pointed to a spot near Galiano Island. "That's one of the dangerous rock formations the lighthouse keeper marked on his map. See how close it is to the surface? At low tide, it would be barely covered by water. Modern charts do show these rocks," Captain Dave continued, "but we're going to make sure the historical information from the logbook is properly preserved."

One of the older children raised her hand. "So the ghost ship was the lighthouse keeper still trying to make sure his work wasn't forgotten?"

Captain Dave nodded thoughtfully. "I think so. He spent his life protecting sailors, and even a hundred years later, he was still trying to complete his mission."

When they reached the Maritime Museum dock, a small crowd had gathered to meet them—museum curators, Coast Guard officers, and even reporters with cameras.

"Remember, everyone," Captain Dave said to the children, "you are all important members of this crew. You helped solve a mystery that's been waiting for a hundred years."

A woman in a blue blazer stepped forward. "Captain Dave, I'm Dr. Chen from the Maritime History Department. We are absolutely thrilled about this discovery."

Captain Dave carefully handed over the logbook. "The children were the ones who found it," he said, giving credit where it was due.

A Coast Guard officer joined them. "We're particularly interested in the hazard map. Even though we have modern surveys, historical records can still tell us a lot about changes in the seabed over time."

The children told their adventure—how they'd followed the ghost ship and discovered the hidden lighthouse.

"Harold Jenkins," said Dr. Chen, reading from some notes. "We have records of him serving as lighthouse keeper, but it was always a mystery what happened to him. According to our archives, there was a terrible storm the night he disappeared."

"His last entry was about going for help because he was running out of fuel for the light," Captain Dave added.

The Coast Guard officer nodded solemnly. "It was different back then. The lighthouse keepers were often completely isolated. Their dedication saved countless lives."

"Will you add the rocks he found to the modern charts?" asked one of the children.

"We'll certainly compare his observations with our current charts," the officer assured them, "and we'll give him proper credit for his work."

"And we'll create a special exhibition about Harold Jenkins and his lighthouse," Dr. Chen added. "Your discovery has filled in an important piece of Gulf Islands maritime history."

As the grown-ups continued talking, Larry nudged Captain Dave and pointed toward the water. Just for a moment, a patch of fog appeared, and within it, the faint outline of an old sailing ship. It seemed to dip its bow once before dissolving back into clear air.

Later, as they enjoyed celebrating with ice cream and a special seaweed treat for Larry, one of the children asked Captain Dave, "Will we have more adventures on the Mellow Submarine?"

Captain Dave adjusted his bright blue captain's hat and smiled. "The sea is full of stories and mysteries waiting to be discovered, and with good navigation skills, a curious mind, and friends to help along the way, there's no limit to the adventures we can have."

Larry clicked his claws in agreement. "Next time, I hope we meet a friendly octopus. I've always wanted an octopus friend."

Everyone laughed, and as the sun began to set over the Gulf Islands, they knew that while today's adventure was ending, many more were waiting just over the horizon.

Eddie Van Haddock & The Rockfish: When the night falls softly, and stars light up the sky, Captain Dave tucks his crew in with a gentle lullaby. Dreams of whales and mermaids, of treasures lush and green, Await each little sailor aboard the mellow submarine. 

The Meadwood Store Garden Centre: The Meadowood Store's Garden Center is jammed packed with starter plants and veggies, bag soils, manure, and fertilizers. Chris Berger says he won't be under-soiled. The folks at the Meadowood Store Garden Center will match sale prices from just about anywhere. Enjoy the relaxing drive to Meadowood, where the bargains are tariff-free and are big. Bigfoot big. The Meadowood General Store in Dashwood is the home of Bigfoot. It's a convenient spot for groceries, deli, propane, and lotto. Come in and have your picture taken with Bigfoot inside or outside the store at 1221 Meadowood Way in Dashwood.