Sucia, San Juan Islands, 9/27/2017, National Geographic Quest
Aboard the
National Geographic Quest
Pacific Northwest
The San Juan Islands were covered in a blanket of fog this morning. We had breakfast while anchored off of Fossil Bay, the red bark of the Madrona trees peeking out from between fog banks. We set out early to kayak the calm bay and search the beach for fossils. Sucia Island greeted us with river otters, hairy woodpeckers, and trees adorned with sparkling spider webs. This island did not disappoint. After a beautiful morning ashore it was all aboard for our journey south to Seattle, bringing an end to a truly magical week in the Pacific Northwest.
Jessica is the San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network Coordinator and Data Specialist for the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, WA. In this role she responds to dead, stranded and entangled marine mammals including large whale disentanglement. ...
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After days of sunshine and warm temperatures, the “raincoast” delivered some authentic fall weather today. The day started with a thick fog as we cruised into Friday Harbor and cleared Customs. By the time we reached Lime Kiln Lighthouse on the west side of San Juan Island, the fog had lifted, giving us picturesque views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca with Vancouver Island silhouetted along the horizon. We were able to tour the gorgeous lighthouse that, in addition to still being operational, serves as an interpretive spot for the southern resident orca whales that frequent the area. In recent years, this unique population of whales has shrunk to 73 individuals due to a variety of reasons, especially decreased salmon populations. In the evening, two members of the Center for Whale Research came aboard to discuss their most recent findings and what must be done to ensure that these intelligent and charismatic animals continue to populate these waters for generations. The San Juan Islands are also home to a little-known piece of U.S./U.K. history. Known as the Pig War, a nonviolent confrontation over the border took place between the two countries. It was settled after much dispute. For twelve years, American and British camps occupied opposite sides of the island until an arbitrator ruled in favor of the Americans, and the border was drawn in Haro Strait, west of San Juan Island. The sites of the two camps are now national parks, and the eerie fog that drifted up the treeless hills added to the overall environment, reminding us that, despite the dry weather, fall and Halloween are right around the corner.
National Geographic Venture docked on the southern tip of Vancouver Island in Victoria, British Columbia just after 8:00 a.m. this morning. The capital city of British Columbia was named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and, at the time, British North America. Founded in 1843, it is one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest. Known as the “Garden City,” Victoria enjoys a mild maritime climate and is famous for both public and private gardens, which help keep it consistently ranked in the top twenty cities worldwide for quality of life. During the ‘Secret Garden’ tour, guests explored the British Royal Family’s grounds and immaculate gardens. Stunning redwood trees greeted us upon entry, soaring to the sky. The final two gardens were viewed after a recharge stop for coffee and pastries. Time only permitted a maximum of two activities, and there were plenty to choose from. A local historian led a walking tour through downtown Victoria, highlighting the importance of the buildings around us and how they came to be. Some guests donned helmets and saw the city by bicycle, ending at the area’s tallest totem. Still others enjoyed Victoria with a First Nations cultural tour, eating bannock and smoked salmon with Sharon. While staff joined in the fun by touring the city in the morning, the undersea team had a different idea for the afternoon. It seemed no Lindblad dive team had ever explored the underwater area just outside of town. The only barriers to penetrating the waters of Victoria turned out to be time and travel. To overcome the travel barrier, our dedicated dive team pushed a cart nearly a mile to the breakwaters in hopes of helping our guests understand a bit more about what is going on beneath the water in Victoria. While the secrets of what was seen will stay a secret until tomorrow, I can tell you it was a rather incredible scuba dive! We did our best to help everyone conserve a little energy for the cherry on top of our whirlwind visit: a private cocktail hour and viewing of the Robert Bateman Gallery. Robert Bateman has been a longtime friend of Lindblad expeditions, even hosting guests in his private home in the early days. While sampling some delicious sparkling rosé and munching on mushroom-topped chickpea cakes, guests were dazzled as they learned more about the artwork and the artist.
On our first full day aboard National Geographic Venture , we started the day early to catch the right currents to enter Princess Louisa Inlet. We watched the sun rise over the mountains as we cruised via Zodiac through this deep fjord system of British Columbia. Evidence of glaciers was everywhere—from U-shaped valleys to sheer rock faces. We spent the morning soaking in this magical place. Harbor seals, Barrow’s goldeneyes, and bald eagles greeted us as we cruised toward shore for our first hikes through the coastal temperate rainforest. Guests learned of the Douglas firs and western red cedars that adorn the region, as well as the rich understory of mosses and fungi. After a chilly morning hike, we headed back to the ship and started cruising out of Jervis Inlet. We enjoyed the rare warm and sunny weather, not often experienced in mid-October in the Pacific Northwest, and we even saw two humpback whales close to our ship. After a bright red sunset, guests settled into the ship for nighttime recaps of the day and a presentation by National Geographic visitor, Ashli Akins. What a wonderful way to start our trip! Photographers: Kelly Ferron, Naturalist , and Alex Rubenstein, Photo Instructor
