where we travel

The answer is simple: go where the whales go. Over the past two years, my travels have largely been centered around the Salish Sea including West Seattle/Alki Beach, West Point Lighthouse at Discovery Park, Whidbey Island, the San Juan Islands, the Southern Canadian Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island (Telegraph Cove and Tofino). Most importantly, throughout all of my travels near and far my faithful four-legged fury travel companion, Dudley , has made every trip even though whales don’t seem to be his thing.

all about The salish sea

The Salish Sea is one of the world’s largest and biologically diverse inland seas. Its name pays tribute to the regions first inhabitants, the Coast Salish.

The Salish Sea is an inland sea encompassing the Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands and the waters off Vancouver, BC. The area spans from Olympia, Washington in the south to the Campbell River, British Columbia in the north, and west to Neah Bay, Washington and includes the large cities of Seattle and Vancouver.

The Salish Sea encompasses approximately 419 islands (3,660 square kilometers of total land mass), has 7,470 km of coastline and covers 16,925 square kilometers of sea surface. It is home to an estimated 37 species of mammals, 172 species of birds, 253 species of fish, more than 3,000 species of invertebrates, and 8 million people. There are 113 species listed or candidate for being listed as threatened or endangered, including some ecologically significant species of Pacific salmon and the Southern Resident killer whales.

In addition to the Southern Resident killer whales, the Salish Sea is home to several other notable Cetaceans including Bigg’s (Transient) killer whales, Humpback whales, Minke whales, Grey whales, Dall’s porpoise, Harbor porpoise, and a few others rarely seen. California Sea lions, Stellar Sea lions, Harbor seals and sometimes Elephant seals are some of the Pinnipeds encountered throughout the Salish Sea.

The threats to marine species and terrestrial species through the Salish Sea is compounded by the fact that there is no natural barrier or transition between the Puget Sound Basin (USA) and the Georgia Basin (Canada), meaning the border is invisible to marine fish and wildlife. These threats include near-shore habitat degradation, pollution and toxins, lack of prey abundant and availability, and noise pollution. Together, we protect what we love!