July 14, 2024 – As we left Friday Harbor we heard that some of the T75B’s and T77’s were exiting Peavine Pass into Rosario Strait. So we thought our chances were low seeing whales. However, we also heard that the T65B’s were southbound from Barnes and Clark Islands. We used the tides and winds to keep our speed up and cut through the islands. A hawk flew over us and a bald eagle watched us at Upright Head. We met the T65B’s (mother of 3 boys) at Peapod Rocks. They turned back north and came into Orcas Island to hunt again before traveling to Lawrence Point with backlit blows against the shoreline. As we came about we faced strong winds and a flood tide so we stuck close to the Orcas Island shoreline with some existing blustery conditions. Just as we cleared Shaw Island we came around in time to watch the sunset.
Route map 7/14/24 pm
Mt Baker
Upright Head, Lopez Island
Hawk flying by Lopez Upright Head
Bald eagle by Upright Head, Lopez Island
Washington State Ferry with Mt Baker
Cutting through the pass by Obstruction Island
Incredible boat house
Harbor seals on the rocks
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s, east side of Orcas Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s, east side of Orcas Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s, east side of Orcas Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s, east side of Orcas Island with backlit blows
Biggs/Transient orca T65B1 with kelp on dorsal fin
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s, east side of Orcas Island with backlit blows
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s, east side of Orcas Island with backlit blows
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s, east side of Orcas Island with backlit blows
T65B1
Orcas Island
Mt Baker in sunset light
Washington State Ferry in the sunset
Sunset sail, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
Half moon