Whale Watching

It is Monday, but not an ordinary Monday, because today we celebrate Veteran's Day. This meant no Classical Conversation and no sitting at home doing school kind of school day - but let's get out and do something. A good friend organized a group discount for Whale Watching for the afternoon. Although it was sunny and blue sky, we donned our heaviest jackets, hats and gloves to stay warm.
Lukas was on the trip, although I did not manage to get him in any of the photos. The proof that he was on the boat may just have to come from the addition of some of his video footage...
On the trip to the Monterey Canyon, the 2 mile deep part of the Monterey Bay, the tour guide provided lots of interesting trivia and facts about marine life and the ocean. It is truly amazing that a whale can carry up to a ton of barnacles on its skin, and the whale has the most powerful muscle of all animals - the tail that with a simple flick can propel the entire 50 ton whale out of the water.
We spent quite some time watching and trying to capture on film a large 45 foot whale. Despite valiant attempts by the captain, the whale had no interest in checking us out, and for that I am grateful. Watching from a distance was perfectly fine with me.
We saw a lot of jelly fish, many that we up to this point had only seen in the Aquarium, many Sun fish almost floating on the surface and scads of birds circling over apparent schools of anchovies. Closer to shore the sea lions and otters played happily in the kelp and some even showing off.  It was a great trip, and thanks to our many layers we were almost comfortable. Hot showers and steaming soup for dinner was just the right ending to a fun day.

It is not only crazy European tourists who sun bathe in packs on the beach when the sun is out....