No grandkids, so...

Steph sent us another photo of Alfie...

Looks like he could be Izzy's brother, with all those stripes.  And, that expressive face.  The luxurious fur.  Izzy has big paws for her size, but look at the paws on this boy. 

Yeah, it happened...

Today, I have photos.  I left my pocket camera at home and brought the DSLR.

The whales were pretty close today, and plentiful.  The sun was shining.  It kinda felt like summer in the San Juans.

I was on our flagship boat today, Sea Lion.  The whales were just south of Lopez Island, about 30 minutes away.  Our first view...

Just off Iceberg Point...

J-Pod.  I sure hope they stay around.  As they approached Salmon Bank, they picked up speed (porpoising)...

One of the big males...

J-Pod was spread quite a ways from the leaders to the trailers, so we broke off for a bit, took the boat up to the Salmon Bank marker and got a good look at some Stellar Sea Lions on the buoy...

Then, picked up the next group of Js as they passed Cattle Pass (you can see the lighthouse in the background)...

Before heading for home, some nice views of a bald eagle on Long Island (no, not that Long Island)...

Nice day on the water; nice ending to my work week.  When that cute Blonde gets off work, I'll be taking her out for supper.  Real nice ending to our work week.

That feels good...

There is a plan: today is our "Friday," the last day of our work week.

Yesterday, I rode to work in a drizzle, it quit while I was on the boat, then rode home in a drizzle.  Joan was an hour behind me at work, and rode home in a drizzle.  She got home, and it quit.  More proof that Mother Nature has a sense of humor.

This being a Sunday after a holiday weekend, it is what I call a "departure day"... more people will be heading for home than are coming to the island.  It is pretty likely I won't have a trip today.  So, I have a list of chores to take care of.  And, if I do have a trip, it will mean me coming to work around noon.  I will be able to get the chores done before work, if it goes down that way.

So, the plan: I drove Joan to work today.  When she is done, I will pick her up and we'll go out for supper.  Nice way to finish the work week.

The car looked like it had a layer of frost on it this morning.  Not the case, just the way the drizzle and dew was catching the morning light.  It was 52º on the drive into town.  Joan said, "I haven't tried our heated seats, yet."  She clicked it on.  Heated seats... on July 10th.  I already had the heat and defrost turned on.  On July 10th.

The local news/weather folks this morning were talking about "last year at this time"... temps in Seattle were in the 90s.  It was the warmest, driest summer on record in this area.  This morning they were talking about "Where's summer?"  The high today in Friday Harbor is forecast to be 68º.  On July 10th.

This is shaping up to be a very cool season.  Weather-wise.

That's more like it...

Whales.  Lots of good viewing.  And, it was the residents (J-Pod)!

I got to the whales about 40 minutes out of Friday Harbor.  The forecast had been for wind around 10 mph between noon and 2:00, then dropping off; 0% chance of precip.  Leaving at 1:30, the wind continued to build through our trip.  It had been a bit lumpy coming through Cattle Pass and across Salmon Bank.  By the time I was ready to head us back, a couple boats coming that same way were saying that conditions had deteriorated and the waves were 3 to 4 feet.

I decided to go north over the top of San Juan Island - we'll see new scenery and get a better ride.  It might take a bit longer... but, maybe not, depending on how much I would have had to slow down for the conditions.  Along the way, we got some views of bald eagles, seals, and cormorants.  It was more typical for "summer conditions"... well, for the whales, not the weather.  It was cold out in Haro Strait.

And, after putting the boat away, it started raining as I walked to my scoot.  Doesn't matter - I have rain gear... and, did I mention: whales.

Not sure if it is the camera crapping out or if the cold affected the rechargeable battery, but I got a "charge the battery" on the screen.  Yep, no photos today.  And, it was a good day of whale viewing: we saw a couple breaches, some spy hops, and a cartwheel, along with the more typical behavior.

At home, little Izzy was disappointed when I wouldn't take her outside.  I found myself trying to explain "rain" to a cat.  It was easier to go with the good ol' standby: "Because I said so."  ;-)

Bound to happen...

Yep.  Got skunked.  There was a report for whales WAY west.

I headed that direction, on the premise that they would move east.  They didn't.  As I was coming back in, another report: whales about an hour and a half from us... not gonna happen for us.  I felt bad for our guests, but they were all very nice about it.  One family, Mom, Dad, and 4 kids were here to see some whales.  Yeah, everyone that gets on our boats is here to see whales.

