 sj |
||
|
||
BS: Champagne on the High Seas
|
|
|
|||||||
|
BS: Champagne on the High Seas |
Share Thread
|
||||||
|
Subject: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: Ebbie Date: 19 Aug 12 - 03:18 PM Sorry this sounds like a travelogue. In actuality it was a perfect day, one I'll long remember. Yesterday I spent a few hours traveling on a cataraman with about a dozen other people celebrating the 20th anniversary of a lovely couple. This is Juneau, in southeastern Alaska, where rainy, misty days are the norm. Instead the sun was bright, the sky brilliant, the air caressing or bracing betimes. We started with the highlight: suddenly about 20 Dall's porpoises surrounded us. It was like fireworks- they formed in black and white phalanxes then shot outward in a blossom of motion, they swam just below the surface then vaulted into view, they dived under our boat and zoomed up on the other side, obviously having a great time. We, hanging over them, encouraged them on to ever greater displays with our applause and laughter. Sigh. Then we went on. The next scene was of hundreds of sea lions basking in a haul out, sprawled in the sun. The bulls are tremendous in size, of course, greatly eclipsing the more shapely and sedate cows. From time to time a bull bellowed in protest at a colleague but mostly they were just enjoying the sunshine. From there, progressing on an ascending scale, whales were inevitable. The first information we had that they were close by is when one of the couple announced that she had just smelled 'whale breath', no matter that no whale was in sight. Four or five minutes later the distinctive plumes of exhalation appeared, to our right as well as straight ahead. Again the captain cut the twin jets and we rocked in silence. There were perhaps a dozen humpback whales out there, 'logging', 'tail lapping', 'pec slapping' and all those other things for which I just learned the terms. Pec slapping is especially impressive- from a distance the whale looks like a water fowl trying to become airborne: one after another the great pecs slap the surface of the ocean creating great commotion in the water. We stayed there until the whales worked their way into the distance and then we turned homeward. A few miles from port they brought out the champagne and slices of homemade 'chocolate mousse cake; its taste was of a delectable – and giant – truffle. We toasted the couple and the end of a glorious day. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: gnu Date: 19 Aug 12 - 03:53 PM Sigh... delightful! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: Ebbie Date: 19 Aug 12 - 05:59 PM That is supposed to be 'catamaran', of course. :) |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: Don Firth Date: 19 Aug 12 - 07:09 PM Sounds idyllic, Ebbie! It reminded me of a time when I was maybe fourteen-years-old. Every once in a while, my Dad and I would get up at about four o'clock in the morning and head out to Ray's Boathouse in Elliot Bay or up to Mukilteo north of Seattle, rent a boat (Dad owned a ten horsepower Johnson "Sea Horse" outboard motor) and we'd go out for several hours and troll for salmon. One week, when my mother and older sister were out of town, Dad, my younger sister Pat, and I went up to Bush Point on Whidbey Island where we rented a motel room for a week and spent most of our time out on the water fishing. After we'd been there a few days, suddenly one morning when we were out dragging our lines through the water, we were surrounded by a great herd (pod) of what people called "blackfish," or more ominously, "killer whales," their large dorsal fins cutting through the water like shark fins (CLICKY). These creatures were BIG, much longer than our sixteen-foot rented boat, and they were passing quite close. Very nervous-making! Dad sighed and said, "Well, that's it for fishing today! When the blackfish show up, all the salmon try to make a run for the top of Mount Rainier!" Then, one of them leaped up out of the water! It cleared the water and seemed to stand on its tail for a couple of seconds. You could see its entire length above the water, and its snow white underbelly. The classic pose (CLICKY 2). Then it sort of rolled onto its side and flopped back into the water. Our boat rocked vigorously in the waves it made. It had breach only about thirty feet from us! Dad said, "Well—I think this might be a good time to go in. Let's get some breakfast." It wasn't until a few years later that I heard the word "Orca." And someone told me after I described what happened that, other than it's sheer bulk, it wasn't really dangerous to us. It just wanted to say, "Howdy!" It seems there are whole families of them living in Puget Sound. And taking people out on cruises in