San Juan Islands & Sucia Island, 9/28/2018, National Geographic Sea Bird
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Bird
Pacific Northwest
After a night at the dock in Friday Harbor, National Geographic Sea Bird cruised around the San Juan archipelago looking for wildlife and taking in the sights.
Spieden Island is always interesting. Exotic fauna rest and graze among native trees on the south side. The animals were imported for a safari opportunity that didn’t work out as planned, but they still roam free on the island. We also spotted harbor seals, Steller sea lions, and a bald eagle as we inspected the island and its surroundings with binoculars.
Later on, we arrived at Sucia Island and anchored in Echo Bay where there were opportunities for kayaking and hiking during the beautiful afternoon.
Lee grew up as a "Nature Girl" in the rural outskirts of New York City, where she developed and expressed her keen sense of biophilia. She expanded her passion for the outdoors when she ventured to the western side of the country and she currently o...
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A robust northerly breeze and scattered showers reminded us this morning that winter is not far away. But the weather abated by late morning and left us with placid waters and partly sunny skies as we dropped anchor in Desolation Sound’s Tenedos Bay. Harbor seals watched with suspicious eyes and belted kingfishers chattered incessantly as we took to the water in Zodiacs and kayaks to explore their watery homes. Other guests ducked into the woods to examine stands of old growth red cedar and Douglas fir trees beneath the watchful gaze of red squirrels and ravens. The rain returned just as we pulled anchor, a fitting ending to our day as we prepared to continue north toward Johnstone Strait, Alert Bay, and the heart of orca country.
A stunning sunrise split the crisp morning air as flocks of scoters cut through the mirrorlike Salish Sea surface as we parted them on our day's ad-Venture to Victoria, British Columbia. We arrived at this ancestral home of the Lekwungen people (turned historical gold-rush boomtown turned British colonial capitol) on Canada's fourth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Orange shirts, community gatherings, and half-flown flags surrounded us during our visit to this special place celebrated by its inhabitants since time immemorial, which looks to exist now with its modern history fully examined-to dispel the myths of "Canada," "British Columbia," and "Victoria" to understand their truths. May this contemplative spirit guide us forward on our voyage into the wilderness overseen by its ancestors both old and becoming. Onward!
Today was our final full day aboard National Geographic Venture and it has been a perfect final end to an already exciting, adventurous, and fulfilling experience here in the Pacific Northwest. Throughout this trip we’ve seen so many extraordinary examples of pristine beauty in nature and today continued that trend. As we woke this morning guests were treated to one of the most vibrant sunrises possible, with the sky stretching bright pinks, oranges, and purples. Guests gathered on deck while some joined our wellness specialist, Ann Marie, on our sundeck for a stretch class with the best view available. After breakfast, we split into groups to explore Stuart Island through wooded hikes and breezy Zodiac tours. We continued our adventures this afternoon after repositioning to a nearby marine provincial park, the Sucia Island group. Here we trekked coastal hikes while also exploring on the water via Zodiac tours, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Our evening came to a close with a cocktail hour off the ship, celebrating our trip’s closure around a campfire on Sucia Island’s beach. Throughout this trip our goal each day was to be as open as possible to the world around us, immersing ourselves in the world of First Nations communities, dynamic marine environments, and iconic temperate rainforests. Our hearts are happy, our stomachs are full, and our eyes are already looking forward to more great experiences like this!