Wind and WHALES!!!

Today we set off on our friend's (Islandcat and hubby P) sailboat for 2 days. We decided to head south in case we could catch the Orca whales which are hanging about the south end of Saturna and Pender Island this time of year. There was gloriously more wind than predicted and we had a great beat into 15-20 knots for hours through Plumper sound ( I always forget how much I love to sail! We sold our sailboat 12 years ago but love a chance to be out sailing...) When we got to the bottom of Pender we started seeing the whale boats and knew we hit the right time!
So this is Mom spouting and her new baby in front!! The calf, named J49, travels with it's mother Hy'Shqa J37, it's grandmother Samish J14 and it's great grandmother 101 year old Granny J2. Sissy J12, the great grandmother died in 1996. There are 3 resident pods in this area, J, K and L now numbering 86 members. They eat 90% Chinook Salmon, so their livelihood depends on a healthy Chinook population, which depends on the viability of their waters. (this being the problem....)
Anyway, a totally wonderful day, we anchored in Bedwell Harbor and had a wonderful Islandcat dinner on board under that gorgeous moon!
See her whale here!

And here is another version of these 2 in blipfolio.