The wind is back and we’re hiking. We hiked 6 miles RT to Maud Island, looking out over Seymour Narrows, a beautiful but treacherous stretch of water with tidal currents up to 16 knots, whirlpools, etc. This has become our favorite hike on Quadra. Whale activity, mostly in the distance including a couple of breaches; but we did have one whale moderately close after we returned from hiking.
Saturday evening
Windy day, and another hike with Brad. This time to Eagle Ridge trail and Blindman’s Bluff trail. Great views..many group photos. And then eagle on our beach eating something and more whale activity back at our place, again nothing close but I got a few photos of splashes after more distant breeches.
Last windy day, so we made it three hikes in a row with Brad. Today was 6.1 mile RT hike to and around Morte Lake. Another picturesque spot for lunch - 3 for 3. Finally saw a few other hikers (no one the other two days). And yes, a few distant breaching whales when we got back.
Calmer day before the rain arrives tomorrow. So, of course I went kayaking. An 11.5 mile RT paddle through Hyancinthe and Open Bays, Bretons and back. Lots of eagles, the usual seals, starfish (it was low tide in last couple of hours of my paddle), and a good shot of young common merganser, and a marbled murrelet (perhaps my first photo of that species). So as always, the same spots, and a different experience every time.
Donna photo of moonrise
Harlequin ducks
Limpets
Marbled Murrelet
Young common mergansers
Young common merganser
Moonrise photo by Donna
Aria, Nic and Anna on their way to Quadra.
Beautiful photo of Aria at sunset in Snoqualmie, WA
At the ferry terminal
On the ferry
Anna, Nic and Aria’s first full day on Quadra. It started out very cool and socked in and misty after the rain yesterday, but then that burned off and it it turned into a cool but very nice day. Nic worked on the “launching channel “, and the rest of us went to Rebecca Spit and took a walk. An evening kayak for Anna and Nic followed by a game of Skull King (the Aria/Granny team won handily) finished off a wonderful first day for Anna and Nic on Quadra.
Fourth of July on Quadra was an epic day. Some whale activity in the morning, crows harassing the local eagle pair, then over to the Saturday Quadra market for a few hours. Nic, Anna and I loaded up the kayaks and went out for a 2 hour 5 mile RT paddle out to see some starfish, and seals at seal rock and actually had a tail wind coming back in. The amazing close (right in front of our place) whale that appeared to be feeding in the area and hung around for quite a while, followed by an amazing ling cod dinner and finishing with a short game of uno and sleeping queens. A fantastic day. Anna got some great wildlife shots, and eventually I’ll do a post of lots of her fantastic photos, but it may take a while for her to edit all of them.
Great photos of the whale breaching, nice hikes with beautiful overlooks with Brad, excellent trips out in the kayaks with Anna and Nic, and looks like some faery walks through the forest with Granny and Aria! All the ocean water looks magnificent!
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