Whale Watching

We went whale watching this morning – OMG what a great birthday present!

Shamon’s Lagoon is a refuge and favored area for the whales to mate and give birth because it is warm, calm, and protected. The whales mate and then come back a year later and give birth. March is the perfect month to see them because the babies are a little older and the mothers are less protective and more eager to show them off! They begin their migration back to Alaska the first week of April. 

Gray whales reach 45 feet (our motorhome is 40 feet!) in length and weigh 35 tons!

We were in small boats, twelve people, and were amazed at how curious the whales seem to be – they come right up to the boat and almost look you in the eye! I was even able to “pet” one! One stayed under our boat – tail on one side and head on the opposite side – and lifted us up as it scratched it’s back on the bottom of the boat!  A couple of us got our faces washed when one surfaced and blew water all over us – nothing like whale snot to exfoliate!! They are magnificent creatures!

It was difficult to get pictures - the boat was rolling in 3 foot swells, all 12 of us trying to get the best shot and all the action happening suddenly and quickly! But, here are my best! Click on them to enlarge.