One Fish, Two Fish ...

The goatdaughter and the goat son-in-law came for a visit. I think they were quite happy since where they live it has been somewhere in the range of 115 degrees, but alas the temperature is not the focus of this writing. Anyway, it was the goatdaughter's birthday and so the goatmother and goatfather took everyone whale watching. You see there are these whales called Orcas that live in the Puget Sound. This doesn't seem all that amazing to me since they have fins, so where else would they live? Nonetheless, the Puget Sound Orcas are unique in the fact that they eat only Salmon, unlike other transient Orcas which eat things like cute little seals and would no doubt eat a goat if they could find one.

Now on this particular day it was overcast and foggy. The goatmother was afraid they wouldn't see anything at all ... like even their hand in front of their face. Not to mention the fact that even though there are whale watching trips, they don't always find whales. Or perhaps they find whales like Minke whales, but no Orcas. However this day proved to be a great one because they DID come upon Orcas! Yes, indeed, Orcas, an example of which you can see in the picture below taken by the goatmother.

To be exact, this is Mr. L-78. Not a very imaginative name if you ask me, but I guess it works for them. Each whale has a particular pattern of white on the 'saddle' behind the dorsal fin, and can be identified in that way. The goatmother was so excited she wanted to bring him home. Oy. I don't think there's really anything to worry about since I doubt seriously he would fit in the pond. Still, with the goatmother you never really know.

But back to the trip... yet another awesome thing happened.

Apparently the research group that has the poop-sniffing dog that can find Orca poop in the water was present. ( We think he is being held by the lady behind the pooper-scooper in the front.) As a matter of fact, that is exactly what that guy on the front with the long net is waiting for. Certainly not a job I would want. Now that I think about it, with that little rubbery-rafty kind of thing they float about in, I bet they are really glad that dog doesn't act like the mighty Quinn when that guy scoops up the poop.

Anyway, the Orca show went on for quite some time, but as all good things do, had to come to an end. Still the excitement wasn't quite over yet. On the way back, a Tufted Puffin was sighted.

In fact, along the way Harbor Porpoise, Rhinoceros Auklet, Gulls, Harbor Seals, Cormorants and even an Eagle were seen. The goatmother said it was one of only two times in her life she got tears in her eyes over a sight. Naturally I thought the other was the first time she laid eyes on me, but it turns out the other was rounding the corner and seeing Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic Mountains for the first time. At any rate, I'll leave you with one last picture.

This is Ms. K-40. It's okay. I don't think she'll fit in the pond either.