October 8, 2024 – After donning rain gear and issuing umbrellas we left Friday Harbor through the rain shower. A humpback whale had passed Friday Harbor a half hour prior so we kept up our speed cutting inside Turn Island and headed for Cattle Pass. We met humpback whale BCY0771 “Bump” just before Cattle Pass. With a moderate breeze we were able to sail alongside admiring the whale against the clearing skies over the Olympic Mountains. On our way across to Salmon Bank we spotted Pacific loons, white-winged scoters, and a shearwater – a first sighting of the year for us. We returned via Whale Rocks to see the Steller sea lions and noticed branded sea lion “347Y”. Passing Deadman Island we spotted harbor seals, bald eagles, belted kingfishers and harlequin ducks. Watching rain on the radar we tried to time our sail between the showers with some success. Coming into Friday Harbor it was a magical light with ribbons of mist.
Route map 10/8/24
Humpback whale BCY0771 “Bump”
Humpback whale BCY0771 “Bump”, San Juan Channel
Humpback whale BCY0771 “Bump”, San Juan Channel
Humpback whale BCY0771 “Bump”, San Juan Channel
Humpback whale BCY0771 “Bump” tail flukes
Humpback whale BCY0771 “Bump” with Olympic Mountains
Humpback whale BCY0771 “Bump” with “rainblow” exhale
Humpback whale BCY0771 “Bump” with “rainblow” exhale
Humpback whale BCY0771 “Bump” tail flukes
Pacific Loon
Humpback whale BCY0771 “Bump”, Cattle Pass
Humpback whale BCY0771 “Bump” tail flukes
Humpback whale BCY0771 “Bump” with Olympic Mountains
Humpback whale BCY0771 “Bump” with Olympic Mountains
Sooty (?) Shearwater
Pretty scenery
White-winged scoters
Steller Sea lions on Whale Rocks
Branded Steller Sea lion “347Y” on Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Steller Sea lion and cormorants on Whale Rocks
Steller Sea lions on Whale Rocks
Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Steller Sea lions on Whale Rocks
Steller Sea lions on Whale Rocks
Steller Sea lion and cormorants on Whale Rocks
Bald eagle, Lopez Island
Harbor seals, Deadman Island
Harbor seals, Deadman Island
Harlequin duck
Sailing San Juan Islands
Rain showers near Friday Harbor
Misty drizzle, Friday Harbor
Misty drizzle, Friday Harbor
Misty drizzle, Friday Harbor
Brown Island reflections
Misty drizzle, Friday Harbor