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Croissants Made from Scratch
A basket of hand made pastries is a bit of heaven every morning on the David B
Russell Takes the Wheel
We enjoy giving our passengers time to take the wheel if that's something they like to do. Steering the David B is fun and many of our passengers take up Jeffrey's offer to let them drive.
Sunset in Johnstone Strait
Clouds began to roll in, but not before we were treated to a spectacular sunset from our anchorage in Johnstone Strait.
Cruise Ship in Johnstone Strait
I don't normally post much about cruise ships since they are the antithesis of what we are all about. I'm, however, alway stunned by the scale of these boats. We were tucked away in our anchorage having dinner when this boat cruised by us making way for Seymour Narrows.
Log Tow in Johnstone Strait
Tow Boat heading for Seymour Narrows. These guys were coordinating with two big cruise ships for the exact time that they would all reach Seymour Narrows which is a place where all boats try to get to at slack water.
Logging Camp
Besides being a great place to spot whales, Johnstone Strait has a lot of logging activity. This old ferry and a barge was converted into a logging camp as the hillside get harvested. The logging company can later more the camp to another location.
Orca Surfacing
Most of this day was spent cruising in Johnstone Strait and watching scattered pods of orca whales. We came across orcas three times between the Pearse Islands and Race Pass.
Orca Spouts
We had a great orca show in Johnstone Strait with whales surfacing and feeding near the boat. The water was clear enough to get to see them move under water.
Whale Watching Near Alert Bay
After we left the Pearse Islands we spotted several orca whales feeding
Rusting Washington
We'd been given a tip by a local who came to visit the David B when he heard our antique engine as we passed Alert Bay on our way to the Pease Islands. He told us about a two- cylinder engine make by Washington Iron Works that was rusting on the beach just around the corner. Jeffrey, Russel and Christine went to investigate.
Pearse Island Skiff Ride
Russell watches for eagles and herons as we skiff over to an old rusting Washington Iron Works 2-cylinder engine on a beach nearby
Fog Bow
On a skiff ride to do a little checking on a reported Washington Iron Works 2-cylinder engine on a beach, we got to see a fog bow.
Alert Bay Sign
An octopus and orca appear to do battle in this sign outside a fish processing plant in Alert Bay
The David B at Alert Bay
We made a stop at Alert Bay for a tour of the town and to visit the cultural center for the U'mista Cultural center to learn more about the cultural heritage of the Kwakwa?ka??wakw people.
Two Porpoises on the Bow
Clear water made watching the porpoises memorizing as they surfed just off the bow of the David B
Dalls Porpoises on the Bow
The most fun moments on any of our cruises is a visit from a playful group of Dalls Porpoises
Grilled Flank Steak
One of our dinners was flank steak with garlic mashed potatoes, and asparagus with a mornay sauce
Sourdough Bread for Dinner
While Jeffrey made some bull kelp pickles, I baked a loaf of bread that I'd been rising all afternoon. Loved this loaf's thick, chewy crust. I even whipped up some cream with garlic and salt to make a savory whipped cream to go on the bread.
Decaying Totem Pole
An old fallen totem pole has been slowly decaying at Mamalilaculla for many years.
Village Island House
While we were walking around Village Island, we met a group of cruises who had spent time at Mamalilaculla forty years earlier. They shared a few stories about the people they used to know from the now abandoned village.
Longhouse
All the remains of a long louse at the abandoned native village of Mamalilaculla on Village Island
Russel Bear
We kept an eye out for bears while we walked around Village Island. As it turned out, Russell was as close to a bear as we got. We did find a few older piles of bear scat.
Village Island Beach
The tide was really low when we arrived at Village Island. We enjoyed a little beach combing and photography.
Male Orca in Johnstone Strait
One of the resident a-pod orca whales. He is one of the A36s, a matrilineal line that that has three brothers.
Russell Dwarfed by an 800-Year old Western Red Cedar
Russell stands next to a Western red cedar that escaped being logged. The hike in Blind Channel in interesting because it is a hike managed by a forest company.
Forest Elder
The 800 year old cedar at Blind Channel stand tall surrounded by a forest of young second growth trees.
Mushroom on the Forest Floor
One of the many species of mushrooms we saw while hiking through the forest at Blind Channel
Banana Slug
You may not like slugs, but banana slugs are very important to the forest ecosystem. They break down leaf litter and turn it into soil that the trees use.
David B at Blind Channel Resort
We stopped at Blind Channel Resort for a couple of hours to go on a walk to see an 800 year old Western red cedar
Sunrise in Cordero Channel
We anchored in Cordero Channel near Greene Point Rapids. This morning was incredible with a deep colored sunrise and still water
Coming Up to a Waterfall in Toba Inlet
Toba Inlet was carved by ancient glaciers. Now, it's steep sides produces beautiful cascading waterfalls.
Underway for Waddington Channel
After our hike to Lake Unwin, we raised anchor and cruised up Waddington Channel between East and West Redonda Islands
Lake Unwin
The fog just lifted as we walked out on logs that were pushed up against the shore. The water was clear several robins were singing in the trees around us.
Mosses, Ferns, Trees and a Little Sunshine
Susy takes in all the mosses, ferns and trees on or hike to a lake in Desolation Sound.
Forest Creek
This creek led us to a lake not far from the shore where the David B was anchored. The creek was surrounded by sword ferns and Western red cedar,
Lungwort in Desolation Sound
Lobaria pulmonaria, commonly called lungwort because it is reminiscent of lung tissue lives on trees and is sensitive to air pollution. It's also an indicator species for the health of old growth forests.
Strawberry Tart
These simple strawberry tarts were a quick desert, but so good. I bought the strawberries from a local garden and the whipped cream filling came from fresh cream I made just after the tart shells cooled.
Smoked Salmon Torte
I'm working on a new Smoked Salmon Torte. The recipe will eventually become the filling for a savory cheesecake.
Rainbow Near Desolation Sound
After a brief rain shower, we got to watch this rainbow get brighter and brighter as the sky began to clear.
Watching out the Windows
Suzy watching for wildlife outside the David B. There were several harbor seals feeding nearby while we were anchored at Sucia Island
Veggie Frittata for Breakfast
Made this veggie frittata for breakfast. Lots of spinach, peppers and goat cheese in this one.
Sunset Underway for Sucia
We left Bellingham late in the afternoon. On our way to Sucia Island in the San Juan Islands, we enjoyed a beautiful sunset.
Mount Baker in the Background
Mount Baker looms over Bellingham as we leave for a 12-day cruise to the northern end of Vancouver Island.
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