I have just returned from my whirlwind roadtrip with my dear friend Dean from Washington State to Indiana. Dean and I planned on he and I driving out to Washington in May and I would fly home. However, he was chosen to lead a team mapping the Continental Divide Trail in May so we flipped it. He flew out and we drove back together.
I will be posting some pics from the journey at http://tert2007.blogspot.com/. The following are my solo day in Seattle. I went to Snoqualmie Falls outside of Seattle while awaiting Dean's arrive to start our road trip home.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
July 27th Orca Encounter in boat
July 27th I was lucky enough not only to go out in the boat for my coveted orca encounters, but I was able to take my guest, Shanan. Marina is a scientist that has just returned to Spain. Marina was gracious to offer her spot on the boat to Shanan.
This was my first boat trip south so I got to see some scenery from the water I had previously only seen from land. We went past Lime Kiln and Hannah Heights. We were in the very waters I have spent many mornings scouting whales on morning watch.
The whales were heading out to sea and stayed there for 5 days after this encounter. They are just heading back now as I type.
We had a phenomenal experience with having majestic J-1 all to ourselves. He is regal and kingly to watch.
When we caught up with the rest of the pod, they were very lively. Lots of logging, spyhopping and tail-lobbing which makes for exciting viewing!!!
One of my photos of a spyhop made the Center's website!!!
This was my first boat trip south so I got to see some scenery from the water I had previously only seen from land. We went past Lime Kiln and Hannah Heights. We were in the very waters I have spent many mornings scouting whales on morning watch.
The whales were heading out to sea and stayed there for 5 days after this encounter. They are just heading back now as I type.
We had a phenomenal experience with having majestic J-1 all to ourselves. He is regal and kingly to watch.
When we caught up with the rest of the pod, they were very lively. Lots of logging, spyhopping and tail-lobbing which makes for exciting viewing!!!
One of my photos of a spyhop made the Center's website!!!
July 26th Orca Encounter in boat
Thursday, July 26th I got to go out in the boat to view some members from the J, K and L Pods. It was a beautiful and spectacular encounter. Mt. Baker was clearly visible. The whales were, as always, a joy to behold.
One of my breach photos even made The Center for Whale Research site!!!
One of my breach photos even made The Center for Whale Research site!!!
San Juans at sunrise
My dear friends Michelle and Shanan were here for a visit last week. We arose just at sunrise to go for morning whale watch. We didn't find whales, but it was my great honor to be able to show them beautiful San Juan Island in the golden light of sunrise.
These pictures are from the southern end of the island at American Camp around 6:00 a.m.
Boat Perspective
I was lucky enough to be able to get a dear friend out in the boat while she was visiting last week. She snapped a couple of pictures of me and Emma shooting members of the J and K Pod south of Lime Kiln. I wanted to give perspective on actually how small the research vessel is that we use when we go out for the orca encounters.
I took the boat picture from the deck early in the summer when the team was down south and travelling north past the Center.
I took the boat picture from the deck early in the summer when the team was down south and travelling north past the Center.
Mt. Baker
Mt. Baker is one of the snowiest places in the world. It's been a joy on clear days to see the mountain while driving around the island or out in the boat.
I have come to love this mountain even though I've actually never been near it. It is not viewable from the Center so my jaw still drops on those lucky days that I get to see it.
I will dearly miss these serendipitous viewings more than words when I head back home for the Plains and will always remain smiley for the times the mountain showed its beautiful face to me.
Orca Encounters from the Center
I wish I would have kept track of how many times the whales passed by the Center and I have viewed them from the deck. I will never forgot the first morning I was here and the J-Pod swam north past the Center. I was overcome with gratitude and anticipation for the summer ahead of me.
As my journey here is winding to an end, I have sorted through some pictures of the scientists viewing the whales that I snapped at various times.
On a side note, every single day I have been blessed to watch a colony of harbor seals on the reef in front of the Center. There are babies still nursing easily viewable through the high-powered scopes. It's become a bit of a ritual of mine to drink my coffee and watch the seals in the morning.
Additionally from the deck, I've seen harbor porpoise, eagles, GBH, kingfishers, river otters and deer.
As my journey here is winding to an end, I have sorted through some pictures of the scientists viewing the whales that I snapped at various times.
On a side note, every single day I have been blessed to watch a colony of harbor seals on the reef in front of the Center. There are babies still nursing easily viewable through the high-powered scopes. It's become a bit of a ritual of mine to drink my coffee and watch the seals in the morning.
Additionally from the deck, I've seen harbor porpoise, eagles, GBH, kingfishers, river otters and deer.
Dinners on the deck
One of my favorite experiences this summer has been having community dinners on the deck of The Center for Whale Research with all the different people that have filtered through this summer.
Many times, we would have the whales pass by at sunset while enjoying lively conversation with the Olympic Mountains and Vancouver Island in the distance across the Haro Straight. These times will remain some of my fondest memories of the summer.
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