Coastal fog creeping in to our view as we sipped coffee over breakfast. Our cheery waitress added to the happiness of this day. This is the day we make the crossing to Haida Gwaii.

The seven hours it takes to ferry over to the Islands is like a gentle climitization to a new way of life.

Our daughter lived in Haida Gwaii once for a short time. We were never able to share in her experience. Today, beginning on the ferry, we begin to see some of what she did many years ago.

We’ve traveled to so much of this world et never taken an opportunity to experience our own history. Though I have Irish roots I am about to immerse myself in the past and present of the people who first settled this beautiful part of the world.

The crossing was gentle…survived a bit of rock and rolling as we were eating. As soon as we were finished eating the gentle seas returned…. Hmmmmm?

As Haida Gwaii came in to view the fog lifted and the magic began. In the distance we saw mountains covered in a blanket of mist. In front of the distant mountains there was nothing but blue sky, green islands and the endless sea. As the ferry got closer to Skidigate terminal I noticed a mother orca and her baby playing in the bay. This was one of Colleen’s dreams….to see an orca. The information we had said that in August the orca had moved to different waters. Nope, I’m sure glad they were wrong! I had tears in my eyes as I watched the pair surface and watched Colleen take in the same scene. What a perfect way to begin this part of the journey.

On land we drove a short distance to the thriving metropolis of Queen Charlotte city. Found Mike and Dorothy’s Guest house and checked in to our little cottage.

Mike is a character with the same warped sense of humor as Don. Made for a long and drawn out check in with a lot of laughs thrown in!

All of us are kind of in a state of awe. Not even the salty Chinese food we ate for dinner could dampen our mood. Took a drive through town (which took all of 10 minutes) then stopped of for a tour of the local tourist information.

As I write this I am looking out over the bay sitting on the deck of our little cottage. Don and Shane are blinding each other with BS and Colleen is resting. It is a comfy bedroom slipper kind of feeling! The smell of salt in the air. The fishing boats cruising in to port. The islands dotting the bay. The eagles soaring above and the knowledge that the next few days are yet another adventure waiting to happen.

Awesome! That is the only word I can come up with. Awesome!