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Health & Fitness

We've Got Something to Spout About!

Whales are migrating right through our own back yard!

Well, that time of year is here once again, when the beautiful humpbacks migrate toward Alaska.

But before they get to their destination, they stop by our very own pier to say hello!
The males started their journey weeks ago. It's harder to see them because they migrate farther out at sea. Now comes the best part! Moms and their calves stay closer to shore. The mothers are teaching their youngin's how to fend for themselves.
This means we get an awesome whale show for free! That's right, we don't need any boats, just a walk down the pier or the promenade.

The shoreline along Pacifica has a sudden drop off which makes it easy for the whales to feed off of the krill. Two years ago, three whales stayed at Linda Mar in front of Taco Bell and wouldn't leave. The surfers weren't too happy because they took up all their surfing spots.

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So far, I saw some males heading north about two weeks ago. Last Thursday evening at 7:30 I went for a walk down the pier. I looked up and thought I saw a huge seal but it wasn't a seal at all. It was a mom and her calf, right in front of me! It's almost as if the mom was showing off her baby. They came straight toward the pier. I thought they were going to go right under it but they turned and went along the pier and out into deeper seas. I couldn't believe my eyes! They both lifted their heads out as if to say " hi, we are here." Kids were screaming in delight jumping up and down. Parents were taking pics. Everyone was all smiles.

I can't explain the exhilaration I feel when I see these magnificent creatures. It just takes my breath away.

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When someone spots a whale, they tap the next guy's shoulders who's completely oblivious to what's happening out in the water. They stop and are amazed. Then before you know it, strangers are coming together to witness these awesome creatures jumping and playing just hundreds of yards away. These whales have an amazing effect on humans. My adrenalin is pumping just thinking about it.

You must get down to the pier and experience this for yourselves. It's not just the pier, but all along the shores here in Pacifica. You can sit at the where I did two years ago. I watched them for three hours! The best place was up on Esplanade. We would stand there for hours, sometimes forgetting to eat dinner. But that has fallen into the ocean now. Also another great viewing point is up on Palmetto before it curves around to the dump. I sit there in my car every morning and watch for my friends, the whales.

No need to go very far to find happiness. All you need to do is to look in our very own back yard. There's so much beauty here in Pacifica, sometimes we get caught up in our everyday lives that we don't take the time to just enjoy the sunsets and our friends , the whales.

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