Aug 11, 2014
As I woke around 5, dawn just lit the sky. Half an hour later, with coffee aromas drifting up the stairs, I looked out our aft window and was delighted to see the near full moon setting. Quickly, I grabbed two cameras and stood quietly on the Albatross Deck in my dressing gown… hoping no-one would see me… As luck had it, I was alone and able to get a few photos of the bright white moon in pale pink sky beside the green-grey, slate island outcrops at the edge of Denis Bay. The vistas of the Kimberley are simply stunning, there is no other description.
Sepia-toned islands and tidal flows captured our early morning attention.
As per usual, we raised the anchor at 6am. The foredeck crew confirmed the anchoring substrate as wonderful sticky, hold-you-in-your-place Kimberley mud. As we left Denis Bay and wound our way southward through the islands, down Roger Strait into Brecknock Harbour where the Kuri Bay Pearl farm is located, all crew were snapping away with all manner of cameras. We thoroughly enjoyed the swirling whirlpools and heavily vegetated islands. Blues, greens and aqua were the colour palette looking away from the sun to the southwest, whilst viewing eastward the islands were shrouded in misty greys under the early morning sun.
As we burst out into Camden Sound from the north, we were soon in the mix again with whales. In the green water, soon pods of ones and twos popped up all around. As they lay at the surface we had a wonderful time working out who was who, and who had already been with whom. It is a veritable mix-up! The breeding and calving ground is a fluid and dynamic place where friendships are won and lost, in a flash or a few hours! Hold on tight for the ride! (No, I thought that was my life!)
Incoming whales! Where will they show up next? They had us on the trot to the bow and then the stern!
With a calm sea state we enjoyed the afternoon with whales – as you do! Curt and I have been very privileged to spend half our lives with whales and our entire professional working lives with whales. The trust that they show each other and have shown to ourselves, in our various craft, has been awe-inspiring and a wonderful adventure.
With huge grins on our faces, we downloaded fistfuls of camera memory cards and made our way slowly into Samson Inlet. This is a beautiful natural waterway on the mainland of Australia, bordering Camden Sound on the eastern side. With sunset, birds began their calls and in the morning we shall hear much, much more.
With sore cheeks from laughing with cheeky whales!
Mich
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