Thar She Blows!!!!

Boy and I went on a whale watching expedition on Monday, January 16. Our homeschool group got together for this very fun trip. We left out of Ventura Harbor toward Anacapa (photo here) and Santa Cruz, two of the Channel Islands. (Anyone remember the book "Island of the Blue Dolphins"?) It was quite choppy at first and it took a few minutes for Boy and I to get our sea-legs. Boy looked pretty terrified, hanging onto the rail toward the stern (rear) of the boat. I kept asking him if he was okay, (he said that he was!) and the little trooper rode it out until he stopped being dizzy and was able to enjoy the ride. Here he is with his friend, L.


The first creatures we encountered were a pod of Orcas (Killer Whales). These beautiful creatures are so playful and amazing. One was right next to the boat, turned belly up and swam under the boat. Peotry in motion! As we moved off to find other creatures, we realized that several seals were following the pod of Orcas. Now, Orcas like to eat seals, so either they had a death wish or realized that the Orcas were not hungry and better to keep an eye on the enemy than become lunch before one's time!

We were treated to the rare and wonderful sight of a female Pacific Gray whale with a newborn calf! Rare, because these whales are migrating to the warm waters off of Baja California from Alaska to give birth in the saline lagoons and feed. It takes them several months to undertake the journey. Our Captain told us that the mother was very nervous as she was alone and with her baby. Plus, the Orcas were relatively close by and they are a natural predator of juvenile whales. I could not get a good picture because the Grays were so elusive, but it was absolutely breathtaking. We followed them for a bit and then moved off to return to shore.

As we were returning with the sun low in the sky and the b.r.e.e.z.e. (okay, it felt much colder to me than it probably was) blowing in our hair, we encountered a HUGE school of common dolphin. They were playing around the boat and there was a TON of them! They were clicking and calling, surfing our wake and it was magical. This is the only photo I was able to get--The End.

~~Mama