VIP onboard...

Yes, today would normally be my day off, but the boss asked me to work for the next few Mondays (and by that, I assume he means until we are done for the season).

Joan asked about riding along today, since she doesn't have to work.  I was delighted... but told her that I expected conditions to be moderately crappy when I got up this morning and the wind was gusting.  She was OK with that.

The conditions were expected to lay down with the changing tide this afternoon.  That didn't happen... in fact, it got uglier.  And the two boats who were with the whales were calling it 4 to 5 foot confused waves in Haro Strait... and, they lost contact with the whales... but, the last they saw them, they were moving away from us.

Well, isn't that just super.

San Juan Channel was white capped, with 2 to 2 1/2 foot, closely spaced wind waves on our way south.  Surprisingly, Cattle Pass was only about 1 foot.  Our other Friday Harbor boat captain and I discussed options: waves reported to be 4+ feet and building, can't find the whales again... it would have been another hour slog in that mess... we both decided to get some protection behind another small island and see if conditions improved.  They didn't.  New plan: head back through the pass and see if we can find some transients.

All the while, at the flybridge helm on the boat I was driving, it was like riding a mechanical bull.  Joan took the helm while I went down to check on guests - they were all handling it OK.  I felt bad that this was the one time so far this season that Joan got out on a boat, and the conditions were crappy and the whales were hiding.  She said she was happy just to be out and that we could have the time together.  Sweet.

Joan took this...

By this point, we were in protected water.  I took this one of Joan...

The helm on this boat doesn't have much in the way of "guest" accommodations.  She was fine with it (that's what she said).

We did see some eagles, a couple Stellar Sea Lions, seals, lots of other waterfowl... but no whales.  Joan took this photo, 'cause she likes the sparkly water...

All along the way, I was looking for transients, stopped to check a couple bait balls with the hope of finding a Minke... but, it was not to be.  Our guests handled it all quite well.  No doubt they could tell we were working hard for them.  And not a one of them got sick.  That is a big plus.

Joan was able to head out as soon as we got back to the dock.  The first mate and I had a lot of clean up to do - we took a lot of spray over the top of the flybridge, and every window on the boat was drenched with salt spray.

I have had this boat in worse conditions, but this was plenty enough.  I let the guests know that "We are throwing in the white water ride at no additional charge."  Nice that they had a sense of humor.

Home now, and I can feel it in my shoulders... "Yee-haa! Ride 'em!"  Looking forward to a couple days off.