Braving the Steep Climb and the Sharp Thorns

by | Sep 20, 2015 | family, travel | 28 comments

IMG_0535The best blackberries.

Isn’t that where you always find the largest clumps of ripe blackberries, plump and smug at the top of the bush, higher than you could possibly reach without jumping? And you can’t jump unless you want to get tangled in their evil thorn-studded branches.

IMG_0522“Ouch!” My seven-year-old grandson, visiting from the East Coast, is picking blackberries for the first time.

“Watch out for the thorns,” I say.

He frowns at the little red mark on his perfect child’s skin.

Instead of sympathizing—It’s such a small wound—I tell him something about a knight who must fight a dragon in order to rescue the fair maiden.

He’s not impressed. Maybe I should have used Star Wars imagery or Thor or Iron Man. He elects to hold the bowl for me and point out ripe berries that are within reach.

There’s something to be said for the low-hanging fruit.

The best views.

When you’re hiking, the best views always seem to be at the top of the mountain or hill. The fact that you’ve earned the view by scrambling up a steep trail makes it all the sweeter.

On the steep trail behind Roche Harbor, my little grandson (and his very fit parents) left me in the dust. Last time I’d climbed that hill to look down on the old abandoned quarries, the trail wasn’t nearly as steep. I’m sure it wasn’t. Also the quarries were filled with water then. Not so this year of the hot, rainless summer.

Before we started hiking, I’d prudently stashed my oversized iPhone6 in the trunk of the car. So, sorry, no photos from the lookout.

Here are some photos from the gentler trail we hiked the following day at English Camp. (also on San Juan Island)

IMG_0570IMG_0563

Madronas

Madronas

The most unusual sights.

If you want to view whales and orcas, you don’t have to brave thorns or climb steep trails. But unless you’re extremely lucky and catch a glimpse of an orca from a ferry deck, you’ll need to shell out some money for a whale-watching trip or a cruise to Alaska.

Everything special costs in one way or the other.

The ferry arrives as we head out.

The ferry arrives as we head out.

After our little hike, we cleaned up and drove to Friday Harbor for a whale-watching cruise. At 2:00 pm sharp, our boat left the dock and set out to find some orcas (also known as killer whales). The captain and his crew were familiar with the orcas’ habits, especially those of the J, K, and L pods, and other whale watchers shared sightings with them.

Nevertheless, the ocean is big, and the orcas swim where they will. Our wildlife guides advised us to think positive thoughts as we cruised down to the south end of San Juan Island and out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

And yes, it worked. Ahead of us was the surest sign of the presence of orcas: other whale-watching boats. (In case you’re concerned about the wellbeing of the orcas, there are rules for watching them. All boats must stay 200 yards away and 400 yards out of their path.)

orcasAlong with other enthusiastic whale-watchers, we crowded the deck and adjusted our binoculars. And the orcas put on a show for us, circling and breaching, blowing and slapping their tails. At one point, they seemed to be attacking (and eating?) a Harbor Porpoise—a sure sign they weren’t from J, K, or L pods. Hmm. They must have been Transient Orcas.

IMG_0552Steller sea lionsEventually they swam away and we turned around, pausing near a tiny island to watch enormous male Steller Sea Lions soak up the sun and fight and bark. Another very special sight.

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28 Comments

  1. restlessjo

    What a great Summer you had, Nicki! That shot of the clouds over the scintillating sea is a stunner. 🙂 And I know that ‘just out of reach’ feeling. The apple tree next door is tantalisingly close.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Yes, we did have a very nice summer, Jo. I also walk past apple trees wishing I could pick one. I may have apples in my fruit bowl, but there’s something better about fruit off the tree.

      Reply
  2. Paddy

    A lovely way to spend time with family!

    Reply
  3. Constance - Foreign Sanctuary

    You are right! The most amazing views are at the top. And even though you didn’t document it with your iPhone, you got to enjoy the view and take it all in.

    Love the pic of the sea lions.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      It’s always nice when a hike has a destination. Waterfalls are another good ending point.

      The sea lions and the orcas weren’t my photos. They were sent to all of us by the tour operators.

      Reply
  4. Marta

    About 10 years ago I had a dog that loved eating the raspberries from the bushes near my parents’ house. Of course she could only reach the lower ones, hehe. But birds should eat the higher ones, right?

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      I walk past lots of bushes that no one makes a serious effort to pick. I guess the dogs and birds eat most of the berries–although I never saw a dog eating raspberries or blackberries. That’s unusual.

