picwright

02/07/2024

Icy days.....

Cascade Falls, Moran State Park

02/05/2024

La Merced

Her story begins in Benicia, California in 1917, when the four-masted schooner was built by James Robertson and launched, joining the ranks of hundreds of other American schooners. She was an impressive sight: a 232-foot boat with a 42.6-foot beam and a 26.65-foot depth of hold, registered at 1,938 net tonnage

After two years in the Standard Oil fleet, La Merced was sold to W.S. Scammell of Port Townsend, Washington. She remained in the case oil trade until 1926, with ports of call including Hawaii, the Solomon Islands and British Columbia. She was purchased by a Seattle buyer in January 1926 and underwent conversion, commencing a colorful chapter as a floating salmon cannery in Alaska

Her four masts were retained, along with booms and sails, but the deck profile changed with addition of a large deckhouse. An elevated pilothouse was also added, as were crew bunks in the hold.

La Merced continued her career as a floating cannery until 1965, when she was sold to the Rainwater Terminal Company of Seattle. Rainwater commenced scrapping the vessel, removing her propellers, engines, and deck fittings. The masts were cut off near the level of the deck in August of that year. The bowsprit was also cut off.

The hulk was moved to Lovric Shipyard in 1966 and put in place as a breakwater. The vessel is technically no longer afloat but instead lies nestled in fill and rock rip-rap. Dredged sand and mud from the shipyard were used to fill the interior of the vessel. The cannery cabin on the weather deck was pulled off and burned in 1987 by Lovric because of rot and the danger of imminent collapse.

02/02/2024

When you try to get that perfect shot and bump the camera at the last second.....

I actually love this shot, and I can't wait to experiment more with exposures like this.

02/02/2024

Popcorn clouds and bubblegum pink skies.

The skies over Orcas Island are always streaming their art. Whether it is sunrises or sunsets, cloudy skies in the morning, or blue sky in the afternoon, it rarely fails to disappoint.

02/01/2024

Cascade Falls, Moran State Park, Orcas Island Washington

01/31/2024

It's one of my favorite hikes/ areas on Orcas Island.

IYKYK, and if you don't follow for all things, Orcas Island

01/31/2024

01/31/2024

Main street views....

01/29/2024

With a sunrise like this, how can you have a bad day...

Why I always have some sort of camera with me. This was taken this morning with my phone, while taking out the trash

01/29/2024

Join us for lazy, idle summer days here on Orcas Island.

What is your favorite way to get around the island in the warm days of summer.?

01/29/2024

If you go out in the woods today.....

01/24/2024

Which one is your favorite??