Deception and Mystic Eagle had rafted together last night and decided to co-host breakfast this morning. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the sun was already warming us, which made for a very pleasant Sunday morning. We left our anchorage in Hawk Bay and headed across Otter Channel toward our next stop, Patterson Bay. Our Grand Banks cut through the placid waters amidst the panorama of layered islands and hillsides. These layers were all around us and continued as far as the eyes can see, lightening in hues until they faded out into the atmosphere, unable to differentiate peak from sky. About halfway through our cruise we received a radio call from Jenn on Inside Passage which we could barely make out due to the screaming from Annie in the background. We could hear the excitement but where were they looking?? What were they seeing?? Then we saw it… just off to Deception’s beam was a pod of orcas! These were transient, meaning they feed primarily on other marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and porpoises. Transient orcas generally travel in pods no larger than 10 individuals; we counted 8 animals in the group. We stopped our engines and floated in the water watching these beautiful creatures. The pod was comprised of several females, a calf, and 2 BIG bull males. Grown adult males can have dorsal fins up to six feet long and one of these bulls’ fins must have been close to that. They were cruising at a leisurely pace, providing us with a wonderful opportunity to take pictures and delight in their presence. The weather was the best we’ve had and the serenity of watching this pod of orcas made us truly appreciative of this experience. The largest bull orca made several slaps of his tail, letting us know he was there and protective of his females. We eventually had to move on and leave the orcas to their travels, but it was an unforgettable experience for us all.
We pulled into Patterson Bay, another absolutely gorgeous spot, where we anchored and immediately took advantage of the fantastic weather. Some explored the rocky, jagged coastline, intermingling with harbor seals and viewing vibrantly colored starfish. Others took their dinghies to the south bay to drop crab pots. On Eddy and Murray’s exploration of the south bay they stumbled upon a black bear who was just 10 yards from them up on shore. The bear didn’t seem to be bothered by their presence as it lay down to enjoy a snack and a nap right in front of them. They didn’t end up catching any crab after that experience I don’t think Eddy and Murray minded too much.
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