July 24, 2024 – We sailed north pretty quickly with a good wind. Came through Spieden Channel close to the San Juan Island side to escape the flood current. After rounding Battleship Island we were on the lookout for Southern Resident J pod orcas, but none were seen. Returning to New Channel there was interesting light from patches of smokey haze. We cut through the Cactus Islands headed for Flattop Island. A juvenile bald eagle flying with a stick in his/her talons did some interesting aerobatics flipping upside down through a roll. Pigeon guillemots were calling their high pitched vocals. The sunset as we came through the Wasp Islands was quite spectacular.
Bald eagle, San Juan Islands
Beautiful day sailing in the San Juan Islands
Black oystercatchers chatting to one another
Black oystercatchers chatting to one another
Distant view of Spieden and Sentinel Islands
Interesting clouds in the sky
Closer view of Spieden and Sentinel Islands
Bald eagle, Spieden Island
Drifting along the north coast of Spieden Island
Spieden Island Bluff
Drifting along north of Spieden Island
Drifting along north of Spieden Island
Bald eagle by nest on Little Cactus Island
Bald eagle Cactus Islands
Pigeon guillemot with bite to eat
Bald eagle, San Juan Islands
Juvenile bald eagle flying around with a big stick doing acrobatics
Juvenile bald eagle flying around with a big stick doing acrobatics
Flattop Island
Pigeon guillemot near Flattop Island
Flattop Island
Harbor seal with pup, Flattop Island
Setting sun over Spieden Island
Sunset sail from Friday Harbor, Washington
Little McConnell in sunset light
Sunset sail from Friday Harbor, Washington
Sunset with west tip of Yellow Island
Gorgeous sunset sail
Gorgeous sunset sail
Route map 7/24/24 pm