Whales...not Wales (thankfully!)

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I arrived in Puerto Madryn early, after an overnight bus from BA. I had not planned on stopping here, but I didn’t fancy sitting on a bus for another day and a half to reach my intended destination! I looked in the guide book and chose my hostel for the night, and although couldn’t check in yet, left my bag in storage and hired a bike to ride the 17kms to the beach where you can view Southern Right whales from the shore line. The mountain bike was a shitty old thing and the road was bumpy, dusty and not easy to ride on - just the exhausting start to the day I hadn’t been expecting, or wanting! Anyway, all that was forgotten when I began to hear the sound whales make when blowing out of their blow hole, a unique and beautiful sound. When I got to the beach I couldn’t believe how lucky I was, but literally 20 metres out to sea, whales were happily playing on their backs, idly swimming by for mine and a few others’ entertainment! The size of these mammals is incredible, yet they behave so gracefully in the water. It really was nature again at its very best and yet another privilege and experience that this amazing continent provides! Everywhere I go, something else completely amazes me! I stayed down on the beach for a good couple of hours, completely captivated before returning to the hostel for a bit of chilling out and catching up on some ‘admin’! It was here that I also met Irish Dave, a lad who I would continue to bump into during the next month - a good lad and somebody who, it would turn out, designed the website for an ex boss of mine in London. Small world eh?!

I only stayed one night here as it was very quiet and the whales were the main attraction, although I did get up early the next morning to see the sunrise at about 09:00 (so late because of how far south I was) and walked along the beach to the very end, a good 3kms and a good start to the day. I can imagine the place being quite lively during the summer and would like to revisit then, but for me it was back on the bus and onto my next destination, El Calafate, where 2 little treats were in store for me. The reunion of Mikey and Jace, the 2 kiwi boys I met at carnival in Salvador, 4 months prior. Let the carnage begin!

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Comments

[Jan Tollervey]

OMG Think I'll jump on the next flight
Hi Danny, Just had a look at your piccies of the whales, OMG they are amazing. I would sooooo love to see them. We did go on a boat trip a few years ago to see whales, we did manage to see some but you had to be looking just at the right time, can remember just about saw the tail come out of the water and then it disappeared for good!!!! I did look at your blog a few months ago and am gona have another little lookie now. Think you will be meeting up with your mum and dad shortly in Oz say hello to them for me, forgot to e-mail Lorna before they left. Anyway gona get back to your piccies, continue having fun - will you ever return to this wonderful country!?!? Enjoy Love Jan