June, 2022
There is LOTS to see and do up here in the very northern part of the State of Washington, probably lots to see and do all the way along the entire 427 miles of the border that Washington State shares with Canada. But for this camping trip to Birch Bay State Park, I focused on just this one small area, just two or three miles of borderland … and still found lots of great stuff to see and do.
One place I visited and loved was the Blaine Marine Park, in the City of Blaine. It’s about a 3-minute drive from Blaine up to the border between Canada and the USA. The Marine Park in Blaine is not under water as some folks might expect, but the park is right along the shore of the salt water here.
As usual, here’s a map showing where I am … (I like seeing where I am and I think maybe some of you do as well).
The City of Blaine is in the lower right corner of the image above, and frankly most of the city isn’t in the image — it continues off to the right and continues south along the Interstate 5 freeway. The Blaine Marine Park is in the lower left corner of the image above. The grey area north of the park is mud tide flats because the tide was out when the Google image above was taken. The tide was also out when I was there, in real time, so it all seemed appropriate. When the tide is in (or even halfway in), that bay is full of water and is so beautiful. But I loved it even today.
Also in the image above, you might want to notice the two RED CIRCLES up nearer the border — the “US Customs and Border Protection” and the “Peace Arch Historical State Park”. I’ll show you photos of them further down in this blog post, tho the photos are taken from a distance with the zoom lens. The PURPLE line is the border between Canada and the USA.
Let’s go see the Blaine Marine Park.
Wait! Is that an Orca surfacing, spy-hopping out of the land, right through the concrete? It sure is!
It was so realistic. I’ve seen Orcas from each of my two boats, a number of times. Whoever created this installation on land did a truly fine job! Including the tail of an Orca diving back into the water.
What a surprise to me and how cool! But … Little Towhee chirped and chippered and at first didn’t want to go anywhere near these huge animals. But I told her how gentle they are, especially with birds, so then she sidled up to this big Orca. As usual, when you make friends with a “monster”, well then the monster isn’t a monster anymore.
I took the photo below looking at the Orca and then realized that’s the border between Canada and USA in the background.
That white structure is the Peace Arch that stands right ON the border between Canada and the USA.
I then headed into the southern part of this park, but fairly quickly returned to this northern portion (I’ll tell you why at the end of this blog post).
I clambered my way down onto the edge of the tide flats at the northern edge of the Marine Park. The tide sure was out … way out! It smelled wonderful. Some people don’t like the smell of tide flats, but I do. They don’t stink, they just smell of nature and natural things.
Two crows above, discussing whatever crows discuss.
And then, while standing on the edge of that tide flat, I turned to the right and again had a direct line-of-sight view of the Peace Arch and the border. The long roof to the left of the Peace Arch is where the Canadian border guards are and where you need to drive through to get into Canada. The long roof on the right in the photo below is where the USA border guards are and where you need to drive through to get into the USA.
The entrance into the USA can handle 18 vehicles at once (above) — same with the entrance into Canada (below). It’s a busy border crossing!
Below, I made my way around the mostly dry edge of the tidal mud flats and then zoomed in with my camera to the Peace Arch and to Canada’s administration building.
Notice the floral planting/display of the Canadian flag, the red Maple Leaf, in the lower left of the photo above. It was huge, and gorgeous. 🙂
Ok, last topic in this blog post — I mentioned above that I had walked towards the southern part of Blaine Marine Park but quickly changed direction and headed back to the northern part of the park. I did that so I would be in view of all manner of other people and businesses — so that I could be seen by them. I rarely find troubling people in my travels, but I found one today. Rather quickly in my walk-about in the Marine Park, I noticed a fellow with a dog in the park. He turned up about 30-50 feet away from me everywhere I went. When I turned and walked towards him, he turned and walked away. When I very blatantly lifted my camera and pointed it at him, he not only turned away from me but he also bent over away from me. I even walked across the large lawn area for a couple of minutes. When I turned around, there he was. He cared nothing about the dog he had. He kept it on a tight leash and rather towed it around with him. If the dog didn’t want to follow, the fellow simply dragged the dog along on the ground. I used my cell phone, surreptitiously at first, to get a good number of photos of this guy (and the dog). And then I got a couple of obvious photos of him that he had to know I took. After I left the Marine Park, I found the local police station, reported this guy’s behavior (threatening behavior towards me and abusive treatment of the dog), and shared the photos I took, and shared my contact info. I’ve heard nothing, not surprisingly maybe. But at least the police have a record of his behavior in case anything does happen in the future. So, don’t go where it doesn’t feel ok to go. Don’t trust people who don’t feel trustworthy. Take photos (and videos, I thought later I should have taken videos) of anything and everything that seems amiss. And don’t trust anyone who DRAGS a dog on the ground.
I had a great time here, though I wish I could have explored the entire park. Maybe I’ve helped someone else coming along on another day so they don’t need to worry.
For my part, I’m going to remember the Orca art in that park (the eye in that Orca was stunningly realistic!). And the tide flats, and the border, and the Peace Arch. I’ll sleep soundly tonight, dreaming of Orca at play in the water.
Tomorrow, I’m going to drive as close to the border as I can get and see if I can walk around that Peace Arch. I’ll share the experience with you. I was not arrested, honest, I did nothing wrong! Hey, if the Orca can cross the border while swimming, well then why can’t I …… oops, nope, wrong argument. 🙂
That guy sounds scary. What would his objective be? He picked the wrong person to stalk. The park looks interesting though.
