1.9.11

CAMPING IN THE ISLANDS



























The first few days I was in Washington, we went on a camping trip up into the Gulf Islands in B.C. Our boat is an Albin, originally meant for nosing into fjords with families of lithe, blonde Swedes at the helm (it also came with the original 1970's-era manual), but she does a fair job tackling the Salish Sea as well.

The price of an incredible sunset from our campsite that evening was a steady downpour starting at about 3am, but the next morning the clouds slowly broke as we ate our fried potatoes. That day I finally set foot on Saturna Island, a hulk of land that I had spent 26 years gazing at from North Bay, off in the Canadian distance. We slept aboard the Tern that night, Dag and I bedded down in the aft cabin with our National Geographics. When I crept out a few hours later for a midnight bathroom break there were shimmering phosphorescence in the cold salt water all around us.

17 comments:

Rachel Anastasia said...

I looooove the Gulf Islands! Such a laid back vibe. You're lucky to have a boat!

Joy said...

Such nice calm photos! I've never been to Gulf Islands and I live in Vancouver.

Helen said...

How lovely, hope you had a lovely time

Lizzy said...

beautiful photos! x

Flora said...

I'm from the gulf islands (Bowen, to be exact), and ended up spending my summer working in Brooklyn. Your photos really help with the whole "I-miss-summer-in-BC" thing, so thank you!

Leah said...

It all looks so peaceful and truly relaxing. You're lucky!

Ringo, have a banana! said...

Rachel: I definitely feel lucky! For my parents though, it's a necessity, since the island they live on is only accessible by small private craft..but I just get to come home on vacation and reap the benefits ;n )

Joy: I hope you can make the trip one of these days, it's so beautiful out there! One bummer though is that I guess Marine Parks in B.C. don't allow fires any time of the year? That was the impression we got anyways. Just hop across the border and most campsites come equipped with fire pits and grills...just sayin'! What's camping without roasted marshmallows, right??

Flora: Ahhh, I feel your pain :n ( Every summer all I can think about is how badly I want to be in the San Juans, and as soon as I get back to NYC all I can think about is having to wait another year for summer out there...glad I could help!

Liz said...

oh my gosh, this looks ideal right now. makes me wish i had gone up to my family's cottage in canada this year.

sweet harvest moon said...

I love your pictures from the island, always so beautiful!

Junaluska said...

Ahh the photos really capture summer - the water, the sunset, the dreamy light...

Rebekka Seale said...

Oh, that water...

M said...

Sooo jealous! I wish I could go camping too! In fact, I have never been camping... I'm surely missing out on something.

dani said...

These photos make me so homesick for WA that it physically hurt my stomach. Beautiful...

Alicia said...

wow! All this nature! Perfect pictures :)

discotheque confusion said...

The photographs are heart-stoppingly beautiful on their own-I can't believe you grew up in such a magical place. But then your equally beautiful descriptions made them a million times better. Shimmering phosphorescence on a midnight bathroom break! I'm coming back to American next year and will have to made the Pacific NW happen.

anna said...

love these photos! they're so beautiful, especially that gorgeous sunset

Bch said...

the landscape photos are amazing!!!

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