A storm with very strong winds was expected to reach Haida Gwaii, so we decided to change course. We sailed east across Hecate Strait and found refuge around Princess Royal Island. In true expedition style, we had a wonderful opportunity to explore this area in more depth. We stopped at Butedale, was long-time small village supporting a cannery. Along the way, we saw multiple humpback whales exhibiting behaviors such as tail slapping. Elsie, our cultural interpreter, gave us a great singing performance and continued to enlighten us about the Haida way of life. She told interesting stories that have been passed down for generations. We had a chance to kayak, cruise by expedition landing craft, and take photo tours in Goat Cove, a secluded area with beautiful waterfalls, ochre sea stars, marine mammals, and old-growth forest. In the evening, the photo team held a photo critique and feedback session for guests.
4/30/2024
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Morris Reef, Lake Eva, and Cruising
Truth be told, the last day aboard any National Geographic/Lindblad ship feels incredible and is always special, but personally, I don’t think I have ever had a more magical last day aboard National Geographic Sea Lion . The early morning started off spectacularly, as a dozen killer whales were spotted cruising near our ship. A handful of juveniles would surface with their rostrums rising above the surface of the water. Seeing this many killer whales once would have been amazing on its own, but we managed to also see killer whales on the first day of the trip, creating a perfect bookend finish. After recap, our captain started sailing us to our anchorage for the night when at least a dozen blows were seen at a distance. Most assumed it was humpback whales, but as we neared, we realized we still hadn’t seen a dorsal fin, and the spouts seemed a little stouter than usual for humpbacks. It wasn’t until a whale surfaced close enough to the ship that we realized the white splotches and knuckles were that of a gray whale! We did not expect to see them in this cove, and it just added to the awe and wonder of our amazing expedition.