Marine mammals

After my conference in Santa Cruz finished on Saturday night, I was taken out kayaking by Laura’s parents on an estuary in Monterey Bay. I was a bit intimidated by the idea, but it turned out to be exhilarating, especially since we were accompanied by sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions and pelicans. The sea otters are particularly playful and carefree, getting themselves caught up in the kelp. I was impressed to hear that they have blue whales in the Monterey Bay, as well as sea elephants, seals which are 16 feet long! After I’d mastered the river kayaking, we went out for a while into the ocean proper, which was a lot scarier. Couldn’t take any photos, since I haven’t got a waterproof case for it, but I’m definitely going to buy one. I’m also getting tempted by the idea of getting a kayak…