[CINC] Condor Express 7.10

[Carol Celic]

6+ Blues
4+ Humpbacks
Sea Lions
Harbor seals

Naturalists: Carole Rosales, Eugene Radding, Carol Celic (PID)

Crew: Capt. Mat, Dennis, Jacques, and Bob Perry

106 passengers

It started out foggy and chilly, and remained that most of the trip. I have
to keep checking my calendar to confirm that it is July and not January!

About an hour into the trip in between and in front of Santa Cruz and Santa
Rosa the first pair of Blues were spotted, we stayed with them for a short
time and were treated to a couple of flukes. We headed off to check out a
couple of Humpbacks that were also in the area. The larger of the pair did a
few tail throws that impressed everyone. We stuck with the pair for awhile,
then went off to check out another pair of Blues. There were spouts all
around as far as the eye could see, and a Humpback breaching and pec
slapping in the distance. At one point a Humpback essentially joined a Blue
for a little bit of lunch and then moved on. We followed another pair of
Humpbacks that were joined by the original pair we saw earlier. The whales
seemed to be very excited as they mingled and swam faster. The Humpbacks
were visited a few times by flash mobs of sea lions, and at one point one of
the Humps trumpeted at the pinnipeds. Turning around to head over to Santa
Cruz we stopped to check out a couple of more Blues that also graced the
crowd with their flukes.

Captain Mat took the boat over to Painted Cave, but wasn't able to show the
passengers the cave since there was a skiff slowly coming out, and time was
running out.

Yet another great day to be out on the water!

~ Carol Celic
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