[CINC] Double Dolphin 5/15/12

[Tina Armbruster-Stephens]

10:00am trip:
Sea lions on the buoy
Bait dock empty!
1 pair gray whales, mommy/calf


One mommy/calf in the kelp off Hendry's.  We had a beautiful day with minimal wind and swell, hot sun.  Twenty eight passengers from Michigan, Illinois, Virginia, Arizona, Northern California and a few locals entertaining out of town guests.  We stayed with this pair the entire time as they were milling around and gave us perfect visuals of their magnificence.  First mate Brian reported that this area seems to entice the greys to do some circling while possibly feeding, a behavior the crew noticed this year.  We watched the adult female doing just this and were treated to a spectacular view of all angles of both the mom and her baby, including the skirt and both blowholes.  With a few youngsters on board, we had a wonderful time discussing what the mom needs to do for her baby and how baby needs to listen to mommy to stay safe.  

Thanks to Captain Michael, crew Robert and Brian


1:00pm trip:
Sea lions on buoy
Pelicans covering the bait dock
1 pair of gray whales, mommy/calf

1 lone adult gray whale

Afternoon trip just as beautiful with 38 passengers.  Much of the group consisted of students from the EF school in Santa Barbara.  With our gray whale model aptly named "Madeline" by a 2yr. old passenger named Madeline, we again went in search off Hendry's beach.  We spotted a lone adult doing the slow cruise along the coast and stayed with him/her for a time before spotting another pair behind us.  This was a female adult with her calf, perhaps the same as we saw in the morning?  This time the calf was much more elusive.  The adult seemed intent on moving along the coast and very little milling - a definite purpose in mind!  
Passengers also from Georgia, New Mexico, Florida and Orange County, CA and Palmdale, CA.

Perfect trip with Captain Robert and crew Brian.
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