Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Arrived and getting settled

I have arrived safe and sound into Friday Harbor at The Center for Whale Research and am starting to get settled into the routine of day-to-day life here. The Center is directly on the ocean on the west side of the island. From the deck of the Center, I can see the snow-capped Olympic Mountain range and Vancouver Island (Canada). Gorgeous, magical and mystical come no where close to describing the view I see out the window as I type this.
My travel here was filled with unexpected delays (Chicago Midway shut down, missed buses, missed ferries, etc.) HOWEVER-and this is a big however-every delay brought some unexpected blessing. Like seeing Mt. Rainier by air with a brilliant full moon on one side and the sun setting on the other, taking a later ferry and arriving to see the San Juans at sunset. Spectacular!!! There are 8 people here currently working including myself with the following countries represented: United States, New Zealand, England, Germany and Switzerland. There is a very friendly community feel to the Center. All of the people here are very dynamic, well-rounded people with great senses of adventure. I like each of them very much. Everyone shares cleaning, cooking, chores, etc.

I'm feeling more and more settled with each passing day. From my tent, I have a partial ocean view. The tent is very secluded with a winding narrow path into the woods to get to it. The land slopes towards the sea, so it's quite a bit different than camping on the Plains! No flat spots, but that just makes for a better adventure. An amazing thing is that from exactly where my tent is situated up the hill from the Center, I can hear the whales. I'm hoping I will be able to get to sleep sooner as time goes on. I'm feeling a bit like a kid on Christmas Eve fighting sleep with one ear always listening for Santa except I'm listening for exhales.

It all is still feeling like a dream to me. Particularly when I think about how many weeks I get to live this amazing life. Even when I'm doing mundane things like dishes after meals, I've got my eye on the water for the whales.
I've been here 3 days and have seen the whales 5 different times from the deck of the Center. It's a dream come true for me to be here in this time and space here with the orcas.

The whales I'm currently seeing are the J-Pod Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW). It is time for the K and the L-Pods to arrive any day. So far they have not yet been spotted. Killer Whales are a matriarchal society and here is the matriarch, J-2 (aka "Granny"), spyhopping immediately in front of the Center last night.There is a pager system that tells the orca community by a sequence of numbers where the whales are traveling, their behavior, which way they are heading, etc. Combining this, seeing the commercial whale watching boats out the window and the "big eyes" binoculars set up in the kitchen makes for easy spotting when the whales are off in the distance. Once spotted, the scientist get to work identifying each whale and noting the time/behavior, etc.

I have been helping input data this morning. Yesterday one of the marine biologists let me assist her in identifying the whales in the pictures shot so far this season from the boats. I was amazed at how she knew the whales on sight! I can now identify 2 whales assuming I get a good side view of the dorsal fin: J1 (the largest male) and J28 (she has a very unique notch out of her fin). Last night, I knew J1 when he swam by!!! That was truly exhilarating.

I just spotted 6 harbor seals out of the window while eating lunch!!! Until next time, here are pictures of the ferry ride and my first shot at photographing the whales yesterday.

11 comments:

Unknown said...

Michelle,

I am so jealous. How lucky you are to be there with the magnificent whales! I wish we would have talked about them together at Womyn's Camp. I had no idea. I bet you are just in heaven there. I look forward to more posts!

Love,
Janeen

Anonymous said...

Michelle...this is absolutely awesome!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!!

Jeff and Mary said...

Michelle,

Mary and I are looking forward to hearing of and seeing pictures of the whales. It's a once in lifetime opportunity that not many people get a chance to do. Have a great time!

Love Jeff, Mary, Lauren (and soon to be Baby Boy Harrington)

vicki white said...

Hi Michelle!

It's Vicki White from Monroe, MI and I wnat to thank you for including me on your blog site. Wow! Want an opportunity you are having and thanks for allowing me share in your experience! I feel that I am living it through you. Can't wait to hear more about your time there. Enjoy every minute. Boy do you have another Hot Shit moment to share ant the next Women's Campout!

Love you,

Vicki

Anonymous said...

WOW!!!!!! Michelle.....

awesome.....good to hear that you got setteled there well. Wish I was there too. Thank You so much for sharing your Experience.........

have fun with those beautiful whales up there......

take care
sirisha

Enrique said...

You go Girl... (ahem) I mean Womyn.

Anonymous said...

michelle,
must be wonderful. i bet it is an amazing adventure. Hope things go well and i hope every day there is as amazing as the first.

Dennis said...

Michelle,

Glad to hear you are settled and having agood time. Look forward to seeing more pictures and hearing about your adventures. Take care.

Dennis

Anonymous said...

How delighted I am that you are having such a wonderful experience. You go girl. Enjoy and know that we are all thinking about you.
love ya,
Carol Thompson

Anonymous said...

Michelle,
All looks lovely and seems to be a fabulous experience. Looking forwarding to seeing more of the whale than its fin.
Be safe and enjoy to its fullest.
Love,
Aunt Debbie

Anonymous said...

Michelle, it sounds awesome out there! We can't wait to get together and talk further.

Cheers,
christian & laura