Flat water, gray and mist as far as I could see….and, whales.  Surrounded by whales!  Because the water was flat today, my eyes picked up black fin tips far far away…as I realize, we are surrounded by whales.  Black fins and long bodies surface and slip this way and that, going about whale business.  It easy to see the big breaches in the distance!  Persistant rain didn’t dampen spirits.  All afternoon I looked from one smiling face to another.

Ruffles came gliding by in that slow manner he has….fin up, up, UP….fin disappearing down, down, down.  Then some rolling, chin poking up, side flipping over type moves.   Just as it seemed finally time to move away and back toward the harbor, Riptide and group were making a serious path for mid Haro Strait.  The four fins surfacing together was quite a sight.  Time for departure and there were massive breaches, one after another, way behind us.  Just more opportunity to keep watching the whales!

At Whale Rocks a Steller sealion cruises inbetween the kelp patches.  Harbor seals line the edges of the haulout area, and tall black Cormorant birds perch on top like sentinels keeping watch.

Time to get back to Friday Harbor, hot chocolate in the hands of many, smiles all around.

~ Nan