Orca Fest

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FROM AMA LOG: Wednesday, 8/16/17

Port McNeil



WEATHER: Cloudy skies, partial sun in afternoon, light winds, temp about 75˙



PILOTAGE: Another no travel day but plenty of problems to keep lazy minds active. Laundry (BB) and more electrical issues (PW) fill the better part of the morning after a brisk morning walk and recharge (literally for our phones & computers) at the local Coffee shop. We are finally in town when the community thrift store is open. I find some cute clothes but they come with fleas, luckily it's located just across from the local laundry.



After returning to Ama, we decide to go fishing! Heading out into the strait for fun seems very strange, but freeing. The skies brighten a bit and northerly winds remain subdued for the afternoon. We fish off Malcom Isl. rounding the northern most point “trolling” about 5 knots, Peter tries out his new bear fur bucktail lures hoping to catch a Coho. A couple of passes and we decide to head south down the east side and before long run into a large pod of blackfish just off Malcolm Pt. Orcas were everywhere! Quick divers, rounding their backs like porpoises, small pairs surface in tandem, young ones accompanied by protective parents and a big bull male with a grand, scarred dorsal fin bringing up the rear.



There must have been 12-15 or possibly more orcas cruising along the island along side Ama. We cut engines quickly, grabbed cameras and kept shooting as fast as possible, quietly cheering and shouting whispers, “off the stern, on the port, now starboard side.” They literally surrounded our boat. The large bull make brought up the rear, silently slipping in and out of still calm waters.



We heard later on the commercial radio channel that there was a “new group” who joined this pod so it looked like a bit of a party going on out there. While we weren’t exactly invited, we were just glad to be there! Check out this very amateur video:

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Comments

[Cat Sitter]

How cool!
What a special treat to see Orcas! Sounds like you are getting mechanical problems taken care of and will be off and decarbonizing soon!