The San Juan Islands
People, the camaraderie and the sharing, was the defining quality of the day. Early on, a burnt orange sun burst through wispy clouds on the horizon as the National Geographic Sea Bird headed south along the Sunshine Coast of Vancouver Island. The air was warm and inviting and soon the bow was filled with dreamy travelers gazing out across the wide expanse of Georgia Strait.
Midmorning brought us anxiously inside to the lounge where laptops showcased our expedition’s photographic accomplishments. Our personalities and creative sides were revealed not only in individual photos, but each guest’s work as a whole. The pleasure in gaining this new perspective on one another was quite evident in smiles of intrigued onlookers. Better yet, was the opportunity to recall imagery from this fantastic journey along the Pacific Northwest Coast.
Crossing into United States waters, we headed directly to Johns Island for another opportunity to share. This time, David Stephens and Donn Charnley pointed out a Kwakwakawakw bighouse they both had participated in building. Just behind a grove of lanky Douglas fir, the beautiful painting on the front of the house of a copper, symbolizing wealth and power, and a sisiutl, or 3 headed serpent, was revealed.
Winding our way through the islands of the Puget Sound, Friday Harbor on San Juan Island finally came into view. Here we had to clear United States customs. Fortunately, this quaint island town also allowed us to spend a very pleasant late afternoon exploring, shopping and even listening to a cheery band featuring huge wooden xylophones. Perhaps the most unusual experience was in witnessing Popeye, an 18 year old wild harbor seal, receive a daily feeding of fresh fish by two girls from the nearby seafood restaurant. She lazily gazed up at us waiting for another handout. Instead we took the opportunity to examine and photograph a wild creature up close—a chance we hardly thought conceivable all during the rest of our trip.
In essence, everything – our experiences, our newly formed friendships and even nature – was condensed and offered up to us in a convenient and memorable last eye-full, ear-full, mouth-full (don’t forget our wonderful crab night and Judy’s wonderful recap!) and, of course, heart-full.
People, the camaraderie and the sharing, was the defining quality of the day. Early on, a burnt orange sun burst through wispy clouds on the horizon as the National Geographic Sea Bird headed south along the Sunshine Coast of Vancouver Island. The air was warm and inviting and soon the bow was filled with dreamy travelers gazing out across the wide expanse of Georgia Strait.
Midmorning brought us anxiously inside to the lounge where laptops showcased our expedition’s photographic accomplishments. Our personalities and creative sides were revealed not only in individual photos, but each guest’s work as a whole. The pleasure in gaining this new perspective on one another was quite evident in smiles of intrigued onlookers. Better yet, was the opportunity to recall imagery from this fantastic journey along the Pacific Northwest Coast.
Crossing into United States waters, we headed directly to Johns Island for another opportunity to share. This time, David Stephens and Donn Charnley pointed out a Kwakwakawakw bighouse they both had participated in building. Just behind a grove of lanky Douglas fir, the beautiful painting on the front of the house of a copper, symbolizing wealth and power, and a sisiutl, or 3 headed serpent, was revealed.
Winding our way through the islands of the Puget Sound, Friday Harbor on San Juan Island finally came into view. Here we had to clear United States customs. Fortunately, this quaint island town also allowed us to spend a very pleasant late afternoon exploring, shopping and even listening to a cheery band featuring huge wooden xylophones. Perhaps the most unusual experience was in witnessing Popeye, an 18 year old wild harbor seal, receive a daily feeding of fresh fish by two girls from the nearby seafood restaurant. She lazily gazed up at us waiting for another handout. Instead we took the opportunity to examine and photograph a wild creature up close—a chance we hardly thought conceivable all during the rest of our trip.
In essence, everything – our experiences, our newly formed friendships and even nature – was condensed and offered up to us in a convenient and memorable last eye-full, ear-full, mouth-full (don’t forget our wonderful crab night and Judy’s wonderful recap!) and, of course, heart-full.
