Ahoy from Queen Charlotte Strait!

Today we entered Queen Charlotte Strait. The last time we were here, two years ago, it was what we call a "romp." The wind was blowing 20-25 kts, the chop was big.

Today, it couldn't be more opposite: rippled water, a variable breath of wind. We have been in our short pants for almost a week in this unseasonably warm and calm run of weather. Knowing what it can be like under other conditions, we have chosen to make a dash to get around Cape Caution, our first of two big passages where we are in the open ocean on our way to SE Alaska. Tomorrow or Wednesday will be our day.

Today, as we were almost out LaBouchere Passage into Queen Charlotte Strait, we saw our first whale of the trip, an orca. One of the foremost reasons we love traveling to more remote places is to see the wildlife. Up til now, we have seen so many species of birds, many with their young offspring. A definite benefit of getting up here earlier in the season.

Because it has taken us almost 2 weeks to decompress from our lives at home, get settled in on Dog Star and decide how we want to do this blog this time, I am going to do a "photo dump," and will add captions. You'll get the idea of our last few weeks, and then, hopefully, we will post more frequently.

Bye bye, Seattle!

Looking out over Skagit Bay.

Out for a dinghy exploration and a hike at English Camp, San Juan Island.

The Strait of Georgia, looking towards the east, Coastal Range.

A stop at Mitelnatch Island. Huge stellar sea lion.

Harlequin Ducks.

A hike to a lake from Grace Harbor, Desolation Sound.

The bear print we saw after looking at the lake awhile.

Desolation Sound, looking at the mainland Coastal Range.

David washing the boat in Johnstone Strait.

Johnstone Strait.

First Nations community near Mound Island in the Broughton Archipelago.

Shell midden amongst the Broughtons. Many of these up here.

Eagle surveying the waters.

Petroglyph on the north side of Berry Island, the Broughtons (on the left side). On the lower right is Chief's Bathtub, a little seat in the rock where apparently new chiefs had to sit in four times a day for four days as the tide rushed in. Brrrr!

Here is a photoshopped version of the petroglyph, where the colors were intensified

Another First Nation village with really cool totems, the Broughtons.

Natural beauty.