I slept for a couple hours got up at 5.30 to get the first flight to the northern part of Vancouver Island, Port Hardy.
The fog up north made it difficult to land, and it wasn't until 30 minutes before expected arrival, that we actually got permission to land.
Wildlife viewing began the second the tiny plane hit the ground...Two bald eagles were sitting next to the the runway, almost like a welcome back greeting. I didn't care that the weather was overcast, foggy, and cold..
The smile on my face and the tears in my eyes would have said it all to any stranger.
Angela did a surprise pick-up at the airport, so great to see her again.
Feels like it was only yesterday I was here, and not much has changed in this great little town of Port McNeill..
Once we came back to Port McNeill, we were in a hurry to get things ready for the tour of the day. I threw my bags in Angelas house, changed into some warmer clothes, we made lunchbags and packed all the stuff for the tour, and jumped out the door within 20 minutes.
Back in the routine of being a deckhand and assistant for the whale watching tours with Ocean Rose Coastal Adventures! Being slightly (read: very) affected by jetlag, we packed a couple of RedBull so I would survive the day without falling a sleep, we hit the water, searching for whales and other wildlife.
And that first day on the water was pretty awesome! We saw every single species of wildlife (almost), humpback whales, minke whales, orca, eagles, bears, seals, sealions, porpoise, dolphins! I am home!
We came back around 5 in the afternoon, packed the boat down, and then we had a welcome back party/box fire in the backyard/ keeping Jannie awake plan that included a lot of gin&tonic and some canoeing in banana canoes on the grass in the backyard (don't ask...)
I found that the best cure for jetlag is getting drunk so it's possible to sleep through the first night...
Works every time!
Here are some pictures from the first day on the water.
Enjoy!
Seagulls attacking a bateball (small fish in a ball under water - the divingbirds, murres, aucklets etc are attacking from underneath)
Black bear on the beach - he spotted us...
Bald eagle
Two humpback whales
Harbour seals, hanging out.
Blowhole on a humpback
Common Murres, waiting for food
Humpback whale
A humpback whale surfacing, eating small fish from a bateball
Stellar Sealions fighting and roaring to get the best spot on the dry cliff
Orca surfacing close to the boat.
Orca playing.
1 comment:
Hvor ser det fantastisk ud. Håber du hygger og er kommet af med dit jet-lag. Her går det også fint og skal ud og shoppe med mor i morgen:o) Stort knus fra Iben.
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