We awoke to calm waters as we cruised into Victoria this morning with the sun shining over the snowcapped Olympic Mountains. We had an activity-packed day getting to know the fun, small city of Victoria. Some of us enjoyed historic walking tours and visiting the Royal British Columbia Museum, while others toured the secret gardens and biked around the city. In the evening, we enjoyed a cocktail reception at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, which had exhibits celebrating the symbiosis of trees and fungal networks and showcased art from female Indigenous leaders of the area. It was a full, fun day of sun to start off our time on the British Columbia leg of the trip.
5/3/2025
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National Geographic Venture
Green Inlet
Our last lovely day in the Great Bear Rainforest was full of excitement, education, and awe. After dropping anchor in the idyllic glacier fjord of Green Inlet, we set out to explore the rocky shoreline and forested granitic fjord walls. The dense fog gradually turned into a wispy mist which exposed different peaks and corners of the forest as it moved through. We took turns kayaking through a delightful cove that was loaded with ochre sea stars, rockweed, and blue mussels so thick and dense the rock they were attached to was hardly visible between them. A river otter scurried along the shore and bald eagles soared above us. From the Zodiacs, we visited nearly a dozen thunderous waterfalls that were running hard and fast from the heavy overnight rains. We observed harbor seals observing us back, quietly periscoping their furry heads up and out of the water as we approached the rapids where harlequin ducks and surf scoters held court along the shoreline. After lunch we were greeted by a trio of transient killer whales that swam circles around National Geographic Venture . Later, Certified Photo Instructor Rich Reid was interrupted by humpback whales, which we rushed onto the bow to appreciate.
