Monday started out like every day of the trip - early. After our 7:45 radio check-in, we put on our hiking shoes and loaded the dingy for a trip over to a small hike. The hike led to the top of Hill Inlet lookout and gave us one of the most breath-taking views we have every seen. Pictures do nothing to demonstrate the beauty of the inlet.
Lovely shot of Jon driving the dingy...
We tried to beat this group up, but got stuck behind them listening to their guide
Clarice does her "stand by the sign" thing
Hill Inlet - Whitehaven Beach is to the left
We went back and picked up the boat, then motored back around the point to park across from Betty's Beach, a shifting-sand area across the inlet from Whitehaven. Composed of the same fine, white sand, Betty's is another great place to enjoy the sun. There were a couple of day groups there, but the place is so big that you can find plenty of space to feel "alone in paradise".
Even with people, there's plenty of room!
Clarice on Betty's Beach (no idea who Betty was)
Cool sand patterns made by the wind and waves
Tracking the elusive "Seagull"
One of our favorite self-portraits
It was hard to leave, but we needed to make tracks if we wanted to get to that night's planned anchorage. We left Whitehaven and Betty's heading north planning on turning East around the top of Hook Island where the inlets were said to have some of the best snorkeling of the entire island chain.
Clarice driving the boat
After we rounded the point, light was slowly fading so we motored in the direction of Butterfly Bay, a nice safe anchorage from the forecast light S-SW winds. At first there were no moorings so we were trying to anchor just outside the marked protected reef area when I glimpsed movement out of the corner of my eye. Whales! Two whales, probably Southern Right Whales or Humpback Whales (the 2 most common in the region) were heading back the way we had just come. I popped on my telephoto lens and was able to get some pics. Not too bad considering the zoom, the rocking of the boat, the moving camera and the moving whales!
Thar' she (or he) blows!
They went right in front of this lucky boat. Law requires 300 meters separation, but if they come up to you all you can do is shut down the motor and wait until the go on their merry way. (500 meters if there is a calf present)
By the time the whales were out of sight, a boat had left one of the moorings in Butterfly Bay so we grabbed it quick. Much easier than anchoring! To protect the delicate reef systems, the Wildlife Service has placed permanent mooring bouys in several of the more popular places. Everywhere else you have to anchor outside a line of white bouys marking a "no parking" zone.
We did a quick snorkel in Butterfly Bay as the sun was setting. Not the best light, but there were some colorful fish. After a bit, Clarice got my attention and said, "I'm going back. I haven't seen one fish." I thought, "They're everywhere! How can you miss them?!?!" Turned out she go the bum mask and it was fogging really badly. We brought all 3 masks from then on so we never got stuck with the fogger.
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