Some of my family came to visit me for my birthday and I wanted to do something they wouldn't be able to do where they live (Las Vegas and Michigan) so we went whale watching one day and to the tide pools the next day (see the following post).
When my family arrived my closest friend was in the car with them (she lives in Vegas too) which was the best surprise and made the visit even more exciting.
I'd been whale watching with Davey's Locker before (see this post from last Feb and this one from March) but each time you go you'll see something different. Nature is just cool like that. :)
Here's where we were:
View Larger Map
This time the day was chilly, but clear. We got on the boat without a hitch and it's amazing how much nicer it was during the week than on the weekend when we went last year. There were about half as many people on the boat so there was room to move around. Print out this coupon before you go so you can get $17 off the price (which made it $13 for each of us).
Almost as soon as we got out of the marina the pilot saw some dolphins. It turned out to be a group of common dolphins that stretched 2 square miles! There were hundreds (maybe even thousands) and some would swim right along with the boat, jumping out almost close enough for us to touch.
The open ocean
California sea lions
There were dolphins with us most of the way but no whales. Towards the end of our 2.5 hours when we were about to return to the marina someone saw a grey whale spout so we headed towards it. Unfortunately, a speed boat came by right between us and the whale and the whale was probably scared away. My family and friend saw the whale breath above the water which I was glad about. Once you see it it's unmistakable and so exciting because you know there is a huge whale just there under the water.
Some info about grey whales from Journey North:
"Gray whales have the longest known migration of any mammal. They travel 10,000-12,000 miles round trip every year between their winter calving lagoons in the warm waters of Mexico and their summer feeding grounds in the cold Arctic seas."
Stay tuned for a report from our trip the the Malibu Lagoon tide pools the following day.
When my family arrived my closest friend was in the car with them (she lives in Vegas too) which was the best surprise and made the visit even more exciting.
I'd been whale watching with Davey's Locker before (see this post from last Feb and this one from March) but each time you go you'll see something different. Nature is just cool like that. :)
Here's where we were:
View Larger Map
This time the day was chilly, but clear. We got on the boat without a hitch and it's amazing how much nicer it was during the week than on the weekend when we went last year. There were about half as many people on the boat so there was room to move around. Print out this coupon before you go so you can get $17 off the price (which made it $13 for each of us).
Almost as soon as we got out of the marina the pilot saw some dolphins. It turned out to be a group of common dolphins that stretched 2 square miles! There were hundreds (maybe even thousands) and some would swim right along with the boat, jumping out almost close enough for us to touch.
The open ocean
California sea lionsSome info about grey whales from Journey North:
"Gray whales have the longest known migration of any mammal. They travel 10,000-12,000 miles round trip every year between their winter calving lagoons in the warm waters of Mexico and their summer feeding grounds in the cold Arctic seas."
Stay tuned for a report from our trip the the Malibu Lagoon tide pools the following day.
great time had by all. Thanks for sharing the ocean and God's nature with us. I would recommend this short trip to all of you out there. If you aren't use to sailing take a Dramamine before the trip just in case. Chris from MICH
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