Whale watching

We got up too early and realized we had time before leaving for our whale watching excursion, so we read. I know, we’re kind of boring, but it helps immensely to have a travel-mate who likes the same things you do.

Good thing we arrived a bit early to Hyannis Whale Watch (which operates out of the town wharf in Barnstable...welcome to quirky Cape Cod) as we discovered the past three days’ trips had been cancelled due to excessive winds, hence OUR trip now included a group of high schoolers and a flock of junior high kids from Hartford, RI. Siting onboard waiting to leave port, we learned departure was delayed indefinitely as the RI kids’ bus was having issues and they were “in transit.” Barbara and I commiserated for those teachers/chaperones as the bus must have left before dawn!

The children were chatty and kind of hyped but not a problem, once you discounted the decibel level at which they communicated. Yet another indication that I am aging!  The ship went to Stellwagen Bank in search of whales and seals. We saw three grey seals and one 60’ fin whale, which surfaced three times very close to the boat. Unfortunately I wasn’t quick enough to catch a photo. But just seeing that behemoth so close was thrilling. Jon, the naturalist on board, said the whales were kind of scattered from their usual sites as the extraordinarily rainy April (28 days with no sunshine) meant the plankton blooms were not rich and deep, so the whales had to search far afield for food. Made sense, one woman we met said her husband was just now putting his potatoes in the ground as it was finally dry enough.

Special thanks to Pat and John from Connecticut who kind of adopted Barbara and myself after she commented on their UNC sweatshirts. This wa s their 31st year making a whale watch on Stellwagen; the come to Sandwich every year the week before Memorial Day to mini-vacation and whale watch. Kind and considerate folks.

We passed the Sandy Neck Colony and the sandy Neck Lighthouse on our way to and from Barnstable Harbor.

The excursion took more than 4 hours and, even though the whale sighting was the least possible, I had a wonderful time on the ocean. When the bow spray hit and I tasted the essence of the North Atlantic, I grinned like an idiot. Chilled but not really cold, I relished the thump of the keel as it hit the rolling sea and laughed. I am a sea water baby.

We dined on seafood again - Barbara on broiled scallops the size of golf balls and me on superb swordfish!

Cranberry bogs are everywhere. Just sitting there waiting for the growing season to begin in earnest.

One thing I did realize today - I miss lilacs. The scent of them in the air took me right back to 39 Summer Street and playing in that lush lilac grove just west of the garage...our childhood Sherwood!