Day 8- The last and final day of this cruise. The acoustic folks found
J-pod (southern resident killer whales) around 3:30 in the morning
between Neah Bay and Seiku and managed to follow them until daybreak.
Killer whale folks piled into the zodiac and off they went for picture
ID and biopsy. We stayed on the flying bridge to keep track of J-pod
and direct the small boat to new groups of whales. Hail, rain, sun
breaks. Birds mostly like yesterday, Rhinos, Mergs, and Gulls. More
Guillemots today. Long-tailed ducks. Many flocks of Surf Scoters flying
east into the straights. The whales lured us out of the straights and
up the coast of Vancouver Island. We bashed out there into 30-35 knot
winds until we ran out of time. As I write this we are finally slipping
past Tatoosh into calm waters headed for the barn, 16 hrs to Seattle!
And thats all folks.
Best regards,
Troy