Our Off-Grid Life: The Road to our Island Homestead
Join our off-grid life as we battle rough roads, fierce storms, and unexpected challenges on the way back to our remote island homestead. In this episode, we return to our isolated off-grid island homestead after a winter away, embracing the true reality of wilderness living and sustainable life off the grid.
Table of Contents
- Hydraulic Boom Lift!
- Picking up Pepper from the Spa
- Um… Ya. So this happened!
- We made it, barely
- Pepper saves the day!
- Is anything ever easy… EVER?
Hydraulic Boom Lift!
As we set out on our return, we found ourselves battling a fierce storm while trying to secure our load. A detour led us to Kamloops, where we picked up a hydraulic boom lift. It’s pretty cool. It’s like a mini crane and it will enable us to safely erect our shop, new cabin, and more. It’s a mini crane that will be a fantastic asset as we continue building our off-grid homestead. Right now, we’re just trying to secure it to the trailer… somehow.
Picking up Pepper from the Spa
Next, we headed to pick up Pepper, who had a relaxing winter at the spa. We are excited to take him back to the island where he will be sure to get a good workout. Teamwork makes the dream work as we load him up and prepare for the journey ahead. We made sure to tie everything down securely, learning from past experiences that the more lashing for the tarps – the better. This time, we were determined not to lose anything during our travels.
Um… Ya. So this happened!
While away this past winter, we learned that the racking system for our solar panels failed, causing them to slide out and fall to the ground. Fortunately, some kind people out quadding saw our panels down and took it upon themselves to stack them up neatly. They even went further out of their way to free our barge motor from the ice. How wonderful is that?!
We made it… barely
After navigating a horrific logging road, we finally made it back to our island. The road was rough, but we managed to transport everything safely. It was a relief to be so close to our home again after such a long and challenging journey. The beautiful scenery along the way made it all worthwhile and the anticipation of returning to our off-grid life on our island homestead kept our spirits high.
Pepper saves the day!
As we began unpacking, we realized how important Pepper was to our operations. His ability to assist in moving heavy loads is invaluable. Each maneuver required precision to ensure nothing was damaged. Getting the boat safely off the trailer would have been impossible without Pepper’s help. You know somethings, it really doesn’t matter what challenges befall us, we always seem to land on our feet. Living our off-grid life becomes more gratifying with each passing day.
Is An Off-Grid life ever easy… EVER?
We encountered several challenges, including a dead battery on the barge. The back-up batteries were also dead which created a momentary panic situation. With some improvisation, we managed to get it running again, showing that ingenuity is a must when living this off-grid lifestyle. Each setback is a lesson in resilience and adaptability.
We are grateful for the experiences that shape our off-grid life. The trials we face only strengthen our resolve to live sustainably on our beautiful island. If you’re interested in following our journey, you can find us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. Also, check out our A Few Of Our Favorite Things for products we love.