Baby Seal Birth at Russell Island, BC, Canada (Gulf Islands National Park Reserve)

I woke to an early morning sound in the water, next to the hull where I was sleeping. It wasn’t the gentle lap, lap, lapping that had begun lulling me awake. It was a primitive thrash that I swore included a wail. But I couldn’t place it. It was too early to be the children in the nearby sailboat, as their grandparents were not yet up. Nor could it be hikers on shore. This sound concerned me. So the captain crawled out of bed, went up top to look, and miraculously captured this on video: a baby seal, its umbilical cord, with momma on its tail.

mindful travelingKristenJuly 7, 2026baby seal birth, russell island, bc canada, gulf islands, gulf islands national park reserveComment

Baby Seal Birth at Russell Island, BC, Canada (Gulf Islands National Park Reserve)

I’m attempting to adventure peacefully—to travel and live in ways that support a peaceful climate. Internally and externally. So life is sustainable. Always imperfect at this, I lean on gratitude. For the Indigenous, for peaceful nations, for the ability to bypass those who harm.