      Reply
  5. Lani

    The San Juan islands are really special. And I love your line, “Everything special costs in one way or the other.” Cheers ^^

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      The San Juan Islands are really special. When I was a teenager, my dad built a 20-foot cabin cruiser, so we spent many a weekend cruising around the islands. I really enjoyed being back.

      I don’t know if it’s correct to say that everything special costs in one way or the other. But you’re right, that was the point of my post. In trying to think of something special that’s free, I thought that some people give us their love for free. But then, if we want to keep their love, we have to make some effort. So maybe I was right after all. Even God expects us to respond to the love he freely gives.

      Reply
  6. nrhatch

    We had raspberries bushes in our yard growing up and mom made yummy raspberry jam every year. I do remember getting scratched while picking them.

    Love that cloud shot. My first thought was Snow Goose.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      On my walks, I pass a yard with a couple rows of raspberry bushes. I’m so tempted to pick one as I pass by.

      Snow goose is perfect.

      Reply
  7. macjam47

    Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing your vacation with us. I remember picking blackberries as a child, and I truly believed the thorns could jump out and attack. It is wonderful that you can share this experience with your grandson.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      I loved having my grandson around during the waning days of summer. It’s too bad he lives on the other side of the country. He’s a sweetie.

      Reply
      • macjam47

        I understand. I told my children to live their dreams instead of telling them they had to stay nearby. We take every moment we can get though.

        Reply
        • Nicki Chen

          Yes, Michelle. We take every moment we can get. If we hadn’t sent our kids to college on the other coast, they might have settled closer to home.

          Reply
  8. Kate Crimmins

    When I was much younger (much, much younger) we used to pick wineberries. They are wonderful and ripen in July. They are like raspberries but sweeter if it’s a good year. They always grew in the worst areas to climb. Haven’t seen any in a long time. We’ve had a lot of building and clearing around here and some of the old vines and native flowers are gone. Boo! That does look like a wonderful place.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      I’ve never heard of wineberries. Interesting. I do love raspberries though. Blackberry bushes, with their tasty berries, do have a downside for homeowners. They’re hard to dig up if you want grass or flowerbeds instead.

      Reply
      • Kate Crimmins

        Wineberries maybe an east coast berry.

        Reply
  9. autumnashbough

    Beautiful pictures! I am so jealous that you saw orcas. on my kayaking trip to the San Juan Islands, we didn’t see a single one! We camped on one of the Canadian Islands, though, and the sea lions made a tremendous noise all night. Some barking, some snuffly, mucus noises that sounded very rude…

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Did you see the video of the enormous whale that breached and came down on a couple of kayakers. Maybe you’re lucky you didn’t see any orcas. I’m joking. You would have loved it.

      Don’t those sea lions make rude, funny sounds!

      Reply
  10. Jill Weatherholt

    As a child, the best blackberries always seemed to be deep within the bush. I remember long scratches on my arms, but it was always worth it.
    Great photos, Nicki! I love the cloud shot.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Blackberries always taste the best right off the bush. It’s hard to pass them up, dusty or clean.

      No matter where we live, rich or poor, we can enjoy the beauty of the clouds.

      Reply
  11. Carol Ferenc

    What an interesting post and gorgeous photos! You live in such a beautiful part of the country, Nicki. I swear someday I’ll get there.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      We congratulate ourselves a lot (or say thanks) for living in such a beautiful part of the country. It’s especially beautiful on a sunny day. We have more than our share of overcast days though. I hope you do come this way someday, Carol.

      Reply
  12. Teresa

    I liked the cloud photo best, too

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      We don’t usually point our cameras at plain white clouds, but this one caught my eye.

      Reply
  13. L. Marie

    Lovely post! The cloud in the next to the last photo reminds me of a swan or a dove diving with wings outspread and beak pointing right.

    Glad you spotted the whales. Although, my goodness. How sad for the porpoise. It’s tough to be down on the food chain.

    The blackberries look tasty. Do you make jam out of them?

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      It’s hard to take pictures and look for whales at the same time. The whales are out of the water and back in so quickly. Clouds are a simpler subject. I love your description of the cloud as a giant swan with outspread wings.

      It was interesting to hear the wildlife scientists talk with such sympathy for the whales and in such matter-of-fact tones about the porpoise. Poor porpoise!

      We didn’t pick very many blackberries, but I’m sure they would have made good jam.

      Reply

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