A Necessary Expedition... 81 Miles

A Necessary Expedition: 81 Miles

81 Miles of paddling separate the Mt. Fairweather, currently resting high and dry at Belcarra Regional Park in British Columbia, from Boulevard Park in Bellingham, WA.

81 Miles out through Burrard inlet, under the Second Narrows and Lion’s Gate Bridges, past Stanley Park and into English Bay. Past Jericho Beach with views of the downtown Vancouver skyline. Southwest around the Fraser River delta, past the Reiffel Bird Sanctuary and Westham Island. Then swinging southeast past the Roberts Bank Superport, the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, and pointing for the beach at Point Roberts, to clear customs.

Then a big crossing, perhaps to Birch Point, perhaps to Point Whitehorn, depending on winds. Then south past Cherry Point, Sandy Point, past Point Migley on the north end of Lummi Island and into Hale Passage. Wrapping around the south end of Portage Island, then a straight shot northeast across Bellingham Bay, and onto the beach at Marine Park. On paper, 81 miles. 81 miles of pure adventure.

The crux of this project, though, is this: Where is the Mt. Fairweather kept and displayed once it reaches Bellingham? On this note, we need ideas… suggestions… connections. Where is there a place big enough, accessible enough so hoards of people could see the legendary boat and experience its scale and significance, photograph it, and read a story board about it and its creator, George Dyson?

When it initially arrives, we’ll need a workspace to make some repairs – not an overhaul, by any stretch – just a fix-up of some minor damage and to restore a bit of luster. An indoor space at least 50 feet long, that we can haul it to when it arrives in Bellingham, and do some work on the boat.

Do you have any ideas for this type of space?

A storage condo sitting empty. A hangar, a pole barn or workshop?

Send us your ideas… we’d love your involvement.

e-mail Brandon at brandon@nwhomes.net or Heather at heather@chargelife.com

or just hit the 'Comments' link at the bottom of the page. Thank you!!!

~In the Spirit of Compassion and Adventure~

Heather, Brandon and Hayden Nelson