July 4, Thursday
- ROUTE: Portage Bay, Frederick Sound, Stephens Passage, Cleveland Passage, Port Houghton, Hobart Bay, Stephens Passage, Gambier Bay, Snug Cove
- ANCHORED GPS LOCATION: 57o25.312′ N – 133o58.146’ W
- ANCHORED IN: 35.5 feet
The day unfolded like a canvas painted by a master artist with the sun providing the perfect lighting for a little reflection photography. The calm seas and majestic mountains made it feel as though we were in an enchanted fairyland. But of course, I wanted more…where were all the whales that I heard so much about?
Little did we know that nature had something extraordinary in store for us. As we sailed across the 20-mile stretch from Port Houghton to Gambier Bay, the humpback whales emerged, their massive bodies breaching the surface with grace. One after another, they danced—their tails slapping the water, their spouts creating ethereal mist. We counted at least forty of these gentle giants, their presence both humbling and awe-inspiring.
Yet, amidst this spectacle, I grappled with my camera. The sun, relentless in its brilliance, challenged my focus. Each click felt like a battle—a struggle to capture the whales’ essence, frozen in time. But the lens betrayed me; the pictures remained elusive, slipping through my grasp like water.
I abandoned the struggle and embraced the present., I lowered the camera, allowing my eyes to feast upon the grandeur. Binoculars in hand, I followed their movements—their rhythmic dives, their playful breaches. The world narrowed to that intimate view, where the whales became constellations against the vast expanse.
“Beauty lies not in the captured image, but in the unfiltered gaze of wonder.” —Unknown
But, since we do have some land pictures I hope you enjoy them.