We all can’t believe Labor Day Weekend has already come and gone. It really does feel like yesterday that everyone was moving to the island and getting trained for the busy summer season. Four employees have already left for the summer, and we are losing our favorite Tennessee Boys (Chase & Philip) at the end of this week. Although many of the guides are taking off, it still feels like summer. We are forecasted to have record-breaking heat the next week. It’s supposed to be in the mid-80s on Saturday and it’s in the high-90s throughout Eastern Washington. Hot hot hot!
On to the killer whale encounters! We got a report early in the morning that Js, Ks, and Ls came cruisin’ in from the North and rounded East Point headed our way! Captain Nancy and Naturalist Tiffany said that at one point, the killer whales were simultaneously breaching! Three different whales were breaching repeatedly at the same time around the Sea Hawk! Tiffany said that this was the most enjoyable whale watch she had all year. Our guests were so engaged and asked wonderful & intellectual questions. As guides & naturalists, the most rewarding thing about our profession is having guests that are excited to learn!
Naturalist Kevin and Captain Nancy had another interesting encounter! Can you guess what it is…? Captain Nancy was motoring along when she thought she spotted a “dead-head.” A dead-head is a driftwood log that floats vertical in the water so only one end of the log is visible. Nancy & Kevin looked with their binoculars and thought “elephant seal perhaps?” They determined that is was indeed drift wood. But then, it opened its mouth and let out this snore/snort! ELEPHANT SEAL!! The elephant seal was “bottling” (floating vertical) and snoozing. He kept on snoring, snorting, and burping. Charming, huh? The guests loved it! We will get more & more male elephant seals in the San Juans as they migrate north and females head out to open ocean for 6 months.