[CINC] Ranger 85 Friday March 15

[Pam Yerger]

AM trip:
California Sea Lions on the can buoy at GinaA VERY small baby sea lion showing off alongside the boat near GinaSmall pod of 7 or 8 common dolphins3 gray whales (mating)
PM trip:
California Sea Lions on Gina can buoyNo dolphins3 very active mating grays



Well, what can I say about a day when you spend an hour or more watching gray whales mate!  
Morning trip was cold and almost fruitless until the end when we found 3 gray whales very near Port Hueneme.  We spent about a half hour with them and they seemed to be engaging in mating behavior (splashing, rolling, tail flukes) when we had to head home for the afternoon trip.  We also saw a very small pod of common dolphins and a very tiny baby California Sea Lion playing alongside the boat while we were watching the Sea Lions on the Gina can buoy.
Shortly after leaving the harbor for the afternoon trip, we spotted what we believed were the same 3 gray whales, still near Port Hueneme.  this time is was very obvious that they were mating.  Passengers were able to witness numerous flukes, rolls, and YES, that bright pink thing I learned to call the Pink Floyd when I was down in San Ignacio Lagoon a couple of weeks ago!!!  We actually saw the Pink Floyd twice!!  The behavior was very active and numerous times the whales were surfacing tangled together with tails and fins flopping around!  It was truly an amazing sight for everyone.  After leaving the area to allow the Islander a closer look, Frank took us out to Gina to see the California Sea Lions, but no baby this time.
Both trips were sell out crowds and Captain Frank kept them informed with a terrific narrative while Eddie took photos and poor Paul was swamped at the galley.  Passengers were mostly Southern California folks and there were a number of kids on both trips who enjoyed my kids table with books, puzzles and marine animals.  A day not to be soon forgotten on the wonderful Ranger 85!
Lone naturalist...Pam Yerger 		 	   		  
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