 No
Boat Zone
If you are whale watching from a private boat you'll want to be aware of the voluntary
no-boat zone on the west side of San Juan Island from Mitchell bay to the north
down to false bay near the south end of San Juan Island. While this
is considered a no-motor boat zone, you may want to also avoid it altogether
even if you have a kayak or rowboat just to give the whales some peace and
quiet. After all, the orca could decide it's too busy and dangerous to
raise their young here anymore and go elsewhere and there's nothing
stopping them. The no-boat zone includes the coastline offshore from Lime
Kiln state park which is so popular with whales that's also known as whale watching park. If
you want to watch whales without bothering them you should consider doing it
ashore by visiting Lime Kiln state park.
|
 What
Is A Lime Kiln?
Lime Kilns were used to breakdown limestone and make quicklime
which has many uses including, making mortar for bricks when
building brick walls and buildings, flux in iron and steel making,
and farmers sprinkle it on their fields to break up clay soils for
better drainage. Limestone or chalk, has been mined for
hundreds of years around the world and at one time, the lime kilns
on San Juan island were the largest and busiest west of the
Mississippi.
Workers would fire up the kiln flames below and place the limestone
in the upper oven to heat up and decompose into pure
lime. Many of the brick buildings still standing
in Seattle today were made using mortar and lime processed in
the lime kilns in Roche Harbor and what is now Lime Kiln State Park. |
|
Orcas
& Killer Whales
While it would be exciting to see
the Orcas close up, you are required to keep a distance of at least 100
yards, and it's a good idea to stay away even further. If you truly care
for these beautiful animals you should give them a break and leave them alone as much as
possible. Sometimes when you stop your boat away from a pod of orcas
to drift
they will get curious and swim over to check you out as if to thank
you. If you're fortunate enough to have one visit your boat you
shouldn't attempt to pet them. Instead, just keep taking pictures
until your camera runs out of film or memory card is full. This is a
special moment you'll want to remember. 
