We Saw Whales!

We're currently in the southern arm of Port Clinton after hunkering down last night in a small bay protected from northerlies a few miles north of here. On the way here yesterday from Freshwater Bay we had the ultimate wildlife experience. After a morning playing with soldier crabs at Freshwater beach, we continued the trek north, the sail starting off with an inquisitive turtle on our way out of Freshwater Bay. We then saw two whales a little off our beam, heading in the same direction we were. Shane heaved to (or is it hove to?) and, after a scramble for cameras and video cameras we slowed and watched them from a distance. They were accompanied, almost shepherded, by an amazing number of dolphins who seemed to almost be scouting for them, with three small groups out in front and some either side and behind. Early on in the encounter about a dozen dolphins came right alongside the boat either, I suspect, checking that we were friendly or perhaps even trying to scare us off. I'm no expert but there certainly seemed to be something going on between the dolphins and the whales.

We kept watching the whales and dolphins and, after a little while, the whales - two quite large ones, a mating pair perhaps, or a mother and very well fed calf - came alongside, at one stage swimming perhaps 5 metres from us and diving under our bow. It was amazing. They were with us for about half an hour.

Haydee had the video camera for a while and we have some hilarious video that we'll share - possibly with the world on Funniest Home Videos. The lens cap is on for a good 60 seconds of dolphin action, we have a lot of footage of Haydee's life vest and legs, and some highly amusing commentary including "I don't think it's recording. Is it recording?" while the lens cap was on, "I just saw a really weird shark! It had two fins!" and "There's the whale! Oh, no it's not."

Ban ALL whaling, I say!