Capturing the Moment

  The UnCruise Pacific Northwest trip holds some real gems for our typical adventure travelers. There are places where we can kayak, stand-up paddle board, beach walk, and go for a skiff tour all before lunch. We can hike up ridge lines and quite often end up atop the tallest summit in the island archipelago. The wildlife abounds and the geology stuns. Some days are just so perfect here that even a casual kayak excursion can be etched in your mind for years to come. And for someone like me, it is always nice to have a few pictures to make that memory last even longer.   This week we had such a kayak around one of the northernmost   San Juan islands, a little chunk of wilderness called Sucia Island. It is a state marine park, filled with well maintained trails for hiking but lacking the crowds that generally go along with such trails. There is no way to get to the island except by private craft…and there is no way to get there quite like the luxury and comfort of...

  The San Juan Islands are nestled in between the US. mainland and the southernmost part of Canada, Victoria B.C. Back in 1859 a war almost broke out between England and the U.S. over who these islands belonged to. It was eventually left up to a third party to decide. The arbitrator was the leader of Germany at the time, Kaiser Wilhelm. He sided with the U.S. and from that point on the San Juan islands belonged to us. And if you get a chance to go visit the islands you will be glad the Kaiser voted that way because they are a hidden gem right in Seattle's backyard. Gardens at Roche Harbor   Friday harbor is the main town amongst the islands. Its quirky shops and bookstores keep the tourists and locals entertained, while a storied company town history still shines through on San Juan as shown in the Co. store and historic lime kilns at Roche Harbor. Lime Kiln Lighthouse   Most of the business these days is from tourist, although one farmer has found a way t...