I woke up to gusty northwest winds after another dry weather front had blown through. I looked out at the islands, and I saw the dark blue water of the Santa Barbara Channel, and I thought: this is NOT an ideal day to go whale watching.
No. Not at all. Especially if one is prone to seasickness, as I find I am these days!
But we’d had a raincheck from a year ago, and it was running out today & I just had to take grandchildren Alex and Annabel out whale watching. They’d been begging me for so long.
I was nervous, but I packed up the seasick pills & the Wheat Thin crackers and the backpacks full of extra clothing, and off we went.
We went over to the Condor Express boat and took our place in line.
The Captain came and gave us a little lecture before we got on the boat. He said: “I don’t mean to scare you but you will definitely know you’re on a boat today! It’s pretty rough out there with all this wind. Take your seasick meds & you’ll enjoy yourself. If you don’t, you may be sorry.”
I have taken a few boat trips with the Condor Express folks and I’ve NEVER heard them say that. He even offered money back rainchecks. (And I think his warning worked, I noticed nobody on the trip got sick.)
We clambered on board & dumped our gear. I told the kids to be sure and stay outside. Fresh air is essential.
And that we did! As the boat headed out of the harbor, we saw the Brandt’s Cormorants and the Brown Pelicans lounging on the floating dock nearby. A Great Blue Heron was with them.
We got farther out and settled down in that little seat in the bow of the boat, and boy was that northwest wind COLD! But it was sunny and gloriously clear and fresh.
We could see the coastline and all the familiar Santa Barbara landmarks from the Mesa to Hope Ranch to Goleta — the white cliffs falling to the ocean, the little breaks where the beaches lay. And the Santa Ynez Mountains looming behind.
We were cruising along, when suddenly the Captain cut the motor and announced a Gray Whale was starboard at about 1 o’clock! Yes!! There it was! A single adult Gray Whale, it’s back mottled with barnacles that had been attached there for years.
The naturalist on board informed us that this time of year is a window between when the single adult whales swim north from their breeding grounds in the lagoons in Baja, and when the female cows and calves come north, about the middle of April.
So we were enormously lucky to see this Gray Whale!
We were about 30 yards from the beast as it cruised along – the gray ridge of its back undulating and snorkeling just underneath the surface. The Captain began to time the dives. The whale would dive and stay under for about 3 to 5 minutes, then surface with a “swoosh” of spout. The spray wasn’t high, but it was wonderful to see.
The Gray Whale was just swimming along and we were paralleling it with the boat. Close enough to get great views. Just think of how thrilling to accompany a whale on a tiny portion of its long migration north, possibly as far as Alaska.
The kids saw it and loved it. The first real whale sighting in their lives!
And this Gray Whale was the most confiding one I’ve ever seen. Eventually, the Captain decided we should bid it farewell and go searching for more marine life.
The waves were picking up. Green troughs and spray and sun and the boat bucking up and down.
And yet how wonderful it was and what a change from the urban surroundings the children live in day after day in Los Angeles. How relaxing and completely new — this going about on the vast ocean.
I only wish we’d seen dolphins. That would’ve been great.
But another day and another cruise and perhaps no rough seas? But who cares. We know we can do it and we never even felt queasy.
Whalewatching is fabulous. A whole other world for landlubbers like us!
