August 23, 2022 – After leaving Friday Harbor we were greeted by 5 Biggs/Transient orcas – siblings T124A2 and T124A4 with their offspring. We cruised with the orcas as they headed north up the channel breaking off for a short while to sail through the Wasp Islands. We rejoined near Limestone Pt and sailed with the orcas into New Channel. The orcas continued west and we stayed behind to hug the Spieden Island shoreline before cutting through the Cactus Islands and through the pass by Ripple Island. Bald eagles were busy – many calling back and forth, others guarding their nests, another swooping down to the water for lunch and another eating a deceased harbor seal. We sailed across to Flattop Island and White Rock National Wildlife Refuges where harbor seals were resting on the shoreline and warming up in the sunshine. Cut across to the stunning cliff face of Waldron called Pt Disney and hugged the coastline for a short while before crossing Presents Channel to Lovers Cove on Orcas Island. More bald eagles, great blue herons and a couple bald eagles nests. We weaved our way through the Wasp Islands once again and had a great close-hauled sail back to Friday Harbor. Shortly before arriving back to the harbor one of our guests got down on one knee to propose – a magical end to a beautiful day.
Wispy fog in the islands
Biggs/Transient orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s
Biggs/Transient orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s
Biggs/Transient orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s
Biggs/Transient orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s
Orca tail in the air
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s northbound San Juan Channel
Sailing downwind
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s northbound San Juan Channel
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s northbound San Juan Channel
People watching orcas from shore
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s northbound San Juan Channel
Bald eagle on Shirttail Reef with Mt Baker
Bald eagle on Shirttail Reef
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s northbound to Spieden Island
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s northbound to Spieden Island
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s northbound to Spieden Island
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s in New Channel north of Spieden Island
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s in New Channel north of Spieden Island
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s in New Channel north of Spieden Island
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s in New Channel north of Spieden Island
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s in New Channel north of Spieden Island
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s in New Channel north of Spieden Island
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s in New Channel north of Spieden Island
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s in New Channel north of Spieden Island
Bald eagle on Spieden Island
Bald eagle flying
Bald eagle on Spieden Island
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s passing the Cactus Islands
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s passing the Cactus Islands
Madrone tree on Spieden Island
Bald eagle eating dead seal on Cactus Island
Bald eagles with nest
Harbor seals in New Channel
Harbor seals in New Channel
Great blue heron on bull kelp bed
Harbor seals in New Channel
Bald eagle
Great blue heron flying in New Channel
Harbor seals in New Channel
Bald eagle
Harbor seals
Flattop Island
Harbor seals on White Rock
Harbor seals on White Rock with Pt Disney behind
Sailing to Pt Disney, Waldron Island
Pt Disney, Waldron Island
Capt David chatting about trees on Waldron
Garry Oak trees on Waldron Island
Huge Madrone tree on Waldron Island
Waldron Island coastline
Capt Skye
Captains Barbara and Skye
Sailing across to Orcas Island from Waldron
Bald eagle nest on Orcas Island
Sailing in Presidents Channel
Great blue heron in tree top on Orcas Island
Bald eagle
Close hauled sail across to Friday Harbor
Cloudy sunset
Friday Harbor
Route map 8-23-22