San Juan Islands Sea Kayaking from Anacortes

A few days ago Andaria was out on a 3-day trip to Sucia Island with some very strong paddlers as guests. The weather conditions were perfect and the currents were mild, so the group decided to head all the way out to Patos Island (right on the border with Canada) to spend the night. Patos Island is one of those magical places that are hard to describe without reducing the place. When you are camping out there it feels like you are out on the edge of the world, looking out over the Canadian Gulf Islands to the west, and the San Juan Islands to the south.

While crossing between Sucia and Patos she caught sight of a few whale watch boats drifting near her destination, and she knew that a whale of some sort must be in the area. When they saw a large dark object rocketing out of the water they knew that it was Orca whales. Only one animal out here makes its presence known like that. A few breaches and tail-slaps later the kayakers were drifting in a raft about 200 yards from the 4-5 animals and had great views of them traveling east towards Sucia Island. It wasn't until later, when she called us, that she learned that this was no ordinary sighting of the Southern Resident Killer Whales (fish-eaters), but rather a rare opportunity to see a pod of Transient Orcas (mammal eaters). Upon hearing that information she was glad that she and her guests were sitting a safe distance away. There's something about being in the presence of mammal eaters that gives pause to us mammals, eh?
The next morning they were out for a pre-breakfast paddle when suddenly there were Orcas swimming around the corner of the island. Again the same group of Transient Orcas were prowling the seal rich waters around Patos Island. The kayakers sat quietly as the group swam by and disappeared around the next bend in the shoreline. What a way to start the day!