September 5, 2020 – A strong flood tide tonight and we caught the back eddy to Turn Island. Drifted sideways and then caught the eddy into Turn Rock before adding power to come in to the Turn Island cliff face and the reefs where the harbor seals like to haul out. We leap frogged the reefs to dodge the flood current seeing the resting harbor seals and a bald eagle high up watching the tide roll away. The ‘matte black harbor seal’ we’ve been seeing over the years who is lacking pelage was hauled out on the rocks with a couple other harbor seals. We allowed ourselves to be caught in the current and drifted North through Turn Island Pass and over to Shaw Island. Keeping with the current we drifted through Canoe Island Pass with a beautiful view of Picnic Point. Coming down Upright Channel as the sun lowered and the colors warmed to a golden hue. Crossing to San Juan Island as the sun sank and the glassy waters resembled a chocolate bar wrapper. Harbor porpoises surrounded us and the still quiet air was broken with the puffs of their exhalations.
Sailing out of the south exit of Friday Harbor
Harbor seals hauled out
Harbor seals – including ‘black matte harbor seal’ lacking pelage (on right)
Black matte seal yawning
Harbor seals hauled out on the rocks
Another look at the ‘black matte harbor seal’
Bald eagle
Bald eagle
Juniper and Douglas fir trees on Turn Island
Sailing around Canoe Island
Picnic Pt, Shaw Island
Sailing along Canoe Island
Private sunset charter
Sunset sail
Sunset sail in the San Juans
Golden sunset reflections
One of many harbor porpoise outside Friday Harbor
Mt Baker pink from the sunset
Returning to Friday Harbor at sunset
Route Map 9-5-20