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Published: October 13th 2013
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Holy Whale Breach Batman...We're Chasing Whales. He dived in the crystal waters...the moonlight illuminating the granite rocks of the island's edge.
Scarcely had his body entered the water than his skin and hair started to glow...brighter as the seconds passed...luminous plankton sparked to life upon him.
This is why he swam here...at this secret place and time...where his very being was thrilled...and weariness expelled.
Ian came from the Simpson Desert...now the National Parks Ranger at Montague Island...9 kms off Narooma...that sleepy coastal town in southern New South Wales...caring for penguins, terns, gulls and seals...best job in the World.
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We have been in Blues Heaven these last few days...the Great Southern Blues Festival 2013...Sensational...I'll take you there shortly...but for now I take you to meet Wazza & Simon...and to chase those most magestic of mammals...on their way south to Antartica...southern right and humpback whales.
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There were six of us waiting at the wharf...couldn't have been a nicer day...fishing tours departing...we're waiting for Wazza...brilliant name for someone whose hands we would shortly place our lives in.
A powerful custom built 36 ft charter vessel with twin 315 hp
turbo diesels...this baby can cruise at 15 to 19 knots and top speed 30 knots...captained by Wazza...the Yosemite Sam of southern waters and his decky Simon, fisherman supreme.
And in the rough seas we encountered...you need the power and experience of these master mariners...we mightn't be after Moby Dick...but it was the next best thing.
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Leaving the wharf and channel...powering through big swell...the Chinese fiance screaming throughout our trip to the island...dolphins surfing in our wake...short-tailed shearwaters or mutton birds...plentiful as millions of gnats swarming...diving and darting among the waves...we hanging on...Denise & I laughing...this is a gentle picnic compared to our trip to the volcano island of Anau Krakatoa ...see my blog
KRAKATAU...What a Blast..!!!.
Feel just so much more confident in Wazza's powerful craft...and helped that he also had life jackets!
He left us at Montague Island where Ian did his thing...showed us bird nesting sites...up the lighthouse...through Australa's first heritage home...extolling his solitary existence...swimming with luminous plankton...loving his life.
Then Wazza collected us again...past New Zealand seal colonies...then Aussie seal colonies...king seals parading...males fighting or wrestling...others sunbaking...sliding into the water...swimming on their sides...flippers waving...mutton birds swarming.
Served tea or coffee...Tilba smelly cheese & crackers...difficult to eat or drink...rough swell...gotta be Travelblog Heaven out here...hope the pics come out.
There's an albatross...the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner...can't remember if it's a good or bad omen...who cares...too busy snapping away.
Wazza's on the radio...checkin for whale sightings...hang on...its time for a ride.
Saw heaps of whales...puff of smoke on the water...heading towards it...a fin taunting us...a couple of black bodies just above the surface...they know we are here...searching for where they next surface...elusive as expert hide & seekers...then another flash of black...a burst of bubbles...a flat section of ocean between the pounding waves...they are all around us...glimpses then they are gone.
Wazza at the wheel...Simon as lookout...providing entre...hoping to see whales breaching...when they rise out of the water ...getting ready for the ultimate show.
And then it started happening.
No warning...no hint it was about to happen...guess they get a run up deep down...a black torpedo rising out of the water...it smiles...a massive splash...then its gone...difficult to aim your camera...eyes peeled...yelling when first sighted...only seconds to react...only seconds to snap and hope you catch the image...talk about the fish
that got away stories...these mighty mammals are much smarter.
I caught a few great shots of a breaching whale...Den also with her iphone...talk about pleased...Danny got a few...Dwouldn't have got any if I was not on continuous shot drive...my magic Sony NEX5HD point & shoot...18 - 200 mm lens...easy to handle...really glad I don't have a cumbersome SLR...hanging on with one hand...camera in the other...planning how to save the camera if I'm swept over the side.
Sudden nauseous twinge...swig of water...then 3 technicolour yawns over the side...bummer...probably a good thing...felt fine after that...don't believe Den that the other four punters didn't notice...probably lucky I lasted this long...pretty rough out here...boat angled for whales not waves...yeh pretty lucky all considered.
Then no more than 15 metres from the boat...port side...a black behemoth rises vertically out of the water...rising...rising...felt I could have touched it...swung my camera...pressing...pressing...shit...it's turned off...does that automatically after a period of time...image indelibly printed in my brain...wow...did you see that?
We all saw it...not one of us captured it on film...yet I will not forget it...rising...rising...felt I could have touched it...a mass of black then white...then stood on it's tail...laughing at us...a splash to remember...and
then it was gone.
"Holy whale breach Batman"...was all Denise could utter.
"Did you see that?"
Relax & Enjoy,
Dancing Dave
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A Small Swede in the Big World
Per-Olof Persson
Wow and wow again!
Now that is just amazing! I would love to do such a trip! You and Denise are really living life to the fullest. :)