Salt Spring Island
This morning the Sea Lion made her way along the western shore of the Strait of Georgia under clear, sunny skies and turned westward through Active Pass into the heart of the Canadian Gulf Islands. During breakfast we entered the beautiful little inlet entrance to Fulford Harbor on the south end of Salt Spring Island where we spent our morning. Soon after coming alongside, the famous wildlife artist, Robert Bateman, and his wife, Birget, joined us aboard the Sea Lion. They had arranged for a few neighborhood cars to shuttle us to their beautiful home along the shoreline of the harbor and gave us a wonderful slide illustrated introduction to their home and life here on Salt Spring. After gracious tours of the home and garden, Robert showed us some of his newest paintings that will soon be displayed at a gallery showing in Santa Fe. It is no wonder that he is acknowledged as one of the truly great American wildlife artists of all time. We were all very grateful for the opportunity to see his work, his home and listen to his stories.
Back aboard our ship, we had a make-it-yourself fajitas lunch as the Sea Lion left Canadian waters and sailed into the US San Juan Islands. Along the way we watched schools of Dahl’s porpoise, a group of feeding California sea lions and the spectacular scenery of this cluster of island jewels. By mid-afternoon our ship was tied up alongside the dock at Friday Harbor on San Juan Island where we were cleared by U.S. customs and immigration officers and set free to wander through this quaint little harbor town. Some of us then boarded Zodiacs to explore the harbor and the surrounding area where we saw the University of Washington Marine Laboratory, some intertidal creatures and many of the beautiful homes along the water’s edge. The Captain hosted a cocktail hour as the sun sank low into the western sky and the feelings of sadness at this wonderful trip ending was mixed with the feelings of anticipation of returning home and sharing all of our spectacular experiences with our friends and loved ones.
This morning the Sea Lion made her way along the western shore of the Strait of Georgia under clear, sunny skies and turned westward through Active Pass into the heart of the Canadian Gulf Islands. During breakfast we entered the beautiful little inlet entrance to Fulford Harbor on the south end of Salt Spring Island where we spent our morning. Soon after coming alongside, the famous wildlife artist, Robert Bateman, and his wife, Birget, joined us aboard the Sea Lion. They had arranged for a few neighborhood cars to shuttle us to their beautiful home along the shoreline of the harbor and gave us a wonderful slide illustrated introduction to their home and life here on Salt Spring. After gracious tours of the home and garden, Robert showed us some of his newest paintings that will soon be displayed at a gallery showing in Santa Fe. It is no wonder that he is acknowledged as one of the truly great American wildlife artists of all time. We were all very grateful for the opportunity to see his work, his home and listen to his stories.
Back aboard our ship, we had a make-it-yourself fajitas lunch as the Sea Lion left Canadian waters and sailed into the US San Juan Islands. Along the way we watched schools of Dahl’s porpoise, a group of feeding California sea lions and the spectacular scenery of this cluster of island jewels. By mid-afternoon our ship was tied up alongside the dock at Friday Harbor on San Juan Island where we were cleared by U.S. customs and immigration officers and set free to wander through this quaint little harbor town. Some of us then boarded Zodiacs to explore the harbor and the surrounding area where we saw the University of Washington Marine Laboratory, some intertidal creatures and many of the beautiful homes along the water’s edge. The Captain hosted a cocktail hour as the sun sank low into the western sky and the feelings of sadness at this wonderful trip ending was mixed with the feelings of anticipation of returning home and sharing all of our spectacular experiences with our friends and loved ones.
