A Whale of a Tale

 San Juan Island, San Juan Island Parks, San Juan Islands, Whale Watching  6 Responses »
Aug 092012
 

Today we are on the West Side of San Juan Island specifically at Lime Kiln State Park.   Comprised of 36 acres, Lime Kiln is considered one of the best places in the world to view whales from land.  I will tell you that it is spectacularly beautiful here.  Sweeping views of Haro Strait with the whale’s swimming gracefully through the waters will definitely take your breath away if not put a tear or two of emotional happiness in your eyes.

The lighthouse and park are both run on a voluntary basis thanks to the “Friends of Lime Kiln Society.”  Thanks to the society, the park and light house have remained in excellent condition.  It’s a wonderful thing don’t you think to see people volunteering their time, for free, to help preserve history?

When you come to Lime Kiln you can spend an entire day here.  Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on one of many picnic benches scattered throughout the park and don’t forget your camera and binoculars.  It’s a beautiful place that you will remember forever.


~ a yogurt cake to end our beautiful day spent at Lime Kiln


~ Lime Kiln Lighthouse

Here is an INCREDIBLE video I found on YouTube that I would like to share with you.  YouTube user has taken over 20 years of footage from Lime Kiln State Park and has created this incredible video.  You may want to have a tissue ready – very emotional and beautiful!


View Larger Map

If you are interested in the whale population and would like to learn more, these are fabulous resources:

http://www.orcaconservancy.org
http://www.whaleresearch.com/orca_ID.html

Yogurt Cake

Print recipe
Yogurt Cake

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup non-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

Directions

Step 1
Preheat oven to 350°F and butter a bundt pan
Step 2
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt
Step 3
In a separate bowl, mix together yogurt, sugar, eggs, oil and lemon zest
Step 4
Whisk flour mixture into yogurt mixture just until blended
Step 5
Pour the batter into the buttered bundt pan and bake for approximately 45 minutes, or until your cake is golden brown on top.
Step 6
Let your cake cool if you can wait and garnish with berries or in my case I used fresh currants. Dust with powdered sugar

 

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It was all about the wildlife and the clams

 For Dinner, Orcas Island, San Juan Islands, Whale Watching  No Responses »
Jun 082012
 

A day never really goes by on Orcas Island without incredible opportunities to experience some of the most spectacular wildlife both on land and on sea.

We felt very lucky to have met Capt. Beau and his crew of Outer Island Expeditions here on Orcas Island.  He was happy to have us along on this beautiful day so we could experience a trip on his new boat, Blackfish II.  I could hardly wait to step aboard.

This boat was fast.

And fun.

We had a fantastic, exhilarating day seeing Orca whales, goats and bighorn sheep on Spieden Island, birds of all species and “cute as a button” seals.

Thank you so much Outer Island Expeditions!  It was a day to remember :)

Retreating back to camp after out day on the water, it was time to cook up some clams on the beach.  For weeks and weeks I have had this vision of beach cooking in my mind and finally I was able to make that vision a reality.

On the beach, B made some new friends, hubby started the fire and I started getting our dinner ready by chopping up some garlic.

I chopped it up right there, on my little butcher block on a big log.

It was a beautiful experience to be able to cook in that way.  In that element.

We loved it.

You should try it, if you haven’t already :)

~ Lemon and garlic butter clam recipe coming soon :)