Once a week, most weeks, I take the ferry to “town”. In the local parlance, “town” is Victoria, on Vancouver Island. This time of year, that two-hour commute is at the right time for sunrise magic.
This was the view, from the back of the ferry, that morning…
I just zoomed on the wake, and let the reflection of the sunrise do the abstract magic…
A few days ago, we went on an excursion to the Belle Chain Islets, near Saturna Island, BC. Toby Snelgrove of Mayne Island Tours took us sightseeing. What a great morning on the water!
And what a show! Hundreds and hundreds of birds, on the water and on the rocks.
But the main act was the sea lions. After their customary summer trip up North, where they have a big party, they’re back, on the rocks next to our island.
Steller sea lions are massive creatures. Noisy, smelly, massive. The males can weigh 450–1,120 kg (990–2,470 lbs)… Big as a cow, and very ornery.
Two bulls (above) bear the bite wounds of a recent fight for territory.
These junior guys look like they are watching the big boys, learning the moves.
And right next to the big boys bellowing and fighting, or basking, depending on their mood… groups of cormorants were also taking in the sun, perched on the rocks. Looks to me like they are waiting for the ferry.
And the tour would not have been complete without the obligatory eagle shot.
A big thank you to Toby Snelgrove, of Mayne Island Tours.
When you live on a small island, you have to commute every week or two, to run errands, keep appointments and generally “get off the rock” (a local expression). For me, it often means getting on a ferry very early in the morning, then transferring to a second ferry, to get to “town” (another local expression for Victoria, on Vancouver Island).
Above: Saturna Island, from the back of the ferry. On my way to town…
When you start doing this almost every week, you settle into a routine, and it becomes very easy to be blasé about that commute. Once the ferry departs, it’s tempting to just snooze, read a book or the paper you have just purchased on the ferry… To kill time.
Even while reading the paper or a book, it’s a good idea to remember to look up and take in the magic moments, all around, during that commute…
Above: in the late afternoon, after transferring to the second ferry, I get to watch the Cumberland Queen, first leg of my trip home, from which I have just disembarked, go off to its next round of destinations, to pick up people and vehicles on other islands… BC Ferries, the “floating highway” that links the Gulf Islands to the Lower Mainland of BC and to Vancouver Island.
Bonus! Another magic moment, an orca sighting from the ferry deck…
This afternoon, I went to East Point for a walk. Beautiful day, lovely surprises. First, the view, from the cliffside…
Then, a close up of gorse (Ulex europeanus), an invasive species brought over a long time ago, and making its way around the islands. Spiny, nasty plant with gorgeous bloom… There has to be a good side to everything, right?
And finally, a jewel on the cliff… Indian paintbrush (Castillejia), native wildflower blooming in the sun on a cliff… It cheered me up no end.
All around this island, when you stare at the water, you see bull kelp. Starting to grow early in the season. In full bloom, later, during the summer. Almost poking out of the water in early fall. Too tall for low tide!
Here is an informal picture of bull kelp (nereocystis luetkeana) floating about in the current. This annual kelp grows to impressive size (90 feet+) in one season, then breaks down and washes up in the most interesting “curls” on the shore, in the fall.
It creates forests underwater, where countless creatures hide, live and make a living.