[CINC] Truth Acquatics-9/18-9/21

[Paul Petrich]

Ahoy Ocean and Island People,
 Tara Brown and I were fortunate to be the CINC volunteers again on the annual SS Simon and Jude School ( Phoenix ) trip aboard the Vision and Conception to our CINP and CINMS. Tara was aboard the Vision with the girls, and I aboard the Conception with the boys. This is an outstanding science class journey for graduating 8th graders done annually  by the school's biology science teacher, Maureen Hill. Yours truly thinks she  should get some kind of educational award for the  implementation of this educational experience given to the kids! 
 Captains Jerry and Graham  landed us at SE Anchorage on SRI Thursday a.m. , where we hiked toward the pier; I taking a group on the Torrey Pines Loop, and Tara taking a group to the ranch area via Water Canyon Beach. We then spent the afternoon and eve anchored in a cove on the south side near Ford Point. There the kids had scheduled rotating sessions for snorkeling, kayaking, and lab work, exploring plankton tow water drops. Friday after breakfast, we went back to Bechers Bay for another hike from the pier. My group went out toward Water Canyon Beach and Water Canyon, and explored the camp ground area. Tara's group did the Cherry Canyon Loop. We both started with the ranch his-herstory stop.
 Highlights of our hikes were observation of a Mammoth fossilized bone in the cliffs on the beach at Water Canyon introduced by Tara through her previous discovery via Lissa of IPCO . One of my kids found a perfect Chumash arrow head at the canyon area near the camp ground which he dutifully left as it was found, after photos were taken. There, we also discovered fossilized clams in stone. This stop  was a great transition to conclusions related to the ancient geology of the islands and to the Chumash culture: And  to the mutual mission of the CINP and CINMS to preserve what our islands show us about the past.
 After the Friday morning hike and lunch, the captains took us to a cove by Punta Gorda just east of Painted Cave at SCI.  We anchored there and the very capable crews of both boats ferried the kids all afternoon into the cave, all the way back 1215 ft. While the trips were going on, as an organized section of the afternoon program, other sections on each boat had a snorkeling and Lab session, as well as free kayaking time ( not into the cave! ). In the lab the kids dissected a perch ( caught by crew members in legal waters ). The snorkeling session here had proof of current and water temperature changes unique to our SB Channel by witnessing a lot of Garibaldi that were not present in SRI waters. After dinner the captains took us eastward to CINP waters and around Scorpion Anchorage to Smugglers, where we anchored for the night. 
 The following morning, ( Sat) before breakfast, we were on our way to the south coast of East Anacapa Is. There we anchored, and the kids had a morning of just fun stuff kayaking and snorkeling. But, here the local sea lions seam to have fun, too. As they came out off of the rocks and warming sun, to frolic with the kids in the the water and one the kayaks. The captains and crews were excellent in educating the kids about not approaching the sea lions, but no one educated the sea lions ie visa versa. There was ample opportunity here to give our marine ecosystem message an airing as we do on the EA hike at Cathedral Point. MPAs were explained. Here Tara and I got to play as well. But, all was not finished!
  Upon heading homeward after lunch we circled to the north side by Landing Cove and the LightHouse, then headed across the channel toward SB. Half way out Captains Graham and Jerry spotted whales going our way! I counted three. Captain Graham thought they were Minke from his front boat, as they were not huge. However, their spouts were very straight, like a fire hydrant being tapped, and were higher than our boat cabins> When the rolled lazily along their blueish sea serpent like back exposed a small dorsal. I think they were juvenile Blues.  
 It was a fantastic three days for all aboard both boats in our CINP and CINMS! All tolled, the kids identified 10 species of terrestrial and marine species of living creatures, once facing extinction, that they actually saw, now on the rebound in our CINMS and CINP due to Sanctuary and Park cooperation!    Paul Petrich
 
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