Whidbey Island and Coupeville
As so often happens when it comes to history which is taught in western civilizations, the local population is overlooked and minimized. Whidbey Island is no exception.
Whidbey Island is credited with its discovery in 1790 by the Spanish expedition of Manuel Quimper and Gonzalo López de Haro on the Princesa Real. Captain George Vancouver fully explored the island in 1792. In May of that year, Royal Navy officers and members of Vancouver’s expedition, Joseph Whidbey (master of HMS Discovery) and Peter Puget (a lieutenant on the ship) began to map and explore the areas of what would later be named Puget Sound. After Whidbey circumnavigated the island in June 1792, Vancouver named the island in his honor. By that time, Vancouver had claimed the area for Britain.
Of course, the island had long been inhabited by the local Native American Tribes of the Lower Skagit, Swinomish, Suquamish, and Snohomish. These were peaceful groups who lived off the sea and land, with fishing, harvesting nuts, berries and roots, which they preserved over the winter.
Our particular invasion began when we rolled our RAD Power bikes up the gangway of the M/V Kennewick and onto the island. It was a beautiful sunny day despite the morning forecast for rain. Just one of those flukes of the microclimates that are prevalent n the Pacific Northwest.
We turned our bikes north and started peddling our way through the open fields and pastures toward Coupeville, a small community on the south shore of Penn Cove. After short peddle we found a place on the waterfront to lock our bikes and explore some of the shops that border the cove.
This historic downtown is small but full of boutique shops and restaurants. This community was originally settled in the 1850’ by sea captains and farmers. Coupeville was named for sea captain Thomas Coupe, who arrived on Puget Sound on the bark Success. Scouting the area, Coupe settled at Penn Cove in 1852. His wife, Maria, and their family joined him there in 1853 and Captain Coupe worked as a coastal trader, sailing both the Success and the Jeff Davis, the first revenue cutter on Puget Sound (part of the armed maritime law enforcement service).
It’s a place where you can still see many of the historic homes and buildings and well worth the visit. We thoroughly enjoyed our explorations by bike.
coaast surveys resume
We're back in the field collecting data for COASST. After being absent for 3 months we weren't sure what to expect at our beach and I was a bit intimated with the thought of hiking over Scott's Bluff once again.
I invite you to follow our updates from the field on twitter.
Chief Chetzemoka
I’ve been coming to Fort Worden State Park for just about as long as I’ve lived here in the PNW. And I’ve noticed the old dinghy placed on the dunes opposite the lower campground as well, but it wasn’t until this trip that I took the time to actually look up the unusual name painted across the bow. This really is a case where history can be hidden right under your nose!
Turns out the boat is named for a local S’Klallam Chief. He was forty years old when the first white settlers arrived at Port Townsend. The Superintendent of Indian Affairs recognized Chetzemoka as chief of the S’Klallam in 1854, holding him responsible for the “good behavior” of his people. At Point No Point, in 1855, Chief Chetzemoka signed a treaty giving up all S’Klallam land in exchange for retaining the right to fish, hunt and gather in the S’Klallam usual and accustomed areas. Such treaties, pushed by Governor Isaac Stevens and largely misunderstood by the Indians, provoked the Indian Wars in 1855-56.
