October 28, 2023 – Shortly after casting off from Friday Harbor we heard about an orca sighting near the Lopez Ferry Landing so we headed that direction. Snow covered Mt Baker was out today and looking very beautiful as was the Shaw and Lopez coastlines. Bald eagles watched as we sailed by. We met the Biggs/Transient orcas, T123’s and T46C2, after they finished eating/milling as they began traveling towards Upright Channel. There were several tail slaps and a couple big spy hops as they socialised on the go. Multiple ferries in the area coming and going had people standing on the bow watching the orcas as they went by. The orcas were traveling fairly quickly as they wrapped around into San Juan Channel passing by Friday Harbor heading north. Winds were picking up and it was a bit chilly, but passengers were keen to press on. We had a lovely sail up the channel with some distant views of the orcas as we parted ways to explore the Wasp Islands. With winds now behind us we had a nice ride back down the channel as we returned to Port.
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View of Mt Baker
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Cormorants on the cliff by Upright Head, Lopez Island
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Upright Head, Lopez Island
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View of Mt Baker
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Bald eagle, San Juan County
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Biggs/Transient orcas finishing their meal and gulls diving for leftovers
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Biggs/Transient orcas T123’s with T46C2
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Biggs/Transient orcas T123’s with T46C2
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Orca tail slap
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Folks on the ferry watching the orcas
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View of Mt Baker
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Biggs/Transient orcas T46C2 with T123D and T123C
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Biggs/Transient orca T46C2
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Biggs/Transient orca T123A
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Biggs/Transient orcas T46C2 with T123A
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Biggs/Transient orca T123A
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Biggs/Transient orcas T123 with T123C
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Folks on the ferry watching the orcas
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Biggs/Transient orca T46C2 with Shaw Island backdrop
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Biggs/Transient orcas T123’s and T46C2 with Shaw Island backdrop
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Biggs/Transient orcas T46C2 with T123D
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Biggs/Transient orca T123A exhaling
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Biggs/Transient orca T123C
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Cormorants on Flat Pt Channel Marker
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Biggs/Transient orca T123A
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Biggs/Transient orcas T123’s and T46C2 passing Friday Harbor
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Pair of bald eagles outside of Friday Harbor, WA
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Bald eagle, San Juan County
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Bald eagle, San Juan County
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Bald eagle, San Juan County
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View of Sentinel Island in Spieden Channel
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Harbor seals and cormorants resting on Low Island
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Harbor seals resting on Low Island
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Forest near Pt Caution, San Juan Island
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Douglas Fir trees at Pt Caution, San Juan Island
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Red cedar trees on San Juan Island
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Sailing in October in the San Juan Islands
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Harbor seal swimming by – San Juan Islands
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Route map 10/28/23