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.
View of Mt Baker
Cormorants on the cliff by Upright Head, Lopez Island
Upright Head, Lopez Island
View of Mt Baker
Bald eagle, San Juan County
Biggs/Transient orcas finishing their meal and gulls diving for leftovers
Biggs/Transient orcas T123’s with T46C2
Biggs/Transient orcas T123’s with T46C2
Orca tail slap
Folks on the ferry watching the orcas
View of Mt Baker
Biggs/Transient orcas T46C2 with T123D and T123C
Biggs/Transient orca T46C2
Biggs/Transient orca T123A
Biggs/Transient orcas T46C2 with T123A
Biggs/Transient orca T123A
Biggs/Transient orcas T123 with T123C
Folks on the ferry watching the orcas
Biggs/Transient orca T46C2 with Shaw Island backdrop
Biggs/Transient orcas T123’s and T46C2 with Shaw Island backdrop
Biggs/Transient orcas T46C2 with T123D
Biggs/Transient orca T123A exhaling
Biggs/Transient orca T123C
Cormorants on Flat Pt Channel Marker
Biggs/Transient orca T123A
Biggs/Transient orcas T123’s and T46C2 passing Friday Harbor
Pair of bald eagles outside of Friday Harbor, WA
Bald eagle, San Juan County
Bald eagle, San Juan County
Bald eagle, San Juan County
View of Sentinel Island in Spieden Channel
Harbor seals and cormorants resting on Low Island
Harbor seals resting on Low Island
Forest near Pt Caution, San Juan Island
Douglas Fir trees at Pt Caution, San Juan Island
Red cedar trees on San Juan Island
Sailing in October in the San Juan Islands
Harbor seal swimming by – San Juan Islands
Route map 10/28/23