After I realized he was following me, I was scared, but yes, thank you Dawn :-), he picked the wrong person. Frankly, when I saw him drag the dog, I got angry. Don’t mess with an angry redhead! 🙂
For sure weird guy, glad you did all the right things. But wow, that Orca! I’ve been around Orca in the water too, and that eye is exactly how they look when they look at you, and they DO look right at you. Like you said, whoever constructed that Orca did an exceptional job. Nice tide flats, too. I like tide flats too. 🙂
I bet you’ll never forget seeing the eye on a real live Orca. I sure won’t. Felt like I was looking into the soul of the world — and it was looking right back at me.
I’ve never seen an orca. How impressive they are! Are they dangerous to be around when you’re in your boat? The look of that eye makes them look awfully intelligent, or at least “knowing”. I like the crow talk. 🙂
Ah, the Orca in some parts of the world eat red meat, harbor seals and the like, tho they don’t eat humans. But the Orca here in the Pacific Northwest mostly eat fish. They pose no danger to boats here either. A friend of mine was kayaking with a group of kayakers when they encountered a pod of Orca. The Orca swam right next to their kayaks, no problem. I was out on my 26-foot boat when two Orca came right up next to my boat, right along side, and they knew exactly where they were. Mostly I think Orca are just as curious as we are, and probably they might like our boat engines to go away and leave them in peace.
I always appreciate your Google earth and map images. I like knowing where you are, where you are taking us.
That orca is spectacular. Mostly tho, I really love that photo of Little Towhee adopting the same pose as the big Orca, while Little Towhee looks up at the Big Orca with no fear at all (photo #8). You have to write a book!! Oops, no I mean SHE has to write a book. 🙂
Yes, SHE has to write the book. I keep telling here that, David, but she keeps putting it off. Sigh. Let’s keep trying. 🙂
Looking forward to seeing more of the border between Canada and the USA. People who drag dogs on the ground are not good people! Your blog is very informative, Ann. Thank you.
Will do! More info about the border coming in the next blog post, Henry. Thank you for your kind and encouraging words.
Just found this blog. It’s wonderful! I’ll start at the beginning and catch up soon. But jsut wanted to say hi. I had a travel trailer with my husband years ago, he died, then I kept the trailer and traveled a LOT for several years. Great memories, all of it.
I love that photo #8 of the little bird looking at the Orca, and the crows talking #13, and I’m so glad you’re safe too from that odd guy.
Really appreciate all the work it takes to produce this blog. Thank you!
Hi June, welcome! I’m glad you’re here. 🙂
And I’m glad you have those memories. I hope you have lots of wonderful memories. Please share them here any time you’d like. I’d bet you have good tips and information too from your camping time with your husband and then by yourself. Camping alone, one learns a lot. Please share anything you’d like. I can always learn something new.
The little bird is a Towhee, a bird found many places in North America. I named this blog after that little stuffed bird, Travels with Towhee.
Thank you for the comment, June. 🙂 Best wishes.
I just found your blog too, from LC or Elsie. All good. I love your kindness and inclusion. My wife and I traveled part time in our Boler fiberglass travel trailer for many years. She’s gone, but I take care of the garden and our home and look for thoughtful incentive online and from friends. I’m liking it here!
Hello Mary, and welcome! Yes indeed, several folks here are LC, me too.
Ah, a Boler, now there’s a great brand of molded fiberglass trailer, very similar to the Escape trailer I own. I wish they were still being built.
I bet you have tons of great memories of the two of you traveling and camping and seeing new things. Please share, any time. 🙂
So, you are of the Makah? Out around Neah Bay? That area has been high on my list of future destinations. Guess I better move it up to the top, and go look for the Daka∙ there. 🙂
I’m glad you’re here.
Maybe the man wasn’t harassing you per se, maybe he just didn’t know how to say hi to a nice person like you. Seems if he was stalking you that he’d be more secretive? I like that you didn’t yell at him or criticize him, and you took care of yourself, just in case. The crows were fun, and the orca were really cool (are they that big?), and the photo of Little Towhee looking at the big orca was best of all. 🙂
Absolutely right, Tim. I thought about that at the time. Maybe he was just a human being that didn’t behave “normally” (whatever the heck that means), and he wasn’t a threat at all.
Yes, Orca are that big! My first “smaller” boat was 26 feet long and the large male Orca that swam right past my boat (I could almost touch his fin) was about the same length as my boat. He was huge! But I knew he posed no danger. The female was a few feet shorter, but she too could have flipped my boat easily with her size and weight. But I believe they were just as curious about me as I was about them. That’s often true with humans too, yes? Let’s just be curious about one another, not angry. Like those fun talking crows.
Little Towhee says “thank you”. 🙂
This was great. 🙂 Loved the Little Towhee and Orca photo!
Thanks Ruth. 🙂
Yes to maps. And the Orca, wow the Orca!! And I too wonder about the guy who was following you. With him hanging around (and dragging a dog), I can surely understand why it wouldn’t be a good idea to go off into an area where it was private. But, too, also, maybe, maybe he was just a soul that didn’t really know how to act in a way that was “acceptable”. Good on you for taking care of yourself, and reporting it, but also not necessarily causing him trouble. I hope he’s ok. And I’m really glad you are ok!!
Love the border photos … we usually cross from Canada to USA over at Meridian or Sumas even tho they are a bit further to drive, still they are usually faster. But the Peace Arch is special. Hope you’ll get to see more of it on this camping trip there.
Jim
Thanks Jim. My feelings exactly about that fellow in the park. I hope he’s ok, but I also hope he doesn’t threaten people. And I felt sorry for the dog.
Ya know, I forget about the Meridian border crossing. I usually use Sumas. But next time I might try Meridian. Yes, more Peace Arch border photos coming.
Thank you, both of you. 🙂