Fox Creek, Shaw Island & the Inian Islands
The guests of the National Geographic Sea Lion stirred this morning to find themselves at a very peaceful anchorage in Cross Sound. Looking across the water to Shaw Island, one could see the colorful kayaks awaiting the embarkation for their circumnavigation of the island. We paddled away from shore along with the outgoing tide, battled our way through the Bull Kelp forest and out into the open water. As our watercrafts glided smoothly across the water, we were able to tune in to the sounds around us: the high-pitched cry of the bald eagles, the short exhalation of the harbor seals coming up to look at us and the occasional humpback whale spout off in the distance. There were a number of juvenile bald eagles perched in the trees and some of them flew by overhead as we passed. As we rounded the island, we got a closer look at a group of seals hanging out in a mass of kelp, maybe trying to catch the occasional ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds.
The afternoon was filled with sea lions and sea otters, as seen by Zodiac in the Inian Islands. The conditions were nearly perfect for watching these animals because the tide was shifting. As the tidal flows bring water past the rock islands on which the sea lions are perched, the water also brings fish. The sea lions were out and about, looking for food and playing in the sea’s currents.
In the bright white light of the low-hanging sun, the day comes to a close surrounded by a sea of humpback whales. A perfect dessert for another wonderful meal, we all hurried to the bow once again to gaze at these amazing giants peacefully passing in the early dusk. With Point Adolphus in the near distance, there are whale spouts in all directions in this busy humpback whale intersection. We drift amongst them, happy to be granted this glimpse into their mysterious lives and the opportunity to share a nice exhalation and a deep breath in before diving into bed.
