Archive for February, 2009

Joel

Saturday, February 28th, 2009


 

 

joel-on-pelagic

This is Joel and his father.  Joel was a delight to have on board yesterday during one of our off-season trips.  The weather was perfect, sunny and calm. Lots of wildlife on Spieden Island and the famous Steller sea lions hauled out on the rocks at Green Point.

A good reason to enjoy the ferry ride to Orcas island.

Friday, February 20th, 2009


San Juan Islands: #4 on List of World’s Top 10 Ferry Boat Rides



(Feb. 19, 2009) The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), the world’s largest organization of professional travel journalists and photographers, recently polled its members to come up with the “Top 10” most exciting ferry rides in the world.

 

“Public and private ferry boats provide an inexpensive alternative to cruises, often traversing some of the world’s most beautiful harbors, fjords, rivers and waterways at bargain prices,” states SATW president, Bea Broda.

 

Listed in order of votes from SATW writers are the world’s “Top 10” trips by ferry boat:

1. Star Ferry in Hong Kong

2. Ferries from Sausalito to San Francisco, California

3. Staten Island Ferry, New York Harbor

4. Washington State Ferries, Puget Sound to the San Juan Islands   www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/

 

• “Washington State Ferries offer the most beautiful views of water, mountains and forests, with whales right up close, too.” Robert Haru Fisher, columnist & contributing editor, Frommers.com

• “Stiff winds and dramatic weather changes turn a simple commute between islands into a short-burst travel journey on many of the Washington State ferries.” Richard Varr, freelance travel writer

5. British Columbia Ferry System, including Vancouver to Victoria

6. Ferry from Sydney Harbor to Manly, Australia

7. The Ferry System of the Greek Isles

8. The “Blue Canoes” of the Alaska State Ferry System

9. “Norway in a Nutshell” Tour and ferry ride

10. Ferry from Mallaig to Isle of Skye, Scotland

The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) is a non-profit professional association that works to promote responsible travel journalism and to provide professional support for its members, including travel journalists, photographers, editors, electronic media, film lecturers, television and film producers, and public relations representatives from the travel industry. For more information on the Society of American Travel Writers, visit www.satw.org.

 Contact:  Bea Broda, SATW President  bea@bcpictures.com 

 Visit Washington State’s Lopez, Orcas, & San Juan Islands.

 

Newborns and our off-season trips this past weekend

Tuesday, February 17th, 2009


Good news from the Orca Network (www.orcanetwork.org).  Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research (www.whaleresearch.com) has confirmed that during the brief visit here of the Southern residents two weeks ago, two newborn calves were sighted, one with J pod and the other with L pod. The mom’s are not confirmed at this time. If these little ones survive the population would be up to 85 whales. Let’s hope for the best.
We had trips this past weekend and had some great sunny weather to go with it. The Steller sea lions were back at Spieden Island but there didn’t appear to as many as years past. The bald eagle activity was amazing. On the southwest side of Spieden Island on Sunday there were about 15 eagles, both mature and immature, feeding on a carcus which looked like a mouflon sheep.
I did get reports of transient orca whales in the area Saturday and yesterday (Monday). It sounds like we were in the area where the whales were but didn’t see them.
The photo is when we were out in Haro Strait looking for Dall’s porpoises. You can see what a beautiful day it was.

Haro Strait

Haro Strait

 

Superpod Today

Friday, February 6th, 2009


I received word of whales from J, K and L pod traveling east, toward San Juan Island past Victoria this afternoon. While not unusual, it is always a nice surprise to hear of the residents in the area this time of year. If the weather holds I hope to get out on the water tomorrow and look around. Maybe I’ll get lucky. If I do come across the whales I’ll take some photos and post them.