April 14, 2021 – What a fantastic trip it was. Before leaving the harbor there were eagles cavorting and chasing each other overhead. A steller sea lion went cruising by in the current near Reid Rock and harbor seals were sunning themselves near Turn Island.
We had a great sail down San Juan Channel to Deadman Island where a juvenile bald eagle watched us sail by and Canada geese honked as they flew by. Whale Rocks was busy as ever with sea lion shenanigans as they cavorted with each other while four bald eagles stood atop the rocks watching the world go by.
In the distance we spotted the blow of a gray whale who had been in the area the last few days. We set a course out to Salmon Bank and found the whale near the bottom of the bank traveling towards Whale Rocks. From the tail shots the whale was ID’d as CRC1364, the same whale that was in South Rossario Strait the previous week and previously only documented once before on April 9th 2011 of La Push on the West side of the Olympic Peninsula
Our homeward close hauled sail took advantage of the fast flood current pushing through Cattle Pass.
Route Map 4-14-21
Mount Baker as we leave Part of Friday Harbor
Immature Bald eagle
Canada geese fly by and Mount Baker
Pear Point to Huricane Ridge
Wing on wing sailing
Captain Skye
Immature Bald Eagle
Bald Eagles and Steller Sea Lions
Steller Sea Lions play in the hot tub
2 mature and 1 juvenile Bald Eagles at Whale Rocks
Steller Sea Lions and Cattle Point Lighthouse
Gray Whale CRC1364
Gray Whale CRC1364 Tail Fluke
Gray Whale CRC1364 Blow
Gray Whale CRC1364 looks concerning malnourished
Gray Whale CRC1364 looks concerning malnourished arches for deep dive
Gray Whale CRC1364 Tail Fluke
Gray Whale CRC1364 Tail Fluke
Gray Whale CRC1364 Tail Fluke
Cattle Point Lighthouse
Harbor seals of Pear Point
Turn Island State Park