Spoiled.

A good friend of mine always used to have the same reaction whenever I'd tell him about something I'd done with my family, be it a trip or weekend outing. "You're so spoiled," he'd tease with a grin. It all started when he found out about my horse, which I'd gotten for my 14th birthday {I completely agree this labels me as one very spoiled girl! That day was the day all my wildest wishes came true.} and it became a running joke in our friendship that he still keeps alive as we correspond while he serves his mission in Brazil. After said teasing went on for awhile, I eventually stopped protesting "I am not!" and finally started to realize that he was right. And this summer, I'm starting to see it more and more. I am completely and totally, 100% spoiled rotten.

Today I blog about our epic sailing trip that happened back in June. This tradition of a big huge long trip to Canada all started on a sailing trip a few summers ago, when we broke tradition and averted from our routine route through the San Juan Islands to head further north into the Canadian extension of the archipelago, called the Gulf Islands there. I've always had vague memories of places up there like Chatterbox Falls and Sidney Harbor, since throughout my childhood we had ventured up there every few years on the boat, but now all of us Krop kids were old enough to pack our own bag, help manage/drive the boat, explore the islands on our own two feet, and most importantly, handle living on a sailboat for almost two weeks. So that summer, it was time for a big trip. Off we went to Canada.

And we all fell in love.

That was back in 2009 {I think. All those pictures are on my external hard drive & I'm too lazy to hook it up right now.}, and this summer, we were all missing Canada especially bad. We wanted to go back. So, slowly the trip came together: ten days, six awesome people, one Catalina sailboat and absolutely nothing to do but explore a breathtaking place.

Heaven? Done and done.

Forgive this geography major while she indulges herself; I present the Krop Gulf Island Excursion 2012. Red - day 1, orange - day 2, etc. [: Yay for maps!

After sailing through the night and mooring at Spencer Spit, Lopez Island, our first day dawned rainy and a little cold, but it did nothing to dampen our spirits as we headed north, across the border into Canada. And not long after, the clouds broke and we had the blue sky and sunshine to match our moods.

Several hours and a handful of near-death-by-freight-liner-collision experiences later, we were across the border and anchored at, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful beaches on earth. Sidney Spit isn't necessarily sun-drenched or sprinkled with palm trees, but the sand is white and soft, the breeze gentle, the grasses tall, and while you stand on the shore and listen to the waves roll and the gulls call, you can't help but just feel happy, content, and peaceful.

Beach combing never ceases to entertain.

The beautiful harbor of Sidney, British Columbia was next. We explored the touristy town, and later Merr, Momma, and I went for a very memorable run in a torrential downpour, which made hot showers even more appreciated. The evening was spent together as a family, making food and playing games. The best kind of evenings.

The cockpit. Best place to read. Not counting out on the deck. [:

The next day {day 3} after walking two miles to attend church at one of our most favorite branches out of all the congregations we attend on our sailing trips, {truly one of the most welcoming, friendly branches I've ever been to. We love going back. And people remembered us from last time!}, we motored out of Sidney with our sights set on Portland Island, another favorite place from our last trip.

The cove is protected and the beaches are pure lava rock. It is the coolest place. 

A few shots from our run. This was probably one of the most fun runs of the trip. The trails were overgrown and the land was rugged. In fact, bushwacking might be a more accurate term...

It was a rough ride. But a total blast. Trail running in its purest form! Haha.

The rest of the day was spent hiking and exploring with my favorite people.

See my hair? This is the last you'll see of it that long. This was the day I went up on the deck of the boat and had my
mom cut three inches of my hair off with kitchen shears. It was driving me crazy, so it went goodbye [: Sweet freedom.

{Miss Sarah amassed a great supplement to her existing seaglass collection. And she was very happy about it.}

Epic sunset poses. A necessity.

Twilight on the sea. The colors, the tranquility, the slowing-down. It's yummy to my soul. [:

Our fourth day, we were in for a long haul. A whole day of stunning scenery didn't bother us, though, and the day was spent relaxing, reading, chatting, taking turns driving, and watching the 30 miles of beautiful coastline go by. We were not disappointed.

I took advantage of the down time to spend a few hours out on the deck with a pair of my dad's binoculars and my bird book, one of my favorite things to do anywhere. Here are some eagles I saw! They're not exactly rare around here... but still, I think they're pretty stinking cool.

 Late in the afternoon we finally reached our destination. Silva Bay on Gabriola Island. This was a place that none of us had been before, and we immediately fell in love with the tiny marina tucked away in a little cove. Inside the bay were scattered a handful of tiny, rocky islands, and we Krops know what that means - kayaks. Our six inflatable kayaks are probably one of the best purchases my father ever made. Nothing is more cool than quietly paddling in and out of the coves and inlets, letting the waves rock you back and forth, sitting almost eye-level with the waterline. You see things differently; the little things. You see the place like it really is. The orange sea stars hidden between rocks, the Dungeness crabs scuttling through the kelp below you, the curious harbor seals and sea otters popping up above the surface, then diving out of sight when you make eye contact, the watchful eagles sitting still as statues in the madronas above you... All things you'd miss from any other point of view.

