T65A Transient Orca family Upright Head to Griffin Bay

September 29, 2018 – Winds today varied quite considerably between the islands. A beam reach out of the Harbor on a North wind which diminished requiring motor sailing on a light southerly to cross to Shaw Island. At Upright Channel winds switched to strong Northerlies such that we cut inside of Canoe Island. Watched by a Bald eagle as we took the narrow Channel and followed the forested Shaw coastline with Pacific Madrone and a few Gary Oak among the Douglas Fir and Cedar.

Nearing Upright Head we met the T65A Transient Orca family and sailed on the main alone alongside as they turned South. We were a little faster than the whales so we continued down to the Lopez coastline. Below Flat Point the wind dropped and two Common Loons were in the calm waters.

A marriage proposal took place in the calm waters where the view to Cattle Pass opened to the Olympic mountains beyond. This was the second proposal in one day. The whales caught up with us and we sailed together towards Griffin Bay. They hunted a Harbor Seal as we had our Halibut supper and Birthday cake. The Orcas were vocal next to the hydrophone and we made some recordings. As twilight turned to dusk we headed for Turn Island Pass and returned at nightfall into Friday Harbor.