Fun for Mother's Day on May 11th

...with Mother's Day being May 11th...

...Grandma, Shachi J-19 with the youngest member of the J19 family. 

...taken from the shore at Lime Kiln, this eagle was down on the rocks below the lighthouse - amazing!

Yes, mom was up in a tree, somewhere!

No Ordinary Day - 2004-My Journey Began

Going through old files today I came across this... 

"Inside to begin the work day...when in he walked with "there are some crazy orcas out there."  They couldn't be heard...until out the door...a big pwoofff resounded in my ears.

Off at a run to the ocean's edge to experience their mighty majesty.  No mind do they pay to the wind and the rain and the ocean's swells, a breach here and another there. We stood in silence, me and one other, soaking in the awe of it all.  Away they went to meet the Js and do what whales do best.

People came and asked throughout the day, "When do the whales come?" We're not sure, we say, but we think....so wait we do.  Some gave up and went on their way, but what do you know the whales still came.  The ocean was rough, a nasty flood tide, with water spraying off the rocky shore.

The L12s in part came our way and pushed on through.  The patient ones, as short or long as the wait was, had a touch of wonder enter their souls.

A good meal was eaten, my soul already filled, and the most beautiful sunset of all."

No, it was no ordinary day.

July 6, 2004

Jeanne Hyde the beginning of a 'journey' that has gone on for 20 years.

4-24-23 An Unexpected Encounter With J Pod

It began with Transient orcas coming down San Juan Channel and while still watching the Ts...word came of J Pod heading south...just around the 'corner' from where the Ts were at the south end of the island.        J Pod was far offshore and heading away from SJI.

I was asked, if J Pod decided to go back north, how long would it take them because The Whale Museum's Marine Naturalist Class was going to be at the Lighthouse in the afternoon and she hoped to see them.

But the whales were not going in that direction...that is...until they did!  

The whales made it 'just on time!' to the lighthouse and the class was still there and had a great encounter from shore with J Pod and well as many other people! (I wish I remembered her name because she must have been asking J Pod all day to show up at Lime Kiln for the MNTP class.) WOW! 

Here are some images of the whales as they approached and at the end there is an audio clip - yes, they were very 'chatty' today...

Thank You J Pod.