Category: Alaska Trip 2025

September 16, 2025 – Tuesday

After weeks of navigating wild coastlines, misty channels, and sunlit straits, our 2025 voyage through Alaska has come to a close. From the quiet majesty of Mount Baker to the golden hush of sunrise over calm water, each day offered its own kind of wonder. We watched eagles perch like sentinels, traced shimmering paths across the sea, and lingered in the stillness of forested islets. But nothing matched the thrill of seeing humpbacks breach beside the boat or spotting bears ambling along rocky shores — moments so raw and magnificent they left us breathless. The final leg from Sucia Island to Port Townsend was a gift — perfect weather, gentle seas, and a sky so clear it felt like a farewell blessing from the Inside Passage itself.

Now, as the familiar shoreline of home comes into view, there’s a quiet thrill in the return. The boat hums with stories, the camera holds a thousand moments, and our hearts carry the rhythm of tides and wind. We arrive not just with memories, but with a renewed sense of connection — to the wild, to each other, and to the place we call home. The journey ends, but its light lingers.

September 15, 2025 –Monday

Hiking Sucia

September 14, 2025 –Sunday

We had planned to celebrate my birthday with a few days in Victoria, soaking in the charm of its gardens, galleries, and waterfront cafés. But the forecast told another story — a week of unsettled weather nudged us to pivot eastward, chasing clearer skies and calmer seas. What began as a change of plans became a gift in itself: a quiet, contemplative passage from Sidney to Sucia, where the fog played gently with the light and each mile offered its own quiet wonder.

The photos from that day tell it best — mist-laced islands drifting past, navigation markers standing like sentinels, and the occasional sea lion or seabird reminding us we weren’t alone. By afternoon, we were walking the trails of Sucia, the air soft and still, the shoreline etched with stories. It wasn’t the day we’d originally planned, but it unfolded with light fog, shifting plans, and a quiet kind of beauty that made the journey feel like its own celebration.

September 12-13, 2025 – Friday and Saturday

Over two unhurried days, we wandered through Beacon Park and along Sidney’s waterfront, letting the place reveal itself at its own gentle pace. Each visit felt a little different: one morning the Salish Sea carried the scent of salt and cedar on a cool breeze, and the sculptures along the shoreline seemed to invite us to pause and linger. Later, in the softer afternoon light, children played on the lawns and Mount Baker glowed faintly across the water. With time on our side, we could simply settle into the rhythm of the park—walking, watching, and savoring the quiet joy of being outdoors.

Sidney itself welcomed us with that same easy charm. We meandered through bookshops and cafés, browsed the boutiques on Beacon Avenue, and watched boats slip in and out of the marina. On our second day, we found ourselves circling back toward the waterfront just in time to observe part of the filming for Easton Prep. Seeing the crew at work added a spark of excitement to our slow exploration, a reminder that this small coastal town holds more stories than you might expect. By the end of our two-day excursion, we felt both refreshed and delighted—grateful for the chance to explore at our own pace, to stumble upon unexpected moments, and to let Sidney’s gentle coastal spirit sink in.

Port Sidney Marina and Beacon Wharf

September 11, 2025 – Thursday

Islands and Inlets: A Journey Along the Strait

September 10, 2025 –Wednesday

Our day on the water unfolded like a dream. We set out early under a calm sky and a light breeze, the glassy sea mirroring pine-clad bluffs and rocky shores. But the real magic lay in the horizon: five separate humpback whale encounters, each pod ranging from two to six gentle giants. Though they cruised a mile or two away, their misty spouts punctuated the blue expanse, and with binoculars in hand we followed each graceful arch of back and tail. As if on cue, two sleek Minke whales slipped past the boat, closer this time, their quick dives and streamlined forms impossible to miss.

It turns out that this abundance is no fluke. Over the past twenty years, humpback populations in the Pacific Northwest have rebounded from barely 500 individuals to upwards of 5,000, with annual growth rates near 8% thanks to protections under the Endangered Species Act and cleaner coastal waters. These leviathans now undertake epic migrations spanning thousands of miles, fueling their journeys on krill and small fish while performing signature surface displays. In contrast, Minke whales—smaller baleen whales topping out around 33 feet—are famously solitary and swift, constantly shifting direction in pursuit of prey, which makes every close-range sighting all the more thrilling.

https://environmentamerica.org

September 9, 2025 – Tuesday

Evening Walk around the Comox Valley Harbour Authority Marina

September 9, 2025 – Tuesday

Discovery Bay Marina

Coastal Bliss: Exploring the Waters Between Campbell River and Comox

September 5, 2025 – Friday

The morning fog clung to the mountains like a secret, refusing to lift even as the water below cleared and beckoned us onward. We left Lagoon Cove later than planned, waiting for visibility to improve, and while the peaks remained hidden, the sea was calm and welcoming. It was a quiet day in terms of boat traffic, but the few vessels we did encounter were intriguing—each one a floating story. The rhythm of the tide worked against us for much of the journey, but the serenity of the coast and the muted beauty of the landscape made every mile worthwhile.

September 6, 2025 – Saturday

After a peaceful night at Blind Channel Resort Marina, we timed our departure to align with slack tide at Seymour Narrows—a stretch of water that demands respect and precision. The haze softened the mountains as we continued south, and the scene shifted dramatically. Campbell River greeted us with a lively mix of vessels: small fishing boats darting between channels, commercial ships lumbering along, sightseeing cruisers full of wide-eyed passengers, and even a tug towing a floating house. The contrast from the previous day was striking, and the energy of the harbor felt like a celebration of coastal life. We’ll be staying here a couple of nights, soaking in the vibrant rhythm of this bustling marine town.

September 4, 2025 – Thursday

It was one of those long, lazy days that invites you to slow down and soak it all in. The fog hung low over the landscape, softening every edge and turning the scenery into something quietly magical. Though the wildlife kept mostly to themselves—no whales breaching or bears wandering through—we were treated to a symphony of birds flitting through the mist, adding life and movement to the stillness. It wasn’t about the thrill of the sightings today, but the peace of simply being there. We hope the pictures capture even a fraction of the beauty we felt in the moment.