Kitty Islet was one of the Red Chair's favorite stops with the innkeepers of the Oak Bay Guest House in Victoria, BC, Canada.  Like the Red Chair these colorful additions to Kitty Islet had a unique start to their fame.  Now they are often searched out, photographed and well known by many who enjoy a front row seat to a spectacular view.  Check out how the interesting story of how these two colorful chairs originated here: http://bit.ly/1SBSa8D

Langley, Whidbey Island is right on Saratoga Passage and in the Spring the Grey Whales come in to feed on ghost and brine shrimp on their journey to Alaska.  Spy a whale?  Ring the town bell! It alerts everyone to a whale sighting off the town's beach which such a fantastic sight to see.  There is also a local whale center in town that is run by the Orca Network Red recommends you check out if ever in town.  Red learned about Lolita a local "L" pod resident whale captured in 1970 in Penn Cove and about the efforts to retire her and "Bring Lolita Home" to live out her life in Native waters.  Red didn't get a chance to see a whale and ring the bell this time, but that just gives it one more excuse (of many) come back to the Eagles Nest Inn.  It will ring the bell some day followed by a "there she blows"!

As I sit and write this today, I realize the Red Chair has now been travelling for over five years from coast to coast across America and Canada.  It’s now on its way to Alaska!  Born from humble thrift store beginnings, the Red Chair has grown into an internet sensation and is the darling of the B&B industry. 
Yet, the tale of the Red Chair started from a simple photo and painting, and yesterday we learned that it’s story took a strange twist. It came to my attention that our friend and artist, Julie Cromer, who so beautifully originally captured the Red Chair in her photo, was arrested in Santa Barbara for elder abuse. We are shocked to learn this news, and saddened to think that such a talented person is now in such trouble.
Julie is the photographer whose striking original photo of the Red Chair at Nobska Beach in Woods Hole first got me musing about this simple chair, ruminating about it’s poetic power, and blogging about random connections made over the internet (http://bit.ly/1TRtzRz). 
From Julie’s original photo, and the power of the Red Chair in making connections, an amazing movement has grown. Joyous visits to extraordinarily beautiful places, photo opportunities with local celebrities from sea to shining sea, and the broad smiles of innkeepers who often meet face to face for the first time to advance the journey of a celebrity chair have been the legacy of the Red Chair.  The Red Chair movement has grown far beyond these first photographs and taken on a life of its own. It symbolizes the best of hospitality, the adventure of travel, and the beauty of local places across North America.
We are shocked and surprised to hear this news about Julie’s unfortunate situation.  The details of her legal situation are blurry and I am sure we will never know the whole story of which there are always two sides.  But this cloudiness is not at the essence of what makes the Red Chair great, so at this juncture, we feel we must sever our official ties with her while also wishing her well.  
As in life, and any journey, the Red Chair is moving on to greener pastures, bluer seas, and fabulous, welcoming B&Bs.  Tune in for the next adventure. 

A cool and unique stop the Red Chair made while visiting the innkeepers of the Cobble Hill Bed and Breakfast in Cobble Hill, British Columbia was to nearby city of Duncan, home to The Raptors, a education and conservation center.  Here the Red Chair met new feathered friends and learned all about the many different, beautiful birds of prey.  Red also got a chance to provide a sturdy perch for a Saker Falcon named Airington!