Our guests today boarded the Orca Spirit with the sun high in the sky and the wind at only a whisper. Our fantastic weather allowed for amazing views of the snow-capped Olympic Mountain Range and breath-taking Mount Baker. We cruised out south on the Straight of Juan de Fuca to have a look for marine species of all kinds. As we moved along, several Harbour Porpoises surfaced, obviously hunting for small fish in the food rich waters. Many fishing boats were out as well, with anglers anxious to catch a massive Halibut for the Tournament going on. We then made our way west, searching for any animals that may be moving in from the open Pacific Ocean. The Straight of Juan de Fuca is the gateway to ports such as Vancouver, Seattle, Victoria and the Inside Passage. It is also marks the path to the Fraser River, the largest spawning river of the west coast's salmon populations.

We decided to check out Race Rocks Lighthouse, a marine reserve that hosts many species of marine mammals, birds, fish, crustaceans and seaweeds. We were greeted by the growls and roars of the massive Steller's Sea Lions. They argue over who gets the best spots on the rocks (they aren't running out of room any time soon), as they bite and hiss at each other. We also got to see a regal Bald Eagle perched at the top of one of the islands. He or she seemed content to scope out the scene, possibly waiting to steal someone else's lunch! Female Elephant Seals were lying at the top of one of the larger islands, letting their coats of fur slough off as they grow in new ones. This is the furthest south that Elephant Seals haul out of the water. It is rare to see them here for very long, so we relish their visits as much as we can. The silver and black bodies of plump Harbour Seals were scattered about the base of the islands, the seals also enjoying the warmth of the sun over the icy chill of the water. The clear view of the Olympic Mountains made for a perfect backdrop to take photos of the black and white striped lighthouse as well. Photo opportunities were in every direction! It was a gorgeous day on the water with the local marine life.

Today's Funny: What is a whale's favourite t.v. show?
FLUKES OF HAZARD!!

Later!
Rach