Dameon has checked in from Bella Bella, one of the last few cell towers between there and Ketchikan. He reports that today a humpback whale 3x the length of Dilly surfaced only 20 feet from him, then swam beside him for the next hour, repeatedly coming back to look at Dameon and the boat. This encounter can only be a good omen for the rest of the journey.
Must have been a magical time with the whale alongside and continuing to appear. Truly rowing in the wild.