Although gales were still raging to the east when we left Sand Point at 04:30 on August 31, 2014 we encountered only moderate wind in our area. We picked our way out of the boat basin in the fog and pitch dark and hoisted sail once clear of the entrance. Celeste sailed along happily on a beam reach. The brisk north wind coming over the Peninsula from the Bering Sea was cold and raw but not more than about 20-25 knots, great conditions to fly along at about 8-9 knots.
The fog lifted throughout the day and the wind gradually lessened. We followed the navigation markers through this stretch religiously: there is a big reef of rocks that extends a long way out to sea and the passage close to the mainland is the only way through (unless one were to go way out and around). Even the fishing boats with their great store of local knowledge follow the channel carefully.
We had lots more seabirds to watch along the way. I liked the puffins best, especially when they ran along the water with their bright orange feet to take flight.
By the afternoon, we were in among more barren islands, some with rock pinnacles standing out from their headlands, broken off by ceaseless wind and waves. The bird life here increased even more since the auks and other birds have nests in the cliffs. We kept trying to spot Pavlof Volcano, the 8000ft peak that had erupted back in June, but its top was shrouded in cloud.
The sun burst out as we entered Deer Passage, the last stretch before King Cove, and we were very excited to get a good view of the volcano after all!
And then, as if to crown a great day’s sail, we spotted a big pod of humpback whales, our first whales since the belugas in Cook Inlet! They were spouting a little ways off but coming steadily closer until one or two were just yards away from Celeste!
Not long after that part of the pod had moved on, a whale breached ahead of us, coming down with a thundering splash that reverberated off the cliffs. He kept it up, again and again and finally we got close enough to get a shot with the zoom lens! Very exciting!!
May 13, 2015 at 02:54
What a great experience, puffins and whales breaching! And what a scenery:)
Pingback: King Cove, Part 1: New Friends | Gone Floatabout
May 11, 2015 at 08:16
Lovely picture of puffins!
Oh, it’s so funny to observe them while landing… 😀
———-
http://travelingrockhopper.com
May 11, 2015 at 08:34
Thanks! They’re some of my favorite critters!
May 5, 2015 at 14:13
Absolutely beautiful photographs! It’s amazing what sites you can see. I’ve never seen whales that closely before, but it seems like it’d be quite the sight. Thanks for sharing!
May 5, 2015 at 03:13
It is so hard to get a whale breaching, great photo
May 5, 2015 at 09:32
Thanks! It is hard – you never know where (if!) they’re going to come up!
May 6, 2015 at 13:35
Yes, have a lot of photos of ocean.
May 4, 2015 at 21:15
What breathtaking scenery! Well done on the beautiful captures of whales and puffins – such a treat😊
May 4, 2015 at 21:19
Thanks! Capturing those fast little birds isn’t easy (as you know!!) so we were thrilled they came out! Thanks for reading!
May 4, 2015 at 21:24
Always looking forward to your posts😍
May 4, 2015 at 21:27
Aw! Thanks guys! We love yours too!!
May 4, 2015 at 15:57
Your photos are great. How about a little detail about the photography.
I am doing a lot of photography now and have been to Galapagos, NM, Iceland, Scotland, Acadia amongst others. You can’t imagine how many people specialize in bird photography. Anyway, be well.
Steve
May 4, 2015 at 19:08
Sounds like some fantastic places for photography and birds, both! Certainly can write a bit more about the photography. Good to hear from you and thanks for commenting!
May 4, 2015 at 19:10
Sounds like fantastic places for photography and birds, both! We can certainly write a bit about the photography. Good to hear from you and thanks for commenting!
May 4, 2015 at 14:31
this is so near unbelievable… many thanks!
Eagerly awating your book….. 😉
May 4, 2015 at 15:55
Thanks! It was an amazing sail for sure!