Today we awoke dockside in the port of the small town of
Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. San Juan Island is the second largest island
in the archipelago, and is enjoyed for its beautiful scenery and marine and
terrestrial wildlife.
Tours of the island took guests to San Juan Island National
Historic Park and Lime Kiln State Park, where they explored some of the most
scenic overlooks in the Salish Sea on foot. Others visited a biodynamic organic
farm and learned how locals take sustainability into their own hands by eating
locally.
In the afternoon we cruised through the San Juan/Gulf Island
Archipelago spotting wildlife and enjoying the intermittent showers.
Katie Mo started her career as a naturalist on Catalina Island where she taught marine science outdoor education and SCUBA diving. Her passion for conservation biology then led her to pursue a Masters degree in marine science at Western Washington University, studying restoration methods of the local pinto abalone. She has been diving around the world but some of her favorite spots include the Pacific Northwest, Mediterranean, and the beautiful kelp forests off the California coast where she was first certified to breathe underwater. It is her continued mission to educate and inspire others, and hopefully make an ocean lover out of everyone she meets.
We concluded our expedition in the Pacific Northwest by exploring picturesque Sucia Island, one of the many islands that make up the San Juan Archipelago. Comprised entirely of sedimentary rock and nearly entirely forested, it provided a perfect setting for our last operations of the week. Setting out in almost all directions on the well-manicured trails of this State Park, and from the driftwood strewn beach, we launched our kayaks in the protected waters of Shallow Bay. Still others set out by Zodiac to examine the many nooks and crannies of the shoreline and witness the current and windswept seas bringing productivity to the fish and birds that call these waters home.
After wrapping up our morning outings we set out in search of wildlife, cruising the many channels that wind their way through the various islands in the Salish Sea. As luck would have it, we came across a group of 9 Biggs (transient) killer whales. These largest members of the dolphin family are common in these waters but are constantly on the move in search of prey such as harbor seals, porpoises, and Steller sea lions. It would appear this tight-knit family group had just recently made a kill as they were being very playful at times, breaching, tail lobbing, and spy hopping, as well as rolling along the surface in close contact with each other, likely portioning their recent kill. It was a truly grand performance and an iconic and fitting conclusion to our expedition in this rich and diverse area of the world.
Today we awoke in the heart of Victoria, a beatiful and vibrant city here on the south end of Vancouver Island. Today we took in all the city had to offer; historical and architectural walks, bicycle tours, trips to the Royal British Columbia Musuem, garden tours, all culminating in a private reception at the Robert Bateman Center and Gallery. A fantastic final day here in Canada.
