A Whale Of A Tale. Review on White Water Rafting

I have been White Water Rafting on rivers in Colorado, Alberta and British Columbia. When you go White Water Rafting the water is going fast down a steep incline. There are rocks and spinning water that you have to avoid or you’ll end up in the icy water. No one can rescue you because the boat is going so fast. You have to be able to swim to the shore.

Nothing compares with this experience because this Strait goes into the Pacific Ocean and that’s a lot bigger than a River. When my grandson, (he's 11), was in Victoria we asked him what he wanted to do. He wanted to go Whale Watching.

We had seen a lot of Orcas, (Killer Whales), when were on the ferry from Victoria to Vancouver and some times from our balcony when we lived on Dallas Road in James Bay. We had never seen them up close so we decided to take him. He was a student and seniors pay $59.00 each. Adults pay $75.00 per person.

The Ocean Explorer leaves each hour from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. We had to be there a half an hour before the time we left to put on our bright yellow float suits. We decide to go on the 10 a.m. run and be back to meet his parents for lunch.

We met at the corner of Government Street and Yates that is across the street from the Inner Harbor and kiddy corner from the Empress Hotel.

After we were in our suits the guide took us across the street to their pier. Ten of us got into a large Zodiac boat, (it looks like a huge rubber inflatable boat that has an engine like a small motor boat). There was a member of the crew sitting at the back to steer the boat and take care of the motor. At the front of the Zodiac the guide sat down with a mike so he could explain what we were seeing. My grandson, (loves to watch the Discovery Channel) was allowed to sit next to him.

The Zodiac went slowly as we went along the coast line of Vic West. They didn't want to cause a wake that might disturb the Ferry Taxi or the yachts that were moored across the street from the hotel. Suddenly we were rocking and rolling and a seaplane, (from Vancouver), landed. As we got closer to the entrance of the Inner Harbor the water got choppy. It was so clear we could see schools of small fishes and a few crabs in the water.

Once we entered the Straight of Juan da Fuca the boat picked up speed and headed toward Port Angeles, (in Washington State). Half was there it turned to go past James Bay where we saw an eagle swoop down and dive into the water. When the eagle came up she had a big salmon in her mouth to take back to her nest in the tree in Beacon Hill Park. The crows kept diving down from above her trying to steal the salmon. By now our grandson was so pumped up he kept yelling, ''Sweet'', (fabulous).

We turned a bit so that I could see the Yacht Club in Oak Bay and the Zodiac stopped and we wait a few minutes until a large pod of Orcas surrounded the boat. Most of them didn't come near us but kept jumping in the air and it was quite a display. All we could see was jumping Orcas, the water and the sky. These Orcas are use to be around people and a few of them came over to the boat and put their nose on it so we could pat them. They feel like Dolphins, (a wet