Olivia | June 11, 2019 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00pm
What a gorgeous day on the water! Not only did we have an incredibly warm day nearing 76 degrees, but it was also extremely clear! All the back drops for our photos were pristine with sharp mountain views and clear blue skies. We started the trip heading north through San Juan Channel, past Spieden Island, and over near Point Disney where we saw our family of Bigg’s Killer Whales. This was such a fun group to watch as there were lots of spy hops, lobtailing, and a few breaches. It was magical. Since there were three naturalists aboard today, we decided to divide and conquer. I spent much of my time up at the bow, soaking in the sun, and having spectacular conversations about Killer Whales, conservation, and around the world comparisons. Our passengers were passionate, moving, and humble. I can’t stress enough how wonderful this was.
After we spent time observing this family group, we carried on back towards Spieden Island where we took a lap around checking out the Harbor Seals (those were a big hit) and Bald Eagles. I had a group of four young girls sitting with me at the bow and we counted 9- 11 Bald Eagles throughout this trip! I say a range, because they were adamant there were more, and regardless, I think this broke our record!
I would like to take a minute to just say how inspired I was by this group of girls I sat with for the last hour of the trip. They ranged in age from 4-13 and we had GREAT conversation. I was incredibly impressed with their questions and previous knowledge, and I don’t say that lightly. One woman even commented on how great it was to see the encouragement to these young females that are determined to be biologists. It’s moments like this that remind me of the power within the next generation and the positive impact we can have on the Earth and its wildlife. So, one big “Thank You” to these kiddos on making this one of the best, most inspiring trips yet! Also, a nice reminder of the impact you can have on someone else’s life, big or small. It’s this awareness, connection, and mutual inspiration we strive for, right? The warm, sunny, pristine day helped too.