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In
April and October, we enjoy the protected waters and friendly
atmosphere of these beautiful islands.
A rich
local habitat, created from river borne nutrients and tidal
mixing, supports a wonderful variety of marine mammals and
bird life.
We hope
for an encounter with a pod of Orcas, and always enjoy Dall's
porpoise beside the boat.
The
islands are located on the Pacific flyway, and it's an excellent
time of year for migrating birds.Active participants will
enjoy the frequent excursions ashore to hike, explore tide
pools, and visit picturesque coastal villages -- each with
its own fascinating history.
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The
beautiful San Juan and Gulf Islands lie surrounded by the
mountains of the Olympic Peninsula, Vancouver Island, and
the mainland. Straddling the US/Canada border, geologically
the islands are all similar. However, in the United States
they are called the San Juan Islands and in Canada, the
Gulf Islands. They are famous for their beauty, sailing
and climate.
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The
islands are in a rain shadow behind the mountains of Vancouver
Island and form a unique dry ecosystem characterized by
Douglas Fir, Gary Oak and the beautiful Arbutus or Pacific
Madrone tree.
Spring
and Fall provide an ideal time to visit this diverse and
interesting area -- away from the summer crowds. Over
the three days, we sail among the beautiful passage- ways
and along the scenic coastlines of the San Juan and Gulf
Islands. Frequent stops are made to go ashore at some
of the excellent marine parks. We take walks with our
naturalist in the coastal forest, and along the shore
exploring for intertidal creatures.
We
sail past Mandarte Island to observe different species
of birds, Brethour Island to see harbor seals sunning
on the rocks, and visit Sidney Spit for its long beach
habitat. Portland Island has some wonderful trails, and
Jones Island is well-known for its population of deer.
We
have the opportunity to visit picturesque coastal villages,
such as Roche Harbor on San Juan Island, with its unique
history, and we may stop at the town of Friday Harbor
to visit the well-known Whale Museum.
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There
are some beautiful, quiet anchorages for our nightly
stops,often with trails for an evening or early morning walk
ashore. We will cruise the areas where experience tells us
whales are likely to be found.
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We
hope to see Orcas, minke whales and to enjoy the experience
of having Dall's porpoise ride on the bow wave at the
front of our ship. In the Fall, millions of salmon travel
to their spawning streams up the Fraser River. This rich
food supply may increase our chances of seeing Orcas
There
are various species of animals on the islands. Two of the
most common are deer and river otter, and we often spot
them on our walks ashore. The spring trip provides an ideal
opportunity to view lovely spring flowers.
Both
spring and fall trips coincide with the migration of thousands
of birds down the Pacific flyway. River deltas and estuaries
are important stopover areas for the birds. It will be possible
to view an impressive variety of birds during the trip.
With the assistance of interested participants we plan to
keep a list of species sighted.
| Aboard Island Odyssey / Island Roamer |
2006 Dates |
# of days |
US$ |
CDN$ |
May 9 - 13 |
5 |
$1195 |
$1365 |
May 14 - 18 |
5 |
$1195 |
$1365 |
Oct 9 - 13 |
5 |
$1195 |
$1365 |
Oct 14 - 17 |
4 |
$1050 |
$1185 |
Prices are per person.
7% tax will be added. |
Prices subject to change without notice
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A
playful Pacific White Sided Dolphin |
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Luxury Accommodations in the Canadian Rockies
