For some, Summer means sun. Not here. In Washington we might get sun sometime after the Fourth of July. Memorial Day was dark. The whole weekend was actually. The sun came out once, to set, but other than that it was shades of grey. That's the Northwest.
It started at dawn. Six-hours, two donuts and one ferry ride later, we were at the beach. The surf was pretty mediocre, the swell a myth. But, we did get barreled in the old-growth driftwood washed ashore. As usual, the old guy on the longboard out surfed us all.
We went back East, to Bellingham, for the night. Then, up early again and out to Sucia Island in the San Juans. Our boat, a 19-foot Boston Whaler was just big enough for six of us, our gear and two dogs. The water was like glass on the ride out. Bald Eagles watched us glide by from their nests in the tallest trees. We found an empty beach in Shallow Bay and a campsite with a fire ring. It was the kind of place every adventure-loving kid imagines: a little cove just big enough for a few friends and dogs. We set up camp, cut down wood, caught fish, saw whales, set fires, cooked food and drank everything in sight.
And that night the sun even showed up, just in time to set. For a few minutes everything appeared in color, glowing. All the shades of grey gone. Just a quick glimpse of the Summer sun…and the Summer to come.
- Liam Gallagher
LIAM GALLAGHER is an adventurous journalist who enjoys writing, shooting photos and making movies. He spends most of his time focusing on snowboarding and life at elevation.
Website: liamogallagher.com
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