Namu has always been one of our favorite stops. Rene, Teresa and Peter welcome us with their wonderful hospitality. They are the caretakers at this historic abandoned cannery. Unfortunately, the future hangs in the balance. The owner has stopped supplying fuel both for the generators that supply power to the caretakers and at the fuel dock that supplies commercial and pleasure fish boats. Attempts at restoring Namu into a resort have failed and the future is unknown. It could be closed for good.
We tied up next to "Temple Rock" and its new owner. We were dock mates with the previous owner at Van Isle Marina. We had a great visit with our pals.
As the sun set we caught 3 nice rock cod within 10 minutes. Eagles soared over our heads and we could hear blows from whales out in Burke Channel. The sound came closer and closer to our little inflatable. Then it happened, just 50 yards from the boat a Humpback Whale surfaced. Our faces flushed with sheer joy as well as fear. The whale swam over to a small island behind us then surfaced and pointed right at us. It blew and dove as we stared at one another waiting to be consumed like "Jonah" or dumped into the frigid water. In a minute or so (seemed like hours) we saw the whale surface once again entering the main channel and concluded that it had swam under our boat. The depth of the water was about 45 feet. We returned to Seventh Heaven feeling just a little bit closer to this wonderful paradise!
Louie removed my rock cod from the hook.
In the morning we headed north to our destination of Shearwater.
At the mouth of Burke Channel we encountered Humpback Whales "tail slapping". Their giant bodies lunging out of the water and then slapping the water with their flukes.
It is not quite known why they do this. Researchers have speculated that it is used by the males to either attract females or it is an aggressive posture to ward off other males.
This Humpback is taking a deep dive.
Their flukes appear when they dive deep below the surface of the water.
Before they dive they take several big breaths creating "blows".
No comments:
Post a Comment