Before we left for our trip we often were asked what we were looking forward to doing the most, and I have to admit, going on a whale watching tour was definitely one of those items.
And on day 54, we were able to do just that. It all started just 25 miles north of Seattle in the city of Edmonds.
This is where we were able to board the ship for a half-day cruise. And I have to say, that the boat itself was simply gorgeous.
The heated, first floor cabin held enough seats for over 100 people. In the back of the cabin there was a galley where you could purchase hot beverages, snacks and sandwiches.
And in the front of the cabin were 3 large screen televisions that you could follow the route of the trip. Plus, the screen also showed you the depth of the water below.
There were several outside decks that were layered and designed for optimal whale watching tours.
As we headed out through the port, there was a harbor seal near the side of the boat that seemed to be there just to send us off.
It was then that I knew that this whale watching tour was going to be simply amazing.
Whale Watching Tour Route
As we headed north along the waters of Puget Sound, we had no idea what to expect.
The Captain informed us that depending on the day and the season, whales can be spotted at any time.
We had our eyes peeled out the windows for any signs of marine life. They even provided us binoculars to watch for sprays from blow holes, dorsal fins, and whale tails in the distance.
About an hour into the trip, we stopped at a location that was known for whale watching.
Everyone gathered along the decks with binoculars and watched for any signs that whales were present. The crew was perched on the top deck and had their trained eyes searching as well.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t a whale in sight.
So after about 30 minutes, we headed back to the cabin and continued our journey north towards Victoria, Canada.
Within the next 30 minutes we crossed into International Waters where there were current reports from other ships that there were whales ahead.
Orca (Killer) Whales
As soon as the ship slowed down, everyone quickly gathered outside in anticipation of what we might see.
Off in the distance, past another whale watching boat, we saw our first glimpse of a whale.
The dorsal fin of a large Orca whale appeared above the water. The fin itself was greater than 5 feet tall. As it dove back under the water, we kept our eyes focused in the same area, knowing that it would probably reappear at any minute.
Then in the distance, we saw the spray of water shoot upward from the blow hole of another Orca whale.
We scanned the area and within just a few minutes, we were watching 5 different Orcas splashing in and out of the water. Each killer whale have unique markings around their dorsal fin and can be identified by name from the trained staff.
The captain informed us that we were watching Mike, an Orca whale that was born in 1991.
We were both in awe at the beauty and the graceful movement of the whales as they moved above the water.
Humpback Whale Sightings
And within minutes, off in the distance, on the other side of the boat we saw two humpback whales. Although they have a small dorsal fin, the sheer size of them were breathtaking.
Spanning nearly 60 feet in length, we saw a mother humpback whale swimming with her smaller calf.
But the most majestic view of the trip was seeing the tails of the whales appear out of the water and splash down on the surface of the water.
Here is where you can identify the name of each humpback whale, as they are named by the markings on the underside of their tails.
We were so lucky to view over a dozen humpback whales and 9 different Orcas while we were on our whale watching tour.
Honestly, we could have watched them all day long. They were so beautiful and to see them in their natural environment is a view that we will always cherish.
Happy Traveling! Jim and Mary
CURRENT TRIP STATS
- Day 54 of 365
- States Visited 9 / 50
- National Parks / Monuments Visited : 10
- Stayed In : Issaquah, Washington
- Miles Driven : 68.9
- Total Trip Miles To Date : 6972.7
- Total Gallons Used : 520.35
- Biking Miles : 0
- Biking Miles To Date : 128.4
- Hiking Miles : 0
- Hiking Miles To Date : 132.2
About Our Living Simple Tour
On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States
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When you get to Maine next May you guys should do a whale watching trip off the coast of Bar Harbor to compare what it’s like to be on the different oceans. I really am enjoying reading about your adventures.
Safe travels,
Anne
Now that sounds like a plan! We will definitely put that on our to-do list as well!