Oregon Sunset

Today I Swam with Dolphins and Named a Baby Whale

No snappy headlines today. Just an amazing set of memories. Today I swam with dolphins and named a baby whale. Really.

Carson and I went on a dolphin and whale watching boat ride this morning and boy did we hit the jackpot. We saw three or four pods each of humpbacks whales and dolphins.

Our plucky marine biologist guide gave us an interesting lesson on marine mammals before we left. She and other scientists track humpbacks from Alaska to Canada past America down to Mexico for their annual migration culminating in mating in Mexico.

She said they use distinctive tail and fin marks, scars and pigmentation to identify and track them.

"Do you see whales you recognize often," I asked.

"Well, since there are about 900 from Alaska to Mexico we don't recognize them often."

But then, over the course of the day, she recognized three. One of the mothers is named church key. And we saw a baby she recognized. She said the baby was among the more playful, breaching repeatedly near boats often. I asked his name and she hadn't thought of one and asked for suggestions. I offered Tigger, after the bouncy Winnie the Pooh character. She liked it and logged it.

And that's how I named a whale. His characteristics and name will be sent north to other scientists as he migrates back north.

I'm honored, moved and humbled.

As if the morning hadn't been good enough, swimming with dolphins was next. I'd brought my mask, snorkel and fins. On sighting a pod our guide told us to jump in. Carson and I were the only ones with gear so in we went while everyone else watched.

At first I didn't really get it. With no bait to attract them, they seemed distant and disinterested. But she urged us on in the open water and eventually I understood. Dolphins are playful and they came to investigate us.

Visibility was poor and I was startled when the appeared right in front of me. One started to cut a circle around me, just out of arms reach. I pursued and he continued around. I cut five tight circles with the dolphin cutting slightly larger circles around me.

He literally ran rings around me. And I got to hear their chirping. It was exhilarating.

This was one of the greatest adventures of my life.

Daddy, I Want a Boat with a Helicopter

This yacht belongs to the new richest man in the world, Carlos Slim Helú. While Bill Gates had the whole world to screw with his software monopoly, Helú made his money screwing mostly just Mexicans with his phone monopoly. That's a lotta screw. And it buys you pretty toys.

I wonder if I can get a boat with a helicopter just screwing the East Village. I'm willing to try.