It truly feels like fall! The islands are dotted with every color of fall foliage, the air is clear and crisp, and the water is devoid of almost all recreational boaters. We love this time of the year on the water, which is why we are soaking up every last moment before our season ends in just one week.
We turned north up Bellingham Channel, cruising the stunning Cypress Island coastline. Pods of porpoise worked the current lines while gulls and Alcids gathered at growing bait balls. Calm seas made for ideal spotting conditions, and we scanned hard all the way up into the Strait of Georgia. It was here that I found our first whale of the day! We would later learn that it was Artemis (T65A), but she was being very illusive after our initial sighting. We heard word of her kids nearby, so went to visit with them. We found Elli and Calisto, two sisters, swimming side by side. Then, all of a sudden, they picked up the pace and started porpoising high-speed towards where Artemis had been sighted. We assumed they must have gotten word from mom that it was time to go, and at the end of our encounter we did watch them catch up to her. Meanwhile, Amir was working his way towards Sucia Island too, all the present T65As (T65A2 and T65A5 were not seen by us today) converging together.
Following this encounter, we stopped at Clements Reef to visit with some sleepy pinnipeds. Steller sea lions were piled onto what little reef remained, and harbor seals slipped in on the perimeter, avoiding the big boys as best they could. The backdrop of vivid fall foliage on Sucia made for some incredible photos.
Such a beautiful fall day spent in the best way we could think of, on the water enjoying the beauty and biodiversity of the Salish Sea!
-Sam
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Island Adventures 