Sailing with the T2C family of Transient Orcas Mandarte Island

August 15, 2018 – We sailed North crossing San Juan Channel at Point Caution. Shirt Tail Reef, Low island and Yellow Island had many Harbor Seals resting in the mornings warmth. Circling Flattop Island we heard the sounds of Bagpipes and saw a piper playing on a passing Sailboat. We took the pass inside of Ripple island to enter New Channel to explore the Kelp forests and drift through the mirror clam waters between the Cactus Islands to the Forested North side of Spieden Island. Mouflon sheep were foraging on the low tide line. From Spieden island we crossed Haro Strait into Canada to Sidney island. We met the T2C family of Transient Orcas who were in resting mode traveling slowly North. We sailed alongside as they passed Halibut and Mandarte islands. T2C2 trailed a tiny bit behind. We left them and visited the nesting Cormorant colony of Mandarte island – the largest Cormorant colony in our area. We also saw Glaucous Winged gulls with chicks, Pigeon Guillemots and Harbor Seal pups. We sailed back across Haro Strait to Stuart Island and then took the South side of Spieden Island with its grasslands, and Bald eagles watched as we passed by. A good close hauled sail South was enjoyed by all and especially by our 87 year old lady passenger on board – most inspiring to us. Sunset was diffuse in the smoky haze of the nations forest fires.