The beautiful Basin
[Kyle] On our next day in The Basin, we decided to have a little row around in the dingy and explore. The tidal range in the area is about 9 feet which increases by maybe 50% the available area to explore at high tide versus low tide. We left on the rising tide near high tide and rowed our way far up into the various inlets. We landed the dinghy in several different places and hiked up into the forest to places that had beautiful, expansive views of the anchorage. Footprint was the only boat in the little bay (we're still beating the crowds!). Most of the land surrounding The Basin was given by anonymous donation to The Nature Conservancy and there were trails crisscrossing the various peninsulas and even a few benches put out at scenic spots. This place is absolutely stunning and peaceful. The pine scented air and the soft, needle covered ground make me feel like I could just as well be at a remote lake in Colorado at 8,000 feet, except that the red-tailed hawks are ospreys and there are clam shells in the dirt everywhere.
[Maryanne] This was our first real gunkholing of the trip, and we were terribly excited. While in the Basin, we both rowed and sailed, and really got to know our dinghy. More great wildlife, on this excursion (in Basin Island) we unfortunately disturbed an Eider Duck nest - it was in a tree trunk and as we walked by the poor female flew out and made us jump! Leaving behind (temporarily) a nest with 9 eggs. Eider ducks seem common around here. Learning about the wildlife, as well as enjoying the scenery is EXACTLY what is making this part of our trip so magical. Our binoculars and guide books are essential equipment.
No comments:
Post a Comment