Aug 10 - Whale Watch San Juan Islands

It's whale watching day today - San Juan Cruises!

There's on-n-off drizzle as I leave the hotel; hopefully it won't last.

Pretty easy drive to the terminal and pretty easy parking right at the terminal. 

I check out the pier first.

Before heading over to the Marine Park.

I quickly see a Blue Heron near the shore.

I walk along the gravely beach -- it's a small one -- finding a used crab shell.

I'm about to walk back but 1) it's earlier 2) there are a bunch of kayakers gathering and I want to watch. I found a picnic bench on the south side of the very small park and waited for the kayakers to launch. It was a bit before that happened so I sat and watched the Heron catching breakfast.

While waiting, a Harbor Seal was near shore.

Finally, the kayakers take off - yea!

Now it time to head back to the terminal and wait.

I loop the pier again. There's a lady with crab traps attached to the pier. I head over and talk to her as she's pulling a trap out. There are 7-8 crabs. A few falls out as she brings it up but she has 5 left. 4 Red Rock crabs and 1 Dungeness. She heads to put them on ice.

It looked like it was going to be a non-crowded boat as it was time to board, I stepped outside and there's a bunch of folks lined up to pay for parking. Not sure if it was full but there was a lot of folks on that boat.

The cruise started on-time at 11am. I sat on the back deck out of the wind. It's still cloudy but not raining.

We slow to check out a small "island" filled with beached Harbor Seals.

And we slowed for a protected rookery for Cormorants and more beached Harbor Seals.

At some point the sun came out and I went inside sitting with a lady and her 93 year old mother. Good company for the trip! 

I think there were  more birds there but I don't remember.

Moving on, eventually we cross the border into Canada.

And more importantly, there's a boat watching a whale and we're heading that way. Be there in 1/2 hour.

That was announced just after a lasagna, cesar salad, bisquit and cookie lunch. Not bad.

As the boat slowed, I figured we were closing in on the whale - what kind of whale has not yet been revealed.

I stand on the bow of the boat right side.

Someone yell "Blow" it's just past 12 oclock and I see the tail! It's a humpback!

And we try to follow pretty successfully but the wait time were sometimes a bit long. I think we saw her come up 6-8 times.

One whale sighting

2nd whale sighting

For the "biggest" tail moment, I was back inside but I saw a full fluke!

Good times!

Then it was the long ride home.

No Orca - a bit disappointing but we got a Humpback!

Guess large Orca are no longer the norm because the resident pods are gone because the salmon populations are low. So sad. But that started way back with my very 1st kayaking trip.

I'll cherish my Orca moments back in the last 80s-early 90s on those 2 kayaking trip to Johnstone Strait. I'm sure the Orcas have crashed there as well.

Good day!

Good day!