hopes of spotting Orca has become something of a tourist industry around here. Is this great country, or what!?? Don Firth |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: Bobert Date: 19 Aug 12 - 07:24 PM Thanks for sharin' that with us, Eb... You descriptions took me right there... B~ |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: Ebbie Date: 19 Aug 12 - 07:28 PM Great country indeed. I have been on an excursion to Tracy Arm Inlet when a pod of killer whales joined us on the journey. They acted just as the Dall's porpoises did yesterday- but they are MUCH bigger. Strangely enough, they are colored identically. The porpoise is probably - I don't know - about 4 feet long while the killer is easily four times that. Yesterday, however, had a magic all its own, a combination of occasion, weather, friends and surroundings (we followed the Chilkat Range north) plus we had scientists aboard, local people who write for the journals on nature and its biology, who are friends with our hostesses. It was eminently special. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: Bobert Date: 19 Aug 12 - 07:39 PM I'm green with envy... B~ |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: Ebbie Date: 19 Aug 12 - 08:53 PM Hey, Beaubear, come on north and we'll show you some waterlife. :) Actually, although yesterday's outing was more relaxed and flexible, I don't think there has been a trip, even on a state ferry, that I haven't seen either whales, orcas, otters or porpoises. Sometimes all of them. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: katlaughing Date: 19 Aug 12 - 10:09 PM Idyllic...thanks for taking us there, Ebbie. If I ever saw them, I'd be awestruck with joy and bawl my eyes out.:-) ; |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: Ebbie Date: 20 Aug 12 - 02:38 AM I know what you mean, kat. I always get emotional. When I see these creatures I am SO aware that I am in touch with another world. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: gnu Date: 20 Aug 12 - 08:34 PM "I don't think there has been a trip, even on a state ferry, that I haven't seen either whales, orcas, otters or porpoises. Sometimes all of them. We don't get otters here but the rest we do. I know what you mean. Cool stuff! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: Bobert Date: 20 Aug 12 - 08:42 PM I can't begin to relate, Eb... I used to "crew" for a friend on his sail boat in the Chesapeake Bay but we never saw much of anything... Jelly fish... Bigass freighters trying to run us over but never much more than that... Yeah, if I hit the lottery, I'll be there in a New York minute... B~ |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: Beer Date: 20 Aug 12 - 08:45 PM Great great stories Ebbie. Here you are sharing your ventures and they are becoming stories. Adrien |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: gnu Date: 20 Aug 12 - 09:32 PM Beer... they certainly are. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: gnu Date: 20 Aug 12 - 09:52 PM Maybe the beginnings of a book? No pressure, Ebbie. >;-) |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: Ebbie Date: 20 Aug 12 - 11:44 PM There won't be a book - about me, anyway - but I did receive the best compliment of my life. As one of the hostesses introduced me, she called me a 'music catalyst'. Now, isn't that just grand! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: Janie Date: 21 Aug 12 - 12:07 AM All of it exceedingly grand, Ebbie, and most of it exotic to this southeastern, mostly landlocked hillbilly. Thank you so much! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: JennieG Date: 21 Aug 12 - 02:18 AM Ebbie, that sounds wonderful! On our little taste of Alaska we saw whales and otters. A park ranger came on board our cruise ship in Glacier Bay and spoke to us about the local wildlife, and she also had a sea otter pelt for us to see and feel. Oh my - no wonder they were hunted almost to the point of extinction once! Cheers JennieG |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: Ebbie Date: 21 Aug 12 - 04:34 AM I know, Jennie. The only time I stroked a sea otter pelt I was in awe; I had no idea it would be that soft and velvety. It was an Alaskan Native-made throw. However, learning that it took something like two dozen otters to create this blanket took a lot of the charm out of it. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 21 Aug 12 - 09:42 AM Thanks, Ebbie and Don, for taking the time to tell us your stories. I've seen whales once, in Iceland. They are amazing to see. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Champagne on the High Seas From: Charley Noble Date: 22 Aug 12 - 08:45 AM Sounds like an amazing experience. Nice when that happens. Charley Noble |
