The Sea and So Much More

Since we were in the mountains yesterday, we went to the beach today.  Only there is no such thing as a sandy beach on the Washington coast near Burlington.  Our day started by driving the Chuckanut Drive which is an eleven mile road that hugs the mountain to our right while gawking at the water on our left.  At a turn out area we were able to view an oyster farm, actually set up in the water, with an interpretive sign telling us what we were looking at.  Beautiful.

Peace Arch, Birch Bay - two of our stops today

Looking out to the Strait of Georgia

Ocean going vessels at anchor

Tenders checking their traps

The rows extending out in water are rows of oyster beds

Lovely

Saw 2 small boats out checking on the traps.  Some large ocean going vessels at anchor, empty, probably waiting it's turn to come into Bellingham harbor to load up.  Could see for miles and miles.  Awesome.

Lots of languages to say do not gather seaweed

Know your limits on what you are harvesting

Tide coming in, people digging for mussels

One hour of digging got a woman this bucket of mussels, pretty good!

Poor fishy, saw better days (and alive days!)

Had to move up to shore, tide really coming in

A deceased crab

From there we drove to Birch Bay State Park, a park where overnight camping is allowed as well as having a 'beach' where people could swim, boat, dig for clams or mussels, or crab when in season.  Lots of people visiting.  Many families with small children just having a nice day outside at the ocean front.  Had an opportunity to speak with a family who were busy digging/scouring for mussels.  Their pail that they showed was full to the rim with mussels which they were going to shuck the shells, clean, then sauté them in garlic and butter that evening.

Walked along boardwalk of the Spit

Looked like an abandoned pier until we looked closer

Lounging harbor seals

More of them with their babies on the dock keeping warm

Old cannery at end of Spit

Looking across to Vancouver, BC

Using the binoculars, saw the Peace Arch across the bay in Blaine, Washington

The only sand we saw today!

After walking along enjoying the views we decided to go to Semiahmoo Spit which was located in the town of Blaine, the most northern town before the Canadian border.  Was a tidge disappointed that there wasn't more to see at the beginning.  But, we started on the waterfront walk and came upon a group of harbor seals just lounging on some wood.  And looking closer, there were baby seals on the dock sunning themselves, probably staying warm since the water was very chilly.

Totem Pole by Cannery museum on Spit

A sailing vessel used in 1890s to catch salmon - 2 man boat

I recognized some of these salmon can labels

Picture from 1905 in the old cannery

The old cannery back in 1940,  a resort and golf club now

While at Semiahmoo Spit, we could see across the bay to the border and see the Peace Arch.  We were that close so we jumped back in the car and drove around the bay and with a little difficulty, found the state park that the Peace Arch is and took some pretty cool photos of standing in Canada as well as the United States.

Found the Peace Arch

Donna, under Arch, one leg in Canada, one in the US

Pretty landscaped gardens at the state park

Wonderful day outside by the water.  Fulfilled Dave's desire to see that part of Washington, was standing on the 49th parallel between the two countries.