Photo essay: Up the Inside Passage

This weekend I got back from a few days ferry hopping along the Inside Passage up the coast of British Columbia, from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, with Scott and MK -- friends, former coworkers, fellow Olympic survivors. They're on their way across Canada before heading home to Indiana, and I joined them for the first leg of their journey to have one last farewell.

Day 1 - Vancouver to Port Hardy (Vancouver Island)
We took a morning ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo, then made our way to Port Hardy, stopping frequently for photo opportunities, bathroom breaks, lunch, and pie.

Fanny Bay, Vancouver Island - oyster farming area, beach of shells


Sea star, Telegraph Cove

A hungry bear near Telegraph Cove

An eagle on a gazebo on a spit in Port Hardy, Vancouver Island


Port Hardy, Vancouver Island

Day 2 - Inside Passage from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert
Early the next morning -- very eary -- too early -- like, BC Ferries is trying to kill me early -- we boarded the ferry to Prince Rupert, a 15 hour passage through some of the most breathtaking scenery: ocean, forest, rocky islands, snow-topped mountains and even, as the day progressed, sunny skies. Very few glimpses of civilization along the way.

Along the Inside Passage

Lighthouse, Inside Passage

Fog rolled in towards sundown

Day 3 - Prince Rupert to Vancouver
In Prince Rupert we got to sleep in, finally -- though for me, 7:30 wouldn't normally be considered sleeping in. We had one last breakfast together before Scott and MK began the long drive to Prince George and I wandered Prince Rupert taking pictures before taking the bus to the ferry to the airport on Digby Island, then home to Vancouver, where I took the train just to be transportationally complete.

Prince Rupert, BC - the cute industrial look