May 19, 2021 – The day began with threatening dark clouds and a faint sprinkle, but to our good luck they subsided shortly after our departure. The skies were full of breathtaking cloudscapes including those over the Olympic Mountains. We headed south out of Friday Harbor and had an encounter with gray whale CRC1364 who came north through Cattle Pass.
We met the whale near Kings Pt and paralleled the whale until it reached Big Rock. It was surfacing about every 3 minutes and showing its tail flukes on most dives. We decided to break off to continue down to Goose Island, Whale Rocks and Deadman Island. We’re noticing many small steller sea lions including some pups at Whale Rocks. A bald eagle stood on the rocks nearby disturbing the gulls by his presence.
As we continued back north we got word that the gray whale flipped back south after reaching Fishermans Harbor. We had another quick look before sailing back to Port by way of Turn Island where harbor seals were hauled out on the rocks and a family of raccoons foraged along the tide line.
Sailing out the south entrance to Friday Harbor
Large clouds over San Juan Channel
S/V Adventuress dropping its sails
Harbor seals by Danger Rock
Huge clouds over Olympic Mountains
Gray whale CRC1364 surface sequence – exhale
Gray whale CRC1364 surface sequence – exhale
Gray whale CRC1364 surface sequence – head and back
Gray whale CRC1364 surface sequence
Gray whale CRC1364 surface sequence
Gray whale CRC1364 surface sequence – back with knuckles
Gray whale CRC1364 surface sequence – tail flukes
Gray whale CRC1364 surface sequence – tail flukes
Gray whale CRC1364 swimming up San Juan Channel
Gray whale CRC1364 swimming up San Juan Channel
Gray whale tail flukes up in the air – deep dive
Gray whale CRC1364 swimming close to Lopez shoreline
Gray whale CRC1364 swimming close to Lopez shoreline
Gray whale tail flukes up in the air – deep dive
Gray whale CRC1364 swimming up San Juan Channel
Gray whale CRC1364 swimming up San Juan Channel
Gray whale CRC1364 tail flukes – dive sequence
Gray whale CRC1364 tail flukes – dive sequence
Gray whale CRC1364 tail flukes – dive sequence
Gray whale CRC1364 tail flukes – dive sequence
Gray whale CRC1364 tail flukes – dive sequence
Gray whale CRC1364 tail flukes – dive sequence
Goose Island and Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Cormorants on Goose Island
Steller sea lions Whale Rocks
Young sea lions mixed in at Whale Rocks
Young sea lions mixed in at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions and bald eagle at Whale Rocks
Young sea lion pup on top of the rock
Steller sea lion with past entanglement scar
Bull steller sea lion
Branded sea lion
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Intense clouds in the distance passed Cattle Pt
Peaceful sail
Puffy clouds over San Juan Channel
Miss Skye
Pigeon Guillemot flying by
Harlequin ducks on Shark Reef
Harbor seals Shark Reef
Sailing along Lopez Island
Harbor seals by Danger Rock
Harbor seals by Turn Island
Three raccoons on Turn Island
Island reflections
Sunshine and clouds over San Juan Island
Route map 5-19-21