A Harbor at Rest
This photograph was taken at Steveston Harbour Fisherman’s Wharf in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, one of the most historic fishing harbors on the Pacific coast of Canada.
Walking along the docks here, it is impossible not to notice the fishing fleet resting quietly beside each other.
The boats seem almost motionless, yet they carry a feeling of readiness.
They are waiting.
A Quiet Season of Preparation
Many of them are undergoing their annual maintenance, a familiar routine during the seasons when fishing activity slows down.
Engines are checked, decks repaired, equipment cleaned and prepared.
From the outside, everything appears calm.
But anyone who has spent time around harbors knows that this quiet moment is only temporary.
The Journeys Ahead
These vessels will soon return to the open water.
Standing there, watching them tied side by side, I often imagine the journeys that await them.
The long routes across the cold northern Pacific waters, the early mornings before sunrise, and the crews preparing for another demanding season.
Where Journeys Begin Again
Harbors like Steveston are not only places where boats arrive.
They are also places where journeys begin again.
Stories Within the Harbor
Earlier I wrote about Stories Carried by the Harbor, where a short conversation with an old fisherman revealed memories of the northern seas.
Here, the boats themselves seem to tell that story.
Silent but Ready
Silent now.
But always ready to sail again.
