Killer View!

Or 'Out of the Blue!'
Sorry about the title I am running out of superlatives for this place.

We had a final morning in Vancouver before catching Pacific Coach to the ferry across to Vancouver Island. Once on the ferry the time flew by as every minute was delight. Looking back over Vancouver and it's back drop of mountains and east to the US and snow topped Mt Baker we then entered the Gulf Islands.
Here you can see the return ferry entering the passage between Galiano on the right and Mayne on the left. (Hi NannaK, I know you were leaving today but we looked on your island with envy. What a beautiful place to come and stay)

Then - there they were!

Orcas!

Three of them.

NannaK had spotted some earlier in the week here and the ferry passenger information announced that some could be seen ahead.
Quite a way in the distance to start with, just a splash here and there but as we got closer and could see them clearly jumping out of the water. They were surrounded by the small excursion whale boats but as someone said we had seen them for free.

How fabulous!

Later we had a walk around the harbour in Victoria and a sign announced that 'Orcas were spotted today!'

Can't decide which has thrilled me most; yesterday's otters which we were able to see quite close and watch for some time; or this. Both wonderful, but his was a great thrill.

On getting back onto the coach to leave the ferry the driver asked the man in front of me if he had seen the wild life. He answered, 'Yes, more than we saw in Alaska!'