“
Member of the following
Latest Instagram
A beautiful sunrise over Washington's Fort Worden State Park. This makes up for all the rain we have to endure during our winters here in the Pacific Northwest. ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #pnwonderland #pnw #thenwadventure #upperleftusa #pnwdiscovered #cascadiaexplored #pnwparadise #optoutside #wildernessculture #wanderwashington #pacificnorthwest #pnwlife #nature #keepitwild #pnwphotographer #lifeofadventure #exploretocreate #beautifuldestinations #hikingadventures #wanderlust #thatpnwlife #explorewashington #roamtheplanet #thegreatpnw #photooftheday #washingtonexplored @washingtondiscovered @nextstop24 #nextstop24traveler #WildOlympics #wastateparks
North Mountain Lookout Tower. We lucked out the day we headed up the mountain to check out the view.⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #pnwonderland #pnw #thenwadventure #upperleftusa #pnwdiscovered #cascadiaexplored #pnwparadise #optoutside #wildernessculture #wanderwashington #pacificnorthwest #pnwlife #nature #keepitwild #pnwphotographer #lifeofadventure #exploretocreate #beautifuldestinations #hikingadventures #wanderlust #thatpnwlife #explorewashington #roamtheplanet #thegreatpnw #photooftheday #washingtonexplored @washingtondiscovered @nextstop24 #nextstop24traveler
Last spring we spend a long week exploring the North Cascades. Looking at today's rain-filled skies, I'm missing the warm sunshine of that trip. ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #pnwonderland #pnw #thenwadventure #upperleftusa #pnwdiscovered #cascadiaexplored #pnwparadise #optoutside #wildernessculture #wanderwashington #pacificnorthwest #pnwlife #nature #keepitwild #pnwphotographer #lifeofadventure #exploretocreate #beautifuldestinations #hikingadventures #wanderlust #thatpnwlife #explorewashington #roamtheplanet #thegreatpnw #photooftheday #washingtonexplored @washingtondiscovered @nextstop24 #nextstop24traveler
Just published our latest adventure, or maybe misadventure. You can find the link in my bio up top. - "Toleak Survey Short Film"
Enjoying one of those rare sunny winter's day on the Washington coast. This was from a few weeks back when we were conducting our monthly #COASST bird survey. Might be a while before we see another day like this. ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #pnwonderland #pnw #thenwadventure #upperleftusa #pnwdiscovered #cascadiaexplored #pnwparadise #optoutside #wildernessculture #wanderwashington #pacificnorthwest #pnwlife #nature #keepitwild #pnwphotographer #lifeofadventure #exploretocreate #beautifuldestinations #hikingadventures #wanderlust #thatpnwlife #explorewashington #roamtheplanet #thegreatpnw #photooftheday #washingtonexplored @washingtondiscovered @nextstop24 #nextstop24traveler #WildOlympic
We have some of the wettest winters I've ever experienced. The upside is our lush green forest and when the sun does shine it transforms our wilderness into a fairyland. ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #pnwonderland #pnw #thenwadventure #upperleftusa #pnwdiscovered #cascadiaexplored #pnwparadise #optoutside #wildernessculture #wanderwashington #pacificnorthwest #pnwlife #nature #keepitwild #pnwphotographer #lifeofadventure #exploretocreate #beautifuldestinations #hikingadventures #wanderlust #thatpnwlife #explorewashington #roamtheplanet #thegreatpnw #photooftheday #washingtonexplored @washingtondiscovered @nextstop24 #nextstop24traveler #WildOlympics
Just published our latest adventure, or maybe misadventure. You can find the link in my bio up top. - "Exploring Cathedral Falls"
Here's a shot of Chinitna Bay in Alaska with Iliamna in the background. If you look carefully on the right flank you can see her venting.⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #travelphotography #nature #naturephotography #mountains #wanderlust #outdoors #alaskalove #optoutside #wildlife #explore #alaskalife #photography #adventure #explorealaska #sharingalaska #photooftheday #alaska #landscape #beautiful #fishing #thealaskalife
Camp on chilling winters morning on Puget Sound with a crescent moon looking down. Later the chill gave way to a wind storm that played havoc on our campsite. ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #photography #reflectiongram #washingtonstate #moonrise #travelgram #washington #travelphotography #pnwonderland #northwestisbest #seattle #pnwphotographer #likeforlikes #sony #travel #sunrise #pnwadventures #upperleftusa #pnwisbeautiful #outdoors #nature #followforfollowback #pacificnorthwest #portland #oregon #naturephotography #canada #hiking #explore #sonyalpha #pnwlife
