Swimming with Dolphins, Hiking with Seals

Monday April 13th day of adventure started early with 7:30am breakfast at the Encounter Cafe - bagel with cream cheese AND jam (the local tradition) for Jody, omelet for Julia, and egg and bacon (i.e. ham) bagel for Amster. Too bad we filled up since at 8:30am we had to shimmy into damp FULL wetsuits including bib pants, jacket, and hood - cute look. Then we tested our snorkel, mask, and flippers and headed to get briefed for our Dolphin Encounter. Short 5 min. bus ride, then onto a fairly tiny boat with about 10 other "swimmers", then quick 15 min. ride into the bay before they quickly spotted huge pods of Dusky Dolphins. Per the instructions, as soon as the boat whistle blew we hurried into the FRIGID water to "swim with the dolphins" or as the Wheeler girls call it "yelp in shock upon freezing cold water, consider turning back, look at our frozen hands in amazement, immediately give up on any chance of using the mask and snorkel to see under the murky water, while being mildly aware we're surrounded by a pod of frolicking dolphins." Repeat as necessary.

For Mama, one trip in was enough, and then she assumed onboard photography duties. Julia and Amy leapt in and out as instructed but the Wheeler girls were by far the wimpiest of the group, as expected. But hey, we still were engulfed by hundreds of dolphins, MANY times, usually when we least expected it. Photos were tough to get but we tried. After our adventure we had a quick snack of chips aka wedges with two sauces, then a quick relaxation, before the girls headed off on a coastal hike. First the cliff hike for 30 min. then the rocky beach on the way back which included some VERY up close and personal encounters with some RATHER large seals. Ankles exhausted we all went out for a pub dinner (fish and chips for Julia, meatlovers pizza with BBQ sauce for Amy, and lasagna with onions for Jody which she didn't like). On the way back, Amy and Jody took their turn at a mini driving lesson, which didn't go that well, but gave them a little taste before we turned in for another early night.

surrounded by a pod of frolicking dolphins