Two hours later, with chilled ears and near frozen fingers, with not a speck of land to be seen, we began to see the "signs" that the marine biologist had told us to be on the look out for. Birds diving into the ocean, relatively calm waters, jumping fish and, as a bonus, crill.
Crill is a shrimp-like creature. It swims through the ocean in huge conglomerations. Evidently, it is usually spotted twice a year in New England, and then, in relatively small quantities. For some reason, the crill were in the millions this time. Wave like masses swimming furtively in serpentine paths just below the surface of the water. Some popping slightly out of the ocean like fizz from a coke...amazing.
And just a few moments later, a puff of water in the distance. More like steam or mist than an actual fount of water. A whale, breaking the surface of the water.
I squealed. Yes, loud. Yes, like a small child. Yes, with my husband laughing at me...I squealed.
In all, we were able to see three types of whales, first the Minke whale, then a Finback and finally, a Humpback.
The Humpback comes back to the feeding grounds yearly. The biolgists have named her Owl.
If you look closely, in the first picture, you can see the puff of mist spouting from Owl's blow hole.
In the second picture, note the scar on her back. It is one of the markings that allow the biologists to identify her.
Even though my equilibrium was quite disturbed, and Mark almost threw up, and the fact that we both tried to sleep through the two hour ride back to to the dock and wished that we had bought the .59cent Dramamine...and even though she teased us and didn't flip her tail or burst from the water like the whale in "Free Willy", it was one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced.
My God, my Creator, made this awesome creature and the waters in which it dwells and the heavens that look down upon it. Amazing.
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