Spring Break 2009 (Part 2)
Whales (3/24/09)
I had a story here, but it got deleted when I accidentally saved over the file. Since I don't care to write things twice, those who want to know more will have to ask me :-)
Depoe Bay, Whale Center
The interpreter was constantly on the PA system, telling folks where to look for whales. They were visible only as small puffs of blow-spray 2 miles offshore. That didn't meet my criteria of being worth the 70-mile drive, so I decided to get a little closer on a whale-watching boat.
Whale-watching boat.
Seals.
Slightly treacherous harbor entrance.
Whale blow ~150 feet off, ~3 miles from shore, ~9 foot swells.
I rode the prow back to the harbor, feeling the spray from the larger waves. A rain shower soaked us as we were following the whales, and made me grateful for my rain gear. I was late for the Hydrogen Club meeting back in Corvallis. The others seemed to consider whale-watching a valid excuse.