Okay so we’re not at The Holler, but we’re not on a trip either…… not exactly. We’re just heading up to NoCal to rendezvoux with the kids. A family visit, not a trip. But, since we were driving…..we stopped at Channel Islands National Park to play with the Blue Whales, and dolphins and humpbacks. I kid you not. Next time you feel like going to Sea World to see some marine mammals. Don’t. Save money and save animals. Go see ’em in a protected national park, in their natural habitat. Here they play with you……by choice!
I have never been so up close and personal with blue whales. They were all over the Santa Barbara Channel today. Swimming upside down under our boat and spraying us with spouts. I’ll post more pics soon, and tomorrow we head out again to a different island!
You may have heard blue whales are big. The biggest creatures on the planet with tongues the size of African Elephants. But who knew they liked to play with people? The humpbacks were playing too, several of them. What a major thrill! This makes Sea World look like what it is, a bunch of concrete, chlorinated swimming pools full of captive cognizant cetaceans.
We also saw sleeping pods of sea lions.
And drowsy, daydreaming Pelicans. There were so many more incredible critters!
We spent all day on Anacapa Island, one of the five islands in Channel Islands National Park.
Anacapa is composed of three interconnected islets.
The islands are similar to the Galapgos in that evolution has proceeded independently of the continental US. As an odd aside, today we saw both Brown and Blue Footed Boobies, birds most frequently seen in the Galapagos and not normally present here. There are 145 plant and animal species found only on the Channel Islands and nowhere else in the world. Tomorrow we go in search of the Channel Island Foxes so please stay tuned. We have seen them before. They are small, one of a kind in the world, and very, very friendly. They have no human enemies. Imagine that!
The Channel Islands have painted caves, named by the colorful sea algae that make them look like Gauguin painted them!
Cheers to you from the very happy and very FREE sea life around Anacapa Island~
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Fabulous post , Cindy! You are so right. If you want to see these creatures, go to a natural habitat!
I can’t stand the idea of cement pools.
Looking excitedly to see the foxes!
Oh my GOD Resa, I almost gave up on the foxes today! The last hour on the island, and bonanza!! I probably got 100 photos of three foxes. I could have easily touched one of them. Channel Island foxes are only located here! The only species in the world. They are so adorable!!! Wait until you see them. They are red and grey and white, like a mixtures of red, grey and arctic foxes!
I went to Alaska and saw not a one. Thanks for sharing- beautiful.
I saw two in Alaska in five trips. They do hunt them there which makes them so shy, But guess what I got so up close and personal today! I got around a 100 pics! Thrilled outa my gourd!!!
Oh how beautiful and I wan to go live there.
Yes!! Exactly! So do I!!!
This is so awesome Cindy! I grew up in SoCal but never had a chance to see the whales; always wanted to! Santa Barbara is a beautiful place. Thank you for sharing your most spectacular day!
Today was just as good. Anybody who can, should visit these islands. Amazing!
What a whale of a tale, Cindy, about the tail of a whale…. Will have to take this in on our next visit to California…, this and the “holler”.
Hugs, Cuz !
Tell me what you want for dinner a couple of days before you come! 😉
hola primo, sus fotos son magníficas . Su castigo para el día es tratar de traducir mi pobre español en Inglés comprensible . Sí … , estoy tomando una clase en español primaria para tratar de volver a aprender lo que se me ha olvidado en los últimos 40 años. Buena suerte ! ( para los dos ) …
How amazing that you were able to see the whales and so much else, included blue-footed boobies! Is this island one on which you can stay or just do day trips?
You can camp on most all the islands in Channel Islands National Park. Visit their website if you are interested. I would strongly encourage it!
Thank you, I will!
Amazing!
I know! It’s a whale of a tale! :
😀 😀
Reblogged this on Dionysus Amber and commented:
Wondeful photos Cindy <3
I am in awe of your blog! Just visited & so pleased to meet you!
Thank-you so much Cindy. I love your bllog too.
What a beautiful post Cindy! I have been to Sea World and also on a boat off the coast of Maine to look for whales (saw none). I would love to see what you did 🙂
I hope you do soon! When you are in the presence of whales up close, they fill your senses and you focus on nothing else. This is why people spontaneously cheer when they see them~
Beautiful photos and wonderful to see sea life wild and free and lovely 🙂 How wonderful to play with such creatures!
Yes, and even more wonderful they wanted to play with us! You and Wolfie rock~
This sometimes causes us to fall straight over the edge! lol 😉
Rockin an rolling eh??? 😉
Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow! (jealous)
I don’t know what it is, but put me in the presence of wild animals and I am immediately filled with joy. The show us, by example, how to live fully in the present. You are a wonderful blogging friend~
Well thank you, and you, of course, i consider one of *my* best and favorite blogging friends, too. 🙂
<3
AWESOME!
