The FIftieth Anniversary Cruise

In August 1965 a handsome young Irish guy and comely young nurse were wed in Grand Island, New York.  Fifty years later the enduring couple, Pat and Donna Carroll, joined us aboard the Molly Claire for what can only be named, "The Fiftieth Anniversary Cruise".

August 21st, 2015, celebrating 50 years of marriage

Anniversary Dinner, House Picollo, Ganges, BC, Salt Spring Island

  

A Whale of a Time

We encountered whales on four separate occasions on our cruise.  Each was special and mesmerizing.

On our very first day out we caught site of this humpback whale on the south end of the San Juans.  We had never before encountered a humpback in the San Juans.

We saw these guys near Stuart Island.  The little head leading the group is one of this year's new babies.

Our most exciting encounter was actually from land.  We had hiked to the Turn Point Lighthouse on Stuart Island when we were alerted that whales were approaching.  And indeed a large, lively group swam by right under our feet.

This fellow (or gal) actually did a cartwheel.

Just outside Victoria BC another large group swam right by us.

We spotted this rather "unusual" Orca in Roche Harbor on San Juan Island.

 Return to Victoria

Having learned how easy it was to get a slip on Victoria's Inner Harbor on the Claire and Molly Cruise, we decided to treat Pat and Donna to this iconic Canadian city.

Victoria's Inner Harbor, lovely during the day...

...and at night.

One of Pat and Donna's favorite excursions was to the BC Museum and it's exceptional displays of Canadian Aboriginal History and Culture.

We all enjoyed exploring the Canadian Parliament Building. This is where they meet. Looks very British, doesn't it?

The Inner Harbor is alive with all sorts of street musicians and entertainers.  Here is Joyce's encounter with "Plasterman".

Afoot in the San Juans and Gulf Islands

 

Ladies resting after the "rigorous" hike up Young's Hill on San Juan Island

The shore party hiking the Henry Point Trail on Sucia Island.

Beautiful vista on Henry Point hike.

Ashore on Patos Island,

We explored the exquisite Patos shore...

...at a low, low tide.

Sadly the starfish population in the NW has been decimated by an unknown virus, but we did find these survivors.

On the road to Turn Point, Stuart Island.  Prevost Harbor in the distance.

Turn Point.  That's Canada beyond.

"Plum Pickin" at the head of James Bay, Prevost Island, Canadian Gulf Islands

Hiking to Pele Point on Prevost Island.

MV Molly Claire on the Fiftieth Anniversary Cruise

 

On a buoy in Fox Cove, Sucia Island

In Active Cove, Patos Island

In James Bay, Prevost Island.  That's Ross returning in the dinghy.

In Victoria's Inner Harbor

Hangin' Out

New kind of "selfie"...at the Roche Harbor Sculpture Garden

Magical Mornings, Enchanting Evenings

Coda

As a final treat,  Pat and Donna's cruise, just overlapped with Stan and Mollie Lewin's visit with Ben and his family in Tacoma.  So we were able to have a LWL West Coast Meet and have a special guest, the delightful Maisy.