[CINC] Fantastic 4th on the Condor X!

[Paul Petrich]

Happy 4TH of July Ocean People!

 It was a fantastic 4th of July on the Condor. Captain Dave took 70 passengers out on very calm seas with Eric and Sasha as crew, to everything they could ask for. 2000 COMMON DOLPHIN; 7 RISSOS; 3 HUMPBACKS; 2 BLUES; 1 BALD EAGLE!

 Shirely Johnson was PID and Debbie Shelley joined the on deck.  We had seven separate sightings of commons, the largest being 2000 at mid channel. Our Humpbacks were sighted mainland side of the shipping lanes. The fluked, but stayed on task searching for food. There were multiple feeding frenzies where shearwaters, pelicans and cormorants joined in the fun. Captain Dave spotted two Blue Whales as we turned back for home, but still well within Sanctuary waters. Both of them fluked for us! 

 As we started to cruise Santa Cruise Island toward Painted  Cave, I spotted a Bald Eagle soaring over the shore cliffs. A great tribute to a great day, so to speak! The Rissos joined us  along the cruise to Painted cave. We had great views of them and all their scratches. As we a approached Santa Barbara the sun shone through, letting us know the fireworks will be a success tonight. 14 young high school students from the Siberian city of Tomsk had an especially wounderous day, as non had ever seen whales or dolphin!  They were attending the EF International school in Santa Barbara. 

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