Fall Road Trip 2023 - Port Angeles to Cape Lookout

Living on the island, there's almost always a boat trip before the road trip. We entered the U.S. at Port Angeles via the Coho Ferry. After stocking up on food we can't bring across the border, we drove a while and found beautiful campsite at Kalaloch Creek. We love camping and hiking the ocean beaches along the Washington and Oregon coasts. 

There was also a nice nature trail and Kalaloch Lodge was also within easy walking distance for a glass of wine with a sunset view. 

It's only day one and I'm already taking too many photos! I'm determined to try to keep up this time! We'll see how that goes! 

The next day we stopped at Elixir Coffee (one of our favourite stops along this stretch) in South Bend, and a second stop at Cannon Beach. It was a beautiful warm day and, being in the off season, the beach felt almost empty (this is a huge tourist destination and, in summer, the place is packed and we usually avoid it!) 

Haystack Rock

We found another great ocean side campground at Cape Lookout and walked along the beach and watched the sunset. 

Raptors

On a sunny day last week, Andrew and I headed north to Duncan to visit The Raptors Centre. It was really great to see some of the birds so close up and, in some cases, out of their cages and being highlighted by the staff. I was really pleased with the lighting in some of these! 

In addition, there was a flying show which was also really good but much harder to take photos when the birds are flying, are further away, and not staying still for very long. 

On the way home, we saw this bald eagle along Cowichan Bay Road so had to stop to get a few photos of it as well. 

Of course, Andrew also got some great photos and he adds a bit more information about the birds in his blog post here. 

Seals, Their Babies, and other Harbour Sightings

For the third summer in a row, the tiny island (Colville Island) near our home has been visited by mother harbour seals and their babies. Just one the past couple years but two momma seals and babies this year. They are fun to watch! 

 

On one of the days Andrew and I were out taking photos, they came close enough to the main shore to take some video. So playful! 

Of course, there's always lots of other things to take photos of as well. ;-) 

We spotted this momma deer and her two babies when we dropped Penny off where she was house sitting in Oak Bay. 

Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium - June 2023

On the way home from our latest road trip (June 2023), we stopped again at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma. Always at great stop! The tiger was very cooperative and, for once, didn't have glass or a chain link fence blocking the view. :-) 

Penguins always make me smile. Their movements and antics are so humorous! 

Kayaking - Sights and Sounds

I'm generally not too motivated to go out kayaking (and it's always Andrew who initiates it, plus goes out a lot on his own) but I'm always happy when I do! 

Our "paddling" is more along the lines of meandering and taking photos and we saw SO much today! It was awesome!

The folding kayaks make it so easy to get out. I really shouldn't have any excuses!

The Coho Ferry arriving. 

Bald eagle. We spotted the white head quite a distance away.

Andrew had seen a family of racoons as well as a baby deer on previous visits out here. Today we saw single racoons in two different places, the momma deer as well as two babies. 

At one point, we were stopped and just looking around, but in amongst some thick seaweed. Andrew could feel and hear something banging against his kayak. I looked over a it was a crab snapping it's claws at the back of his kayak. Andrew must have stopped right on top of him and he didn't like it! I didn't get my camera out in time but then saw this one a bit further on.

There were lots of Canada geese and other birds. We also came across a very curious seal who gave us a good look and actually rolled over and had his flippers in the air for a short time. Usually it's just their head poking out of the water. Again, by the time either of us got a camera out, he was gone!

And then when we got home, this baby rabbit was in the yard just outside our door.