Here, ladies and gentlemen, is the rear end of an otter. It's the best I got. The moments preceding this picture may or may not have involved me almost dropping my paddle AND camera into the water as I tried to keep the current from pulling me further from the subject of my picture. By the time I situated myself, he had turned around. So, an otter's butt is what you get. It's better than my camera sitting at the bottom of the ocean.

In typical Krop fashion, we found a hike and spent the rest of the day at the beautiful Drumbeg 

Provincial Park, wandering over the rough shoreline and pristine tide pools.  

{Found this beauty by the trail! I'm thinking I'll take it to school with me.
Clearly it's a hunk magnet.}

 

Day five's destination was probably one of my favorite places we went on this trip. Galiano Island somehow feels private and secluded, even though it sits on the edge of the huge, open and empty Strait of Georgia; when you stand on the beach and look out, you feel like you're standing at the edge of the world. Dionisio Bay was absolutely beautiful in an austere and stark way. It was fascinating. We were the only ones there and I loved it.

AND THE ROCKS WERE SO COOL.

We didn't do much this day. Just wandered, kayaked, waded, relaxed, roamed some more. It was perfect.

Look at the amazing rock formations in the background!!

Sorry for the overload of pictures. Like I said, favorite place of the trip. [:

Day six was another long sail, with our moorage being in Winter Cove. Once there, Dad, Merr, Lydia, and I hitch hiked our way to The Hummingbird, a tiny pub out of town and the only place within a fifteen-mile radius that was playing the UEFA Cup semifinal game between Germany and Italy. Along with a group of pub-goers ranging from salty old dock workers to shop owners to travelers like us, we watched Germany get robbed and bemoaned Mario Balotelli's genius goals while eating poutine and sipping apple juice. It was a good day. [:

Our seventh day was spent on Pender Island, near the posh resort of Poet's Cove. We swam in the pool at Poet's, looked for crabs on the rocky beach, and climbed up to a lookout that gave a breathtaking view of over half the islands we had visited over the past week.

On our way back from the lookout, we were thrilled to hear and eventually spot a juvenile owl!!!! COMMENCEFREAKINGOUT. Owls are the coolest thing ever! After comparing its calls and markings to all my bird websites and books, we concluded that it was most likely a Barred Owl. Stinking AWESOME. I was jumping up and down {as quietly as I could} as we sat below this poofy little guy for over twenty minutes and watched him gaze at us with those big dark eyes. Highlight of not only the trip, but my entire existence. 

Look at him. So. cute.

Our days left in the islands were growing short, and we were all feeling it. Though being home sounded nice, and showers even better, we were all a bit sad when we crossed the US/Canadian border again on our eighth day. This day we moored in Roche Harbor, one of our old haunts during regular sailing trips. Mom and I went for a run of epic proportions, complete with getting lost and running over seven miles instead of the normal five. Luckily we found our way back to the marina, rain-soaked, covered in grass and mud, and my arm decorated with painful red spots after getting whacked by a nettle in the course of our adventure. I actually just laughed out loud just now... We must have been quite a sight. [: It was very memorable and, in hindsight, a really fun adventure with my Momma. 

Being the pretty upper-class marina that it is, we spent a good chunk of the rest of our day admiring the enormous yachts moored at Roche, guessing their prices and amenities, and then looking them up online to find out the truth, usually resulting in our jaws hitting the floor. We saw this one and this one and got to tour TWO different Ocean Alexander yachts, which were for sale for $14 million each. Needless to say we felt a little bit lame going back to our beloved Syntony, but it wore off soon. When it comes to really experiencing the islands and the sea, don't give me no 20-man crew, master stateroom, or triple-decked yacht. I want my Syntony. [: 

The sunset that night was breathtaking. Photo documentation was required.

Sunday dawned sunny and calm. I got up before the rest of my family to sit in the hammock and just read and watch; another one of my favorite things to do when we sail. 

 Soon we were through customs and on our way down the west side of San Juan Island, back to Anacortes. We saw three different pods of Orca whales, more than I've ever seen before, and it was incredible. I didn't get any great pictures, but I do have an awesome video of an ENORMOUS bull swimming under our bow and surfacing literally thirty feet from us. He looked big enough to crush our boat. It. was. amazing. Nature is just so cool!!

 The trip home was chill and relaxed. We slowly packed our bags and cleaned up the boat, looking for excuses to sit up in the cockpit instead of working below. 

I got to drive most of the way home, and I loved the time to sit and think, with the soothing, constant hum of the engine and the slow undulation of the waves. I thought a lot about the family I've been placed in and the life I am living. I am so lucky. I have the most awesome, adventurous family. The coolest summer trips. I really blame my interest in Earth partly on the amazing places we have gone as a family. It's planted in me a passion for the natural world, and for lack of a better word, a reverence for this planet. All these backpacking and sailing trips - whenever I'm out there with my family, out in those places that have stayed the way they're supposed to be, I am at my most content. I am so, so lucky.

I am so spoiled.