September 2nd, Labour Day, 9am. We are anchored in Drew Harbour on Quadra Island inside Blue Parrot’s small cabin having breakfast.

“PTCHOOOO” “Was that a blow?” In a heartbeat we’re out on deck. “PTCHOOOOOO” “It WAS a blow!” Terry makes a mad dash for the camera as Jude unties the bubble boat and jumps in. 3 Humpback whales glide in the deep water around the entrance to the harbour. Jude is rowing like a madwoman to get to the entrance but several motorboats and a few kayaks close in on the whales. Will the whales swim into the harbour?  Here comes the ferry! Oh no! Maybe too much comotion for the whales. They turn tail and head for open water. We row over to the long sandy spit separating Drew Harbour from Sutil Channel and scramble over to the Channel side.

The 3 humpbacks are traveling about 250m off the spit so Terry records some video of them before we head back to Blue P to weigh anchor. Messages ring in on our cell phone. “8 humpbacks off Rebecca Rocks”, “Humpbacks in Baker Passage” “Mom and calf in Calm Channel” ” 5 whales between Viner Pt and Marina Is.” It’s maddening. We don’t see any blows anywhere – Which way did they go?

Rocked by boat and ferry wake we steer Blue Parrot through a tideline of logs and other assorted flotsam and jetsam. Terry spots a floating log that astonishingly resembles a sea otter. “It IS a SEA OTTER! Here in Sutil Channel” Terry is ecstatic “Ouzer Ouzer” he croons as the koala-like face peers over at us. He – we see his furry balls as he grooms himself – rolls over and over preening, cleaning and aerating his luxurious fur. Mostly, he’s lying on his back, nonchalantly riding the crests and troughs of boat wake up and down. He doesn’t even bother to move when the ferry barrels past.

Eventually we say “Goodbye” to our adorable otter to look for more whales. But it’s not our lucky day for being around whales.  We just miss 2 more who are reported to be fishing in the very spot we left an hour ago. Oh well. Nice to know whales are around.

Hope that sea otter finds a mate!