Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
A tale of a fateful trip
That started from this tropic port
Aboard this tiny ship.
The mate was a mighty sailing man,
The skipper brave and sure.
Five passengers set sail that day
For a three hour tour, a three hour tour...
A tale of a fateful trip
That started from this tropic port
Aboard this tiny ship.
The mate was a mighty sailing man,
The skipper brave and sure.
Five passengers set sail that day
For a three hour tour, a three hour tour...
OK so the port wasn't exactly "tropic"...it was more like Boothbay Harbor here in Maine. And there were six passengers from our party, not five. But hey, those are just minor details. Oh well that and the fact that we didn't become shipwrecked on a desert isle nor were Meg or I forced to walk around fashioning bras out of coconuts and Gareth, Matt and Chris didn't smack one another on the back or call each other "Little Buddy." That's probably a good thing.
Despite the obvious differences between our little gaggle of inmates that decided to escape the asylum for the day, and those of the ill-fated five Minnow passengers on that fateful trip, we had a wonderful time. Oh alright...there was a bit of seasickness and a certain female memberMeg who shall remain nameless of our party lost her sealegs and her lunch and another one almost did - despite all of that, the weather was perfect, the sky the most breathtaking blue, and the indigo depths of the Atlantic ocean were relatively calm as it carried our large boat out on a trek to watch some whales dance about in the sea. Poseidon gifted us with one of those rare, glorious New England days on the ocean where every single care and worry is gently carried away on a sea breeze.
As the Pink Lady carried us out to sea we passed by Bird's Nest Light...
...as well as other people enjoying the marvelous afternoon...
The boat ride was fantastic even if it was a bit windy!
When the wind got to be a bit much for those not perched on the side of the boat, hanging on for dear life, yet bound and determined to get a shot of a whale, they went below deck and goofed off for a bit.
And then back outside when the excitement about a whale, spotted off the bow, became audible below deck...
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. We both love to ham it up from time to time!
You'd never guess they were twins, would you? Alas, they are. Matt is a minute older than Meg.
Despite the obvious differences between our little gaggle of inmates that decided to escape the asylum for the day, and those of the ill-fated five Minnow passengers on that fateful trip, we had a wonderful time. Oh alright...there was a bit of seasickness and a certain female member
As the Pink Lady carried us out to sea we passed by Bird's Nest Light...
...as well as other people enjoying the marvelous afternoon...
The boat ride was fantastic even if it was a bit windy!
When the wind got to be a bit much for those not perched on the side of the boat, hanging on for dear life, yet bound and determined to get a shot of a whale, they went below deck and goofed off for a bit.
And then back outside when the excitement about a whale, spotted off the bow, became audible below deck...
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. We both love to ham it up from time to time!
You'd never guess they were twins, would you? Alas, they are. Matt is a minute older than Meg.
I know you're probably sitting there asking yourselves, "Well um, Audrey, where are the whales?"
Two hours into our cruise I was asking the very same thing. We were about 10 miles from shore and spotted a water spout and that was it. We saw several porpoises and a vast array of sea birds, but not so many whales out there. Not until we started to head back in towards the harbor and got closer to shore.
We saw several Finback whales very close to shore which really surprised me, especially with as many people on boats and surfboards as there were. Let me tell you something though. Had I been on a small watercraft or a boat and saw one of the Finbacks, I can guarantee you that I would have thought "SHARK!!!" rather than 80', docile whale.
Two hours into our cruise I was asking the very same thing. We were about 10 miles from shore and spotted a water spout and that was it. We saw several porpoises and a vast array of sea birds, but not so many whales out there. Not until we started to head back in towards the harbor and got closer to shore.
We saw several Finback whales very close to shore which really surprised me, especially with as many people on boats and surfboards as there were. Let me tell you something though. Had I been on a small watercraft or a boat and saw one of the Finbacks, I can guarantee you that I would have thought "SHARK!!!" rather than 80', docile whale.
Unfortunately, I didn't get any "great" shots. It was a tad windy on the bow of the Pink Lady and there were a couple of really obnoxious photographers who were pretty careless with their lenses and elbows and I got smacked in the head by both on more than one occasion. The water was pretty choppy closer to shore and the boat rolled pretty severely. So between getting whacked in the head by elbows and expensive camera lenses (I'll have you know, this is one of those occasions in life it pays to be short! My expensive telephoto lens was not used as a battering ram at all. Although next time I do something like this, I may think twice about popping the next cheeky git who decides to get in my face with his obnoxious lens!), and hanging on for dear life, and trying not to throw up, I only got a few shots.
Having said all that, the experience was something I'll cherish forever. Getting me out on this little adventure was a group effort between Gareth, Matt, Meg and Gaby with Meg's friend Chris coming along for the heck of it. Gareth knows how much I love the ocean and feel at peace the closer I am to the water. He never fails to notice how much it calms me and how I let the sights, sounds and smells wash over me and absorb into my soul. All of my kids know how much I love sea mammals and have always wanted to go on a whale watching cruise.
It's one thing to see such magnificent ocean-going mammals in enclosures such as those you'll find at Sea World and other marine wildlife parks. It's entirely another to see them in all their glory in their natural habitat. It literally took my breath away. A couple of the whales got very near our boat and I could literally feel their immense presence. It's almost indescribable - knowing that something so massive yet utterly graceful and intelligent is so close; something very few ever take the time to observe in nature and often take for granted.
I almost felt as if I was a visitor to their sacred tabernacle, taking a brief moment to stand in awe and pay homage to such a wondrous creature.
Having said all that, the experience was something I'll cherish forever. Getting me out on this little adventure was a group effort between Gareth, Matt, Meg and Gaby with Meg's friend Chris coming along for the heck of it. Gareth knows how much I love the ocean and feel at peace the closer I am to the water. He never fails to notice how much it calms me and how I let the sights, sounds and smells wash over me and absorb into my soul. All of my kids know how much I love sea mammals and have always wanted to go on a whale watching cruise.
It's one thing to see such magnificent ocean-going mammals in enclosures such as those you'll find at Sea World and other marine wildlife parks. It's entirely another to see them in all their glory in their natural habitat. It literally took my breath away. A couple of the whales got very near our boat and I could literally feel their immense presence. It's almost indescribable - knowing that something so massive yet utterly graceful and intelligent is so close; something very few ever take the time to observe in nature and often take for granted.
I almost felt as if I was a visitor to their sacred tabernacle, taking a brief moment to stand in awe and pay homage to such a wondrous creature.