A shot of Cathedral Falls in the Mt. St. Helen National Monument. It required a scramble down to its base to try and get the entire fall in frame, not easy at nearly 250' in height. ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #pnwonderland #pnw #thenwadventure #upperleftusa #pnwdiscovered #cascadiaexplored #pnwparadise #optoutside #wildernessculture #wanderwashington #pacificnorthwest #pnwlife #nature #keepitwild #pnwphotographer #lifeofadventure #exploretocreate #beautifuldestinations #hikingadventures #wanderlust #thatpnwlife #explorewashington #roamtheplanet #thegreatpnw #photooftheday #washingtonexplored @washingtondiscovered @nextstop24 #nextstop24traveler
Mushrooms growing from the trunk of a fallen tree in the Goat Creek drainage with Cathedral Falls in the background. #pnwonderland .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #pnwonderland #pnw #thenwadventure #upperleftusa #pnwdiscovered #cascadiaexplored #pnwparadise #optoutside #wildernessculture #wanderwashington #pacificnorthwest #pnwlife #nature #keepitwild #pnwphotographer #lifeofadventure #exploretocreate #beautifuldestinations #hikingadventures #wanderlust #thatpnwlife #explorewashington #roamtheplanet #thegreatpnw #photooftheday #washingtonexplored @washingtondiscovered @nextstop24 #nextstop24travele
Sunset over Riffe Lake. We had a beautiful day to hike in the Mt. St. Helen Monument and found one spectacular waterfall after another. More photos to come. ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #photography #reflectiongram #washingtonstate #vancouver #travelgram #washington #travelphotography #pnwonderland #northwestisbest #seattle #pnwphotographer #likeforlikes #sony #travel #instagood #pnwadventures #upperleftusa #pnwisbeautiful #outdoors #nature #followforfollowback #pacificnorthwest #portland #oregon #naturephotography #canada #hiking #explore #sonyalpha #pnwlife
Heading into the Gifford Pinchot National Forest to do a bit of waterfall hunting with @bradleymiller618. ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #photography #reflectiongram #washingtonstate #vancouver #travelgram #washington #travelphotography #pnwonderland #northwestisbest #seattle #pnwphotographer #likeforlikes #sony #travel #instagood #pnwadventures #upperleftusa #pnwisbeautiful #outdoors #nature #followforfollowback #pacificnorthwest #portland #oregon #naturephotography #canada #hiking #explore #sonyalpha #pnwlife
Thankful we still have wild places to lose ourselves. Taken recently on the Washington coast during our monthly #COASST survey. ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #pnwonderland #pnw #thenwadventure #upperleftusa #pnwdiscovered #cascadiaexplored #pnwparadise #optoutside #wildernessculture #wanderwashington #pacificnorthwest #pnwlife #nature #keepitwild #pnwphotographer #lifeofadventure #exploretocreate #beautifuldestinations #hikingadventures #wanderlust #thatpnwlife #explorewashington #roamtheplanet #thegreatpnw #photooftheday #washingtonexplored @washingtondiscovered @nextstop24 #nextstop24traveler #WildOlympics
Our recent camp on the Washington coast for conducting our #COASST beached bird survey. We lucked out with the weather. Doesn't happen that often during Pacific Northwest winters. ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #sunriseporn #clouds #sky #upperleftusa #oregoncoast #pacificnorthwest #pnwlife #photooftheday #sunset #skyscape #beautiful #love #sunup #sunrise #pnwadventures #instasunrise #pnw #nature #photography #cloudporn #sunsetlover #pnwisbest #oregonexplored #skylovers #orangesky #oregonlife #centraloregon #sunrise_and_sunsets #travel
Here's my latest news article regarding the world of citizen-science "A New Twist to Our Toleak Survey" https://buff.ly/3q20bMH
During these wars, a number of S’Klallam held a secret meeting to decide whether or not to kill the whites in Port Townsend. The S’Klallam deliberated for nine days, during which Chetzemoka sent a daily signal of “danger.” On the tenth day, the message from Signal Rock was, in essence, “danger is passed.” The S’Klallam had given up their purpose. Chetzemoka was considered a hero by the white population and from that point on was immortalized by them.
Ferries, parks, streets, and benches now bear his name….and a weather-worn dinghy on the beach of Point Wilson.
