Sunday Kayaking

When I got the invitation to go kayaking from a friend, I didn't hesitate and said yeah to the opportunity to have some outdoor activity. That said, I was also concern the paddling around the coast would turn out to be a torture for my weak little arms, as I experienced last time I kayaked with my brother who was unstoppable even with the wind, and the horrible currents.
Fortunately the weather was great, and there was no horrible current. I had a great time paddling from the Santa Cruz harbor to the wharf and then back until some point before Capitola, and back to the harbor. And what made it even greater and special was the wildlife.

Kayak is such a great way to get close to the marine wildlife, and you don't understand that until you get onto that kayak. When you are on the kayak, you are nothing. You are just this tiniest boat that no other boats see because you are so low on the water, and you are at mercy of dangerous currents or waves that pushes you to those rocks, and then you get yelled at by the life guard on the beach because you are too close to shore (even though people on there were little specks).
But then everything calms down, motors' noises are further away, and you finally see it showing it's head. Shyly and far, at first, and then you think it was just something floating by until it comes back closer to you and realize it was a seal. One was a paddle away from me, and we were both surprised to fond ourselves face to face, if I may say. We stared at each other for 10 seconds and then he took off by sinking down.

At some point we were paddling through thick huge brown algae, and in the middle of this algae field, was this sea otter with its baby sitting on her. It was the most adorable sight. We were so close, and they totally ignored us, continuing their grooming.

That day we were lucky to see a couple of dolphins hunting in the area too. I got as close as 10 yards at some point (and that was unexpected), and I couldn't believe it. Seeing them so close, splashing around, you were reminded that they were still strong and wild animals, and that kept from trying to get even closer. They were hunting, telling from the abundance of birds hunting too, and from their disinterest to any boats. Everytime there would a disturbance, they would quickly go away, I guess follwing the fishes. They weren't jumping much, but I could say for sure the 2 were bottlenosed dolphins (Tursiop truncatus), like Flipper and most of the dolphins you find in marine parks. I wonder why only 2 individuals. Have they been expelled from their group? Have they decided to be on duo for some reason?
Questions that no one are able to answer.

My point is that not a lot of busy and modern area have this kind widlife still around and so close to human activities. I think it is a privilege that everyone should be aware of.