Whale, whale, whale! Today was another fun day out on the water with a delightful charter group! I have really been enjoying the guests we have hosted lately, especially on our charter trips when I can really sit down to get to know people.
Today Captain Brian and I set out on the M/V Kittiwake’s first trip of the 2016 season, and what a trip it was! We left Friday Harbor and headed north up through San Juan Channel past Yellow Island, Jones Island and Waldron Island. We also got a chance to see Stuart Island’s Turn Point Lighthouse, the most northwestern point in the United States.
We continued north into the Canadian Gulf Islands when all of a sudden we spotted black dorsal fins cutting through the water and misty exhalations (or blows) hanging over the waves. Killer whales! We watched as the two families of Transient, marine-mammal eating, orca whales cruised the shoreline of Saltspring Island. The T075Bs and the T077s were in a flirtatious mood, and we were able to witness some breeding behavior exhibited between the male known as T077B and most likely T075B herself. This lady already has had two calves and her youngest was born last year! Hopefully we will see a new little one near her side in about 16 months. We had a wonderful encounter with the whales, and then headed for home, enjoying the cloudscapes and views of the islands as we cruised south.