They simply are. I think all ballen whales get the best spaces in heaven. Think about it, they harm nothing~
Amazing pictures Cindy, so much better to see them in their natural environment! 🙂 The first time I saw a Whale was in a zoo – jumping through hoops. I thought it was wonderful as a child, but it makes me quite uncomfortable thinking about that day now – not the right way to treat such a majestic sea mammal, shouldn’t be allowed. 🙁
I agree, there something about these creatures that is spiritual, and has a gratvitas that is surely worthy of our deep respect.
What an incredible adventure, Cindy. You have such a wonderful life! 🙂 I read about the Channel Islands in the Nature Conservancy magazine a while back and specifically about the foxes. Lucky you!
So my like minded friend, when are you thinking of visiting? <3
Ooh, oh so tempting! Let me fly away tomorrow! 😉
And now I know what heaven is like — thank you for the beauty and the joy.
I have some not very good photos of the shimmering blue belly and side flippers of the blue as it flipped over and went belly up under the boat. I swear it was waving! It is just pure joy to be so near to such magnificent creatures. If everyone experienced this, they would become whale conservationists!
Cindy, awesome images again, thank you! Hugs! Veraiconica
Happy weekend and thank you my friend! <3
i liked the whales and the pelicans and the lovely clear-blues of the ocean, but that zig-zag image of the islands is well framed! beautiful image! z
They are pretty amazing islands aren’t they. Cheers to you my friend and thanks too~
What a beautiful place, and I so hope it stays protected always.
God knows our planet and creatures need protection! I hope so too.
Breathtaking shots. Over 360 likes so far, no wonder…
The admiration is more than mutual as you well know talented one! <3
Thank you for your compliment, Cindy! <3
Cindy, your gorgeous pictures of the whales remind me of how exhilarating it is to see them in the wild.
Blessings ~ Wendy ❀
It is pretty thrilling everytime isn’t it! Thanks so much and have a wonderful week~
Playing catch-up on posts – loved this one. Sea World can’t compete with these creatures in their own environment! RH
Hopefully Seaworld’s financially competitive days are over! Cheers & thanks my friend~
What an amazing place. Thank you for sharing these fascinating photos. Indeed better to observe animals in their natural habitat.
A more wonderful experience for everyone! Thanks for your important blog~
What a truly beautiful way to see these wild and lovely creatures! Yes, rather than, as you say, in swimming pools!
So sad, I can never go to Sea World again after seeing Blackfish~
Wow you have such an awesome life with some great adventures, I am so glad that you are sharing it!
I am so glad you come along with me! You make it more fun~ <3
Cindy, the pictures and story to go with them are beautiful. I once had the great privilege of going whale watching in the Pacific, close to Tofino. A humpback chose to surface very close to our little Zodiac boat. It’s an experience I’ll never forget. Thanks for reminding me with this post.
Tofino and the whole area around there is one of my favorite places in the world. Full of wildlife and so beautiful. I am so glad you had this experience~
Yes, me too. I’m also glad you’ve gotten to visit that incredible area.
Reblogged this on collinaclarke.
I am honored! Thank you so much and cheers to you~
You’re welcome x
Oh my gosh Cindy, these photos really bring back memories from the time I lived in the Santa Barbara area. I also took a tour of the Santa Barbara channel to view the blue whales and other marine life. Breathtaking isn’t it?
Yes, it is incredible. I have never been so close to blue whales and it is a thrill of a lifetime! I am so glad you have experienced it!
It is wonderful how you pointed out that these animals are free to swim and roam, while their poor captive animal cousins are not. I agree with this philosophy, Cindy!
I adored the green rocks, the blue skies and water scenes along with the magnificent whales! Wow!
So happy you enjoyed my friend and like to see the whales swimming free and safe! Cheers & thank you~
ooh stunning captures
Honored you think so & cheers to you!
I love this post. I miss the west coast. (Sh! Don’t tell the east coasters!)
Laughing, I won’t! Some of them may take umbrage, best to keep on the down-low~
Reblogged this on penpowersong.
amazing picture Cindy. absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing them with us!
Wow!!! Your pictures are stunning! Hope you get to take many more and visit many more places this year.
How very kind and it is a pleasure to meet you!
I’m beginning to feel like a broken record but once again…very spectacular pictures. I really love the look of the cave.
So kind of you and much appreciated too! Have a wonderful weekend <3
You too Cindy.
Wow what an incredible experience. I wish I one day could see that. Your photos are amazing.
Thank you. I love your Leonbergers. Such majestic and loveable dogs დ