Whale Watching, Golly!

Probably the most touristy thing we did during our week in P-Town was to sign up for one of those whale-watching tours.  

The tour included a guarantee that we’d sight at least one whale or we’d get the next trip for free.  I grumbled for a bit that they probably had a boat out there somewhere with a guy in a rubber whale suit ready to go in case the tour was shaping up to be a bust!

After the boat filled up with like-minded tourist gawkers, we pulled out of the harbor.

Reviewing the sign for “seal” with Sam.

Pleasure craft mixed it up with fishing boats and ferry boats just outside the harbor.  We were on our way!

The tension hung thick in the air.  Where were the whales?  Everyone was peering around for a sighting when someone exclaimed and pointed, and there it was! A fin that quickly disappeared in the ocean!

And that was it.  The ocean became quiet again.    Everyone stood around staring at the spot where the whale disappeared at, waiting for some re-emergence.   I started thinking that we’d probably gotten our whale sighting and that would be it.  We’d head back, me with just one picture in my camera and $35 poorer.

Then there was a collective shout of WHOA, as a humpback surfaced right next to the boat, and a swarm of seagulls descended upon the whale in an feeding frenzy!

After letting the seagulls pick its teeth for a bit, the humpback dropped back into the water and casually sauntered away.  

The boat wheeled around a few more times, and we sighted a pair of humpbacks having a little morning date.  Aww.  How sweet!