Thursday, July 24, 2008

Lobsters and Chowder Tour 2008 - Day 11

Oh Boy! Whale watching in the North Atlantic!



The lighthouse around the point of Cape Cod.  The very end you see on the map curled around out there.






This is the view we had of the North Atlantic.  Yes, it is as cold, wet and rolling as it looks.  Just ask our now not so merry band of Chowder heads.

The fog was thick and got worse through the afternoon.


Yes blog fans, that's a whale tail you can just barely pick out in the fog.  I'll have to try some Photoshop filters and tricks to bring what whale shots I did get.  We had a pod of about a dozen around the boats including a couple of calves.  We could hear them, but they were not as active and with the fog so thick, sightings were very difficult.  Such is the risk of the North Atlantic.


The guys did well, but a sea with 3-4 foot swells is not recommended.  That doesn't sound like very high waves.  Wait till you get out on a 85 foot boat in the open ocean.  We have a whole new admiration for the crews of the Bering Sea Crab Fleet and those who lobster and fish the North Atlantic!

Despite the ills of a rough sea, the guys thought it cool seeing the whales and were glad to get their feet back on land. Evan even joined me at the rail as we passed Cape Cod point and steamed into the pier.  The ride back in was much smoother.

The whale fleet is reporting that the whale population is on the rise in great numbers.  But many countries are fishing and whaling just off our shores.  Just like they are pumping oil just out of reach of our regulations.  I don't know what, if anything, we can do to limit that activity without violating international water treaties.  Our military is stretched as it is, but not sure our Navy is.  But it would most certainly strain relations if not cause all out war.  But it does seem unfair that the U.S.A conserves and restricts fishing and off shore drilling only to have China, Japan and many others reap the bounty that would be ours or inhibit the repopulation of our fisheries and the great beasts of the sea.  But the news that numbers are climbing and they are using the treated sewage from Boston to provide nutrients to the ecosystem is fantastic and real solution to humans and our seas living together.

Cape Cod is a beautiful area.  A hearty soul is the one who can live here throughout the year and cope and succeed with all the weather and the Atlantic throw at them!  I urge you to have Cape Cod, and anywhere in New England, on your bucket list.

No comments: