Early Sunday rise – pumped, excited – vacation highlight: downtown to Lake Union for an 8am seaplane departure to San Juan Island on the US-Canadian border.  Prop plane loaded, looped Seattle’s city lake, speed increase & UP…on our way.  45 short minutes later, circled once, water landed in Friday Harbor WA. Awesome ride, super convenient.

Weather plays a HUGE role in life in the Northwest.  Cool temps, dense fog, steady mist, drizzle.  Our day?  Sunshine, all day long.  Couldn’t ask for better weather 🙂

Pier walk, short jot into town, breakfast at Cask & Schooner, tour check-in.

Boarded MV Sea Lion; charter advertised “over 90% whale sightings”. Sign me up!  First Orca adventure – killer whales, wolves of the sea.  These massive mammals hunt in packs, often toying with their prey before flesh tearing into dinner.  Intelligent, majestic, SeaWorld giants – but don’t be fooled, these giants are meat-eaters.  Social creatures migrating up-n-down the Pacific Coast – Washington, BC & Alaska (summers), Baja California (winter).

WHALE!  Not one whale, but an entire pod.  SPECTACULAR!

Trademark black-n-white markings – just out there in the wild – no words.

Our boat briefly crossed into Canada, following multiple family pods hugging the northern shoreline in search of seal.  Stunning landscape, tree line, glacier-fed bays, ocean channels, snow-capped Mount Baker.  Incredible scenic wonder.

Whatta day, whatta adventure.  ‘Catch the Whale Plane’ – highly recommended.

Free Msg! Welcome to Canada.  Dial +1 & 10-digit# to call US.  Global Data: $2.05/MB.  Turn data services off in device settings or use Wi-Fi to avoid charges.  Sent from my iPhone

Orca Adventure (clip 1)

Orca Adventure (clip 2)