Haida Gwaii here we come! Tuesday, June 12, 2007

In a little under 3 weeks I'll be heading West to the Orcas Islands to see my good friends Shawna Franklin & Leon Somme. I'm very much hoping that in another 6 weeks after that we'll be hugging each other having just completed a succesful circumnavigation of "Haida Gwaii", otherwise known as the Queen Charlotte Islands. This beautiful & remote archipelago in British Columbia is about 950km around, with a dramatic & mountainous west coast which plunges into the sea. The Pacific swells & changeable weather will add to the challenges. The islands are the traditional home of the Haida people, who used to travel far and wide in big open canoes and were feared by their neighbours on mainland Alaska & Canada. Hopefully we won't be scaring anyone, or doing any pillaging but I'm looking forward to exploring these beautiful & spiritual islands & visiting some of the Haida sacred sites where ancient totem poles still stand. We should also see lots of wildlife, including brown bears and grey whales. BRING IT ON!!

We're not sure quite how regularly we'll be able to update you yet but you'll be able to follow our progress on this blog. You can also read more about the place & the expedition ( and see a map) on www.cackletv.com/haida-gwaii.html
The photos are, of course, of the lovely Shawna & Leon of 'Body Boat Blade'! Shawna has designed a lovely t-shirt for the expedition and a limited number are on sale from Body Boat Blade. You can see the design on the webpage.



I'll be giving a talk on Orcas island on 1st July before we leave for the expedition and will probably arrange to give a few more talks on the West Coast once we get back in early August.