A foggy October sail with humpback MMX0167 ’Stitch’

October 18, 2020 – Waiting for the rain to ease up. A low cloud ceiling touching the tree tops. A wet looking bald eagle roosted on the sign on Low Island drying his wings. Harbor seals rested on Flattop and a pair of bald eagles roosted on the sign on Gull Island. We pushed North and met humpback whale MMX0167 ’Stitch’ at the border. A bulk carrier passed in the shipping lane whereupon the humpback whale announced their presence by repeatedly breaching followed by percussive slaps with both pectoral fins whilst on their back.The whale crossed the border and headed for Monarch Head, still inaccessible to us.

Heading South again we found many harbor porpoise near Waldron Island, Bonaparte gulls and a long line of Pacific loons in the still misty seascape. We continued to Ripple Island, the Cactus Islands and New Channel which were shrouded in sea mist. The mist hung on the trees of Spieden Island where bald eagles watched as we drifted by in silence. Steller sea lions were in their Buddha pose humming and grunting as the tide receded leaving them on the rocks. Sea mist rose upwards through the forests of San Juan Island as we came South and a sunset glow permeated the mist as we approached Friday Harbor.