Morning mist reveals a broadly tiered waterfall, and early risers are rewarded with a brief observation of two black bears at the edges of the cascade. Ethereal mist persists as we venture into Green Inlet for a paddle and Zodiac cruise in these placid waters. Reflections of cedar paint the still coves, and the chatter of a kingfisher brings our attention back to the boughs draped in dew. In the afternoon, Chief Mate Sean Kummer spies a peculiar creature drifting at the ocean’s surface. Expedition diver Amy Malkoski quickly identifies it as a Mola mola, or ocean sunfish. It’s fair to say that it’s unusual to see this fish in these waters, yet over the next hour of cruising two more are spotted! A breaching humpback whale rounds out our afternoon of wildlife encounters.
9/16/2022
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National Geographic Quest
San Juan Islands - Washington
We spent our final day in the San Juan Islands, a beautiful archipelago wedged between Washington State and the south end of Vancouver Island. We began the day by docking in Friday Harbor to clear U.S. Customs before exploring the small town that has become famous across the world for its iconic whale watching. Over the last couple of decades, the resident southern orca whales that have come to define this place have shrunk in numbers due to a variety of factors, including overfishing, climate change, and depleted salmon habitats. Hard-working people at the Whale Research Center and the nearby whale museum are working hard to educate the public and enact laws to protect salmon habitats and provide more space for the orcas among the boat traffic and people that love them so much. Many of us took the opportunity to visit the whale museum near the dock, where the life histories and family trees of these amazing animals have been meticulously documented for decades. In the afternoon, we cruised a short distance north to Jones Island, a marine state park with a maze of trails and campsites framed by a gorgeous forest of cedar, fir, and madrone trees. To cap off our two-week excursion through the Inside Passage, we sailed through the last of the San Juan Islands while an epic sunset bid us farewell.