When it was pretty clear that our "chess game" wasn't going to get us on the whales, our naturalist Sarah pulled up a jellyfish (the non-stinging kind) and a big ol' hunk of bull kelp to show the kids.  The parents knew we were working hard for them, and were understanding - Dad said, "Well, that's nature.  Maybe we'll get out here again to see the whales."

It was a foggy start to the day, but it didn't rain; the weasels were calling for a 40% chance of precip.  We even saw an occasional "sun break."  Saw eagles.  Seals.  But, no whales.  (sigh)

Stephanie sent us another photo of young Alfie...

He is a handsome boy!

A new pitter-patter of little feet in the family...

No, Joan and I did not decide to have another baby.

And, no, we didn't add another kitty.  This little bundle of joy is the new addition to Steph and Dan's family.  Meet Alfie...

This is Tasha's nephew, another Siberian Forest Cat.  Just 14 weeks now, he is pretty tiny, but will likely be a big cat.

Apparently, Dan caved with his "4 critter limitation" on their household (including the two human critters).

From the photos, Alfie is a handsome boy.  It will be a while before we get to see him in person.  And, he won't be little by then.

Congrats to Steph and Dan, and to Alfie.  Not sure how his furry sisters (Torrie and Tasha) will take to this, but there is plenty of love to go around.

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On Edit:

I showed the photo of Alfie to Isabella.  I had put the awning out so she could sit outside, out of the on and off drizzle...

I said, "Here, Iz - check this out.  Steph and Dan got a new kitty.  His name is Alfie - isn't he cute?"

"I'm the cute one!!"  (She can have a bit of attitude occasionally.)

"Besides, can he keep you safe from the marauding deer?  No, I didn't think so.  Now, leave me alone - I'm on patrol."

I am pretty sure she thinks he is cute.

An early day of work...

Wednesday is generally a day off for us.  I was asked to work today and said, "Sure."  Joan said she'd be able to get more cleaning done around the coach without me... seems that this will work.

It was a chilly ride to Roche Harbor this morning.  I expected the party dock would have been moved by now.  Nope.  We had almost as many children as adults on today's cruise.  Nice folks.  The only reports I received were for humpbacks way south and Orcas way north.  I've described finding whales a bit like playing chess: you make a move, they make a move... you evaluate their move and make your next move.  If you have good info, it makes the decisions easier.  This wasn't what I would call a solid report, since no one was actually with the whales... no idea how many.

One of our Friday Harbor boats was heading to the same area, on a different route, and ahead of us.  They got to the whales and gave us some solid info.  It was a long ways to get there, and so worth it... 3 transient Orcas, nicely surface active, and moving right along.  Our first view...

Not long after we got there, our other boat had to head out.  Like "tag team."  We did have to dodge a couple BC Ferries during our viewing...

As usual, busy at the helm; but trying to get a shot when I could...

By the time we were ready to leave, a couple other boats had come on the scene.  Tag.

The waves and current were with me on the way north... yeah, they means they will be a hindrance on the way back.  No issue, it was a lovely sunny day, cool, and happy guests.  It wasn't much out of the way to get the guests the opportunity to see a couple eagles and a bunch of harbor seals sunning out on the rocks...

Interesting cloud formation...

Pretty views...

I thought the Roche Harbor dock staff would move the party dock while we were gone.  Nope.  One more opportunity to turn, rotate, back, rotate, and ease it in.  One guest shook my hand and gave me a nice gratuity: "This is for that docking maneuver - that was impressive."

As the last of our guests got off the boat, a guy from the dock staff came up to our boat: "Are you going out for a second trip today?"

"Did you want to move the party dock?" I asked.

"Well, yeah.  I was going to get it done while you were gone, but there were too many boats at the fuel dock."  (right across from us)

"Welcome to my world.  How about we take this to the far end of the fuel dock?  It will take us a while to top off our tanks - does that give you time to move that dock?"

He said, "That would be great!"

Not just for him.  We moved to the furthest spot on the fuel dock; topped off tanks and pumped out our holding tank.  And smiled as the party dock moved out of our way.

Back to our normal tie off...

Nice to be where we can just slide in.  Oh, the dinghies will still be encroaching on our slip through the rest of the summer, but it shouldn't be as crazy as this past weekend.  For the record, there are signs on the dock that say, "Authorized Docking Only."  That means: anyone but us doesn't belong there.  Funny how some people think that doesn't apply to them.

Dodging some road construction on the way home, Joan had the grill set up, steaks marinating, baked potatoes and corn ready.  First steaks I've grilled since we got here.  Eating like grown-ups.  :-)

She was a busy lady today.