Georgia Strait, B.C
This morning the National Geographic Sea Bird awoke in the heavy atmosphere so typical of this maritime and northwest coast. With wet decks and low visibility we took comfort in the confines of the ship’s intimate setting and found familiarization with our home for the next 10 days. After breakfast the expedition staff introduced themselves and briefings were presented regarding the activities to come as we penetrate the northern passages. That was followed by a Photography 101 session that encouraged us to get know our cameras and to maximize their potential.
After lunch we approached our first port of call and Canadian customs in Vancouver Island’s largest port, Nanaimo. Known for their annual “bathtub race,” it was hard to imagine over 100 bathtubs in the water amongst the bustling port where B.C ferries came to and fro and cargo ships carted mass amounts of lumber and loaded second growth trees to destinations unknown. Once the home of Coast Salish people who were nurtured by the large estuary (and abundant shellfish in the intertidal), Nanaimo was transformed with the discovery of coal. In the 1850s the Hudson Bay Company established a presence in the area and brought coal miners to exploit the resource that would help fuel the steamships of San Francisco and that city’s growing population. In 1853 the HBC built a wooden bastion to help protect the harbor and the area.
Leaving the ship, we set out for the bastion and were presented with the firing of one of the original HBC cannons upon arrival. After exploring the streets and museum we returned to the ship for the continuation of our journey up the Strait of Georgia and the approach to the narrower labyrinth of B.C’s inside passage.
