Some days on the water are perfect. I am always amazed by how engaged and open to learning about the Salish Sea our guests can be. Yesterday we had one of those magic, early-spring trips into the wonder-scape of the Canadian Gulf Islands.
Leaving Friday Harbor we headed north towards Spieden Island to find some Steller’s sea lions hauled out at Green Point. The massive animals were sleeping in the warm sun on the rocky outcropping, soaking up some much needed rays. Soon these sea lions will be making their annual migration back north to their breeding rookeries in Alaska. We continued across the north side of Spieden stopping to look for bald eagles along the way.
Captain Mike deftly steered the M/V Sea Lion through John’s Pass out into the Boundary Pass towards the Java Islets. We enjoyed watching the many sea birds and seals foraging in the open water, and were so excited to see Bald eagles and harbor seals on the rocks as we approached the small islets. As we continued along the Saturna Island shore line we were able to catch glimpses of the famous feral goats that call the island home, as well as a nesting peregrine falcon on Monarch Head.
We rounded East Point and again encountered some Steller’s sea lions on Boiling Reef along with a group of at least ten bald eagles! We also got to see large groups of Bonaparte’s gulls foraging in the turbulent waters. Traveling past Tumbo Island the water was flat calm, almost like a mirror. As we rounded a corner out into the Strait of Georgia the flat water only continued.
With delicate light and flat water stretching out around us we encountered a reported humpback whale, BCY0324, also affectionately referred to as “Big Momma.” The massive whale was slowly traveling through the water in a non-directional fashion, taking about three to four breaths before taking a shallow dive. Save for the punctuation of her breath, the water was as quiet as the most perfect nighttime snowstorm. The only word that came to me to describe the encounter was ethereal.
