PNW Road Trip Day 14: Westsound, Deer Harbor and an Orcas Whale Expedition

Day fourteen brings us to our last full day on Orcas Island...boo-hoo. Tomorrow we head out early to catch a ferry back to the mainland and then a long drive back to Portland for our last night before heading home the following day. Okay, getting ahead of myself a little. We still had today to enjoy! Since our whale watching excursion wasn't until the afternoon, we got up and headed to the only part of the island that we had not really explored yet...West Sound and Deer Harbor. We first came across a sleepy little town on West Sound with this cool wooden pier. I don't recall seeing a single soul while we were walking around here.

Nice calm waters with cloud reflections.

A beautiful pink rose.

We continued along this road along the west side of the island over to Deer Harbor where we found a little big larger town and some people milling around. This beautiful Wisteria was at the entrance to the Deer Harbor Dock.

This was a funky little store on the Deer Harbor dock.

A beautiful patch of daisies that we came across near Deer Harbor...had to stop and take photos. Imagine that!

Up close.

There was some really beautiful rural scenery on this side of Orcas Island. This lovely blue shed sitting out in a field of green and gold was just calling out for a photo to be taken. Someone on Flickr told me that was a Wedding Bush in the foreground. Pretty!

Windmill in a field of gold.

We saw this barn and wanted to stop and take a few photos of it, when all of a sudden we had a visitor. I like to call her Mrs. Ed (I know, I am really dating myself here). She was a beautiful horse. What a picture perfect rural scene.

I think she was hoping for an apple. Sorry I didn't have any.

Oh, here comes her mule friend...

This was a beautiful red wood and stone house between Deer Harbor and West Sound. It reminded me so much of the French countryside. There was woman outside doing some gardening and there were a couple of goats following her around. A very peaceful scene.

After stopping, once again, at the Orca Hotel for a salmon sandwich and a beer, it was time to go see if we could spot some Orcas this time. The photo below was taken while I was wandering around outside waiting for the guys from Outer Island Expeditions to get us going.

We took the big boat this time and Beau (Outer Island Expeditions) even went with us. I think he was as excited as we were that the Orcas were back in the San Juan's.

The moment we spotted "our" first Orca was a feeling like none other. Complete wonder, excitement and awe. From that moment on, the click, click, click, click, click of our two cameras was non-stop. What a thrill to see wild Orcas in such a beautiful place. Anyway, here are a few photos from our Orcas boat trip.

According to the long straight fin, this is a male Orca (below).

A mom (smaller curved fin) and her calf (tiny fin)....awwwwwwww!

A couple of female Orcas below.

A female and a male Orca.

Sailing the San Juan's...yeah..I could do that!

Three in a row...a male and two females.

This looks like a male Orca and a calf or a female below the surface.

Female Orca spouting.

Two females.

This could be a mom and her calf.

Male.

As we came near this cape where the lighthouse was, the Orcas starting getting excited. They became more active and came out of the water more...almost as if putting on a show for the people on the shore.

In this one, you can just barely see one of the Orcas rounding the bend of the cape (far right).

Female Orca getting more lively.

And then...there is was...a breach...but, of course, I missed it with the camera and just got the big splash at the end. Darn! There were actually three breaches within a few minutes and I missed EVERY SINGLE ONE of them. *sigh*

Luckily, my friend caught one of them...YAY!!! 

Photo credit: Mark Stevens

Well, after a few hours with the Orcas, it was time to start heading back to Eastsound. I think I could have stayed and watched them forever. Ah well, time to start back. We stopped at this island, which was a wildlife refuge, to see the seals on the way home...and caught one Harbor Seal (below) in a funny (cute) pose. I also love the American Oystercatchers on the rocks above the seals.

After we arrived back at Eastsound and started making our way back up to the Outer Island Expedition office, an Osprey flew directly over us allowing me to take some pretty cool photos of him/her.

Finally, after arriving back on Orca's Island, we headed back to the hotel to clean up for dinner. It had been a very long and satisfying last day on Orca's...now we were hungry...but it was late.  We called a few places to see what times they closed and decided on the Inn at Ship's Bay. We better hurry. After a delicious dinner, it was still light outside so we decided to walk around the grounds a the bit. 

View onto Eastsound at the Inn at Ship's Bay.

A gorgeous red cottage and lilly pond with Adirondock chairs sitting out front. So lovely!

Well, that was it for our last day on Orca's. We headed back to the hotel to pack up and get to bed since we had a very early wake-up the next day. It was such a pleasure to spend four great days on this wonderful island. I think I could live here..and who knows...maybe someday I will. Goodnight.