This is 'Ruffles'. He's the oldest and largest male in the J, K, and L pods of the San Juan Island and Gulf Island region of Washington State and British Columbia, Canada. He is about 50 years old and his dorsal fin is 7' tall!
Mt Baker and the Cascade range are behind this orca. These freighters came right up on the whales. Sigh....
This was taken between South Pender Island, BC, and Stewart Island, Washington.
My dad took Joshua and I for a paddle to see Harbour Seals.
The 'Coho' ferry comes in and out of the small harbour many times a day from Port Angeles, Washington. Watching this thing maneuver this tight area with all of the sea planes coming and going and small boats everywhere is always amazing! The little ferries do a 'dance' on Sunday mornings.
When my husband came up, we drove up island to Port McNeil, Port Hardy, Telegraph Cove, Sayward, Campbell River, and the highlight of the trip for me was taking a ferry to Alert Bay on little Cormorant Island. The Namgis First Nation has resided here for many years. It's a beautiful, peaceful island full of friendly people rich in culture. We visited their 'longhouse' full of many returned 'potlatch' masks. Bald Eagles were plentiful as were totem poles! I hope to return someday and invite you to look at their websites: www.namgis.org. Also, www.alertbay.ca. Don't miss the U'mista Culteral Center: www.umista.org.
Totems overlooking the north entrance of Johnstone Strait.
Burial Totems
U'mista Cultural Center Longhouse
World's tallest totem pole is 173 feet and represents some of the Kwakwaka'wakw tribes.
Black bears are plentiful on north Vancouver Island and considered an annoyance by the locals. We saw several foraging in the clover along side of roads.
Telegraph Cove was a beautiful inlet and especially poignant to me as my father used to boat up every summer as a child with his family.
Yours truly holding a large tarantula at the Victoria Bug Zoo. The picture taken of me holding a scorpion didn't turn out well unfortunately.
Joshua's 3rd birthday celebration at a park with his cousins
