Orca From 2003 Johnstone Strait Trip.
One of the reasons for doing a trip like this is to experience the rich variety of wildlife that a place like Vancouver offers. From marine mammals like whales, sea lions and seals to less glamorous species like starfish and slugs, I was not disappointed by the range of wildlife on my trip – maybe a little disappointed: my bear/kayak jinx holds.
Not as Glamorous as Whales, But They Pose for Pictures
My trip through Johnstone Strait, and past the Robison Bight preserve area, yielded no whale sightings. This area has multiple pods of resident orcas that congregate for plentiful salmon, but they didn’t show for me. This was a surprise. I had seen many orcas on previous trips. I passed through the area so quickly that I guess I didn’t give them time to send the welcome wagon. My luck would change. I saw two humpbacks and too many grey whales to count on my entire trip down the west coast. I even saw a pair of transient orcas near Quisitis Point.
Harbor and fur seals were frequent sightings throughout the trip, and some of the exposed points and rocks on the Pacific were crawling with sea lions and seals. There were even some elephant seals on Perez Rock. I remember trying to get a picture when three very aggressive sea lions rose out of the water near my kayak. I decided that as the uninvited guest, it would be best for me to leave.
There was so much more to see. Sea otter were common sightings in the kelp beds. Blacktail deer shared their campsites with me. Puffin, guillemots and loons, Oh my! But, there were no bears. For some reason bears and I never cross paths when I’m kayaking. A few years ago, I paddled around Shuyak Island. That’s the northernmost island in the Kodiak Archipelago, and I never saw a bear. Though there are no grizzlies on Vancouver, I did hope to see some black bears. I even saw fresh bear sign on Jepther Point. I camped on the other end of the beach, and though I didn’t want a close encounter, I still hoped for a glimpse, but it was not to be. The Beach at Jepther is also a whale rub spot, but not when I was there. It was the same with wolves. I saw wolf prints but no wolf. Still, I’m not complaining. It is after all an excuse to go back. Maybe next time?
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