Whale Watching in Monterey!

“Are you sure you do not want to take a pill against seasickness, I mean, PUKING?” We are asked.

Matthias says that he has never been nauseous in his whole life, so he does not need something like that.

I’m thinking. I’ve never been sea sick too. Although I have traveled almost all of the deep waters in this world.

Whether rowing on the Wolfgangsee or E-boat driving on the Old Danube: Kiki will not be seasick!

I was neither getting sick in a rowing boat at the Wolfgangsee (though Austrias 8th biggest lake!) nor while windsurfing on the red sea. The sailing trip on the Adriatic was just as good as the e-boat ride on the Old Danube. The rocking excursion ship on the Mosel did not matter to me and neither the Longtail boat at the Indian Ocean. Rafting tour on the Enns? Ferry on the Baltic Sea? Motorboat on the Mediterranean? Not a problem  at all!

Maria’s biggest concern is not to feel sick, but was nervous about the possibility of loosing the delicious breakfast. Because before entering the ship in Monterey I had invited everybody for breakfast: vegan and home-baked bread and rolls.

By the way: Kiki’s recipes you will find in my brand new category favorite recipes 🙂

After having breakfast we drive comfortably to Monterey and stroll to the pier.

We get our booked tickets and then finally, we get on board! Huh, it’s allready rocking quite a bit… We take a picture and then decide bravely : No, we will not be nauseous even without a pill!

Hopefully – I’m thinking in secret…

Then we leave. Yikes! It’s going pretty well up and down, on this Pacific! And it gets more and more the farther we get out. I hear the rustling of the first vomit bags and grunting noises. Some do not make it on time and hang over the railing.

I turn around, inhale and exhale deeply, watching the horizon. Yes, that’s the way it works better. But hold on! The waves push our little boat wildly.

Today we don’t have a heavy see, says the captain. Uh-huh. So the sea could be even more temperamentle? Awestrucked, I cling to the railing and watch the meter-high, gentle sea.

A WHALE!!! I’ve spotted a water fontain!!!

Suddenly! A water fountain not far from the ship! The captain turns the ship and steers toward it. And there he is. The whale. And blushes water.

I would have thought everything what I could feel when seeing a whale. But not that there would be a tear in my eyes… It is so wonderful. All worries suddenly become so void and small at the sight of this animal.

It is a Humpback Whale. Around fifteen meters long, around twenty-eight tons heavy. So, quite impressive …

They hump for a while, next to our boat before they plunge .

Our captain accelerates and we are going further on the high sea. Suddenly there are two Humpback Whales rejoiceing about their life: they jump tirelessly out of the water and waving with their flippers:

 

W O W ! ! !

But now it’s time to go back to the port. But not without visiting the seals. A little bit smelly, but too cute!

We land. The breakfast is no longer in the stomach. It is now digested in the intestine. Why don’t we satisfy our hunger with a decent dinner? Chop-Stix: cheap and good.

And back home we find this little fellow stealing the cat’s food:

 

We have seen a lot of raccoons over here. All of them lying flat on the highway. Therefore, the joy is huge to finally seeing one who is still breathing.

Whale Watching: please allow yourself this priceless experience!

Conclusion Whale Watching? The tickets with our company cost 45, – USD / person. It’s a three hours trip. And would I do it again? Yes, yes, yes and again YES! There are still so many other whale species (blue whales, orcas, dolphins, gray whales) to admire, but I would also welcome back the humpback whales!

I would immediately go on tour again with Monterey Bay Whale Watch Center – but I think you are well advised with all companies over there! All work together and report each other where whales have been spotted.

And ON the boat, no matter what, I advise: stay in the back! Firstly, it is the most wind-protected and therefore the warmest place, and secondly, it rocks the least! And even if the photos look as if the sea had been mirror-smooth: that deceives! Most waves were a few meters high! So who is inclined to sea sickness should either not drive, or get a pill …

 


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