I heard the humpback before I saw it.
The moist and mighty blast it exhaled as it breached the waters of the Salish Sea. It was, for a moment, the only thing I could hear. The only sense I could process.
I had expected to spot the great wanderer in the distance, so my eyes had been scanning the line of boats off the far shores of our southern gulf neighbours.
Instead, it appeared perhaps 400 metres from my perch at the Boat Nook, headed north toward Thieves Bay but in no great rush. It sent another cacophonous jet of mist into the air. And a buzz amongst the few who had gathered, and this time I saw it.
The long, dark body soaring temporarily above the surface of the water before dipping back under in one smooth motion. Like it had been doing just that, for eternity.
The whale reappeared a few more times before slipping around the edge of the bay with one final splash, and one final flourish of its tail.
This was not the awesome spectacle of the evening prior, when our beloved J-Pod orca family returned to these waters after a more than two-month absence, with the numbers and energy of a touring dance troupe.
It was an entirely pleasant Pender Island experience, ne I was lucky enough to share with a few neighbours, my family, and a friend from Toronto visiting for the first time. A brief-but-striking moment that left a smile on my face, my body awake with a sense of optimism, and an aura of excitement for what is to come.
I want to thank everyone I was lucky enough to connect with over the past month, through thoughtful emails and lively board meetings, in friendly chats while feeding horses (page 12), and during sit-down conversations about the heartbeat of this island community.
I’m especially happy to report that I was able to get out to our beautiful golf course, joining Rainbow ‘Lesley’ Bright and her team at the Pender Pride Golf Tournament. While I’ve already moved past my own dismal performance from the tee box, I won’t soon forget the lively round we shared, or the joyful event held at the clubhouse afterward.
It makes me excited for this month’s Pender Pride Festival on August 17, set auspiciously between the Mosaic music festival (pages 21 and 70) at the start of the month, and the 73rd Pender Island Fall Fair (see page 9 and 36), as August rounds to a close.
Soon we’ll be talking about autumn chores and returning to school. We’ll notice the days getting shorter, the air getting brisker and the island’s hubs and hiking trails getting quieter.
But all of that can wait for the next issue. We have 31 days of August to enjoy! And I intend to enjoy each one with a smile, a sense of optimism, and excitement for what comes next.