It was a gray day. One of the best. At the start, we saw a Cow/calf pair approaching Counter Point. Then there were more whales, maybe 800 meters east. We were excited by the first whales, and maybe that set us up perfectly for the two pairs that followed in the second group.

The kelp is different each year, as are the pathways through the kelp. So far, we have tracked a lot of different routes past Counter Point, including what were perceived by the whales as dead ends, forcing some abrupt turn arounds.

There was nothing abrupt about these four. They seemed to accept each opening, each path, and whatever obstacle as something to explore and become intimately involved with.

In this image, they are rub-a-dubbing in a tub.

They were with us, in front of us, for an hour: rolling, nursing, blowing, arching, stretching out and showing body parts from every angle, as they circled and shuffled, luxuriating in the calm water.

It seemed like a wonderful moment for them, and it certainly was for us.

We saw no more whales through the day.

Gray whales northbound (all) 6 | Calves 3 — 2015 Count 1053 | 066

Hours 8:00