Today we motored south through Georgia Strait. Recognizing its union with Puget Sound and the area’s Native heritage, it is often called by a new name—the Salish Sea. The world was wrought in pearly shades. We travelled through BC’s Gulf Islands and eventually reached the San Juan Islands. By now the weather had improved so that many of us spent time outside. We passed by trees used to this driest part of the Northwest Coast. We saw Douglas fir, madronas, and oak trees. We passed Speiden Island, with its weird alien ungulates. We also went to the north end of John’s Island to see Bill Holm’s bighouse Nawalagwatsi. And at last we turned south to San Juan Island and Friday Harbor.
Friday Harbor is the “capital” of the San Juans and is a nice place to spend an afternoon. After clearing customs we wandered about town, seeing the Whale Museum and perusing Friday Harbor’s many shops and galleries.
For many, Friday Harbor is a jumping-off place to adventure on the Northwest Coast. Perhaps, after so much exposure to the culture and nature of the region, it is an appropriate place for us to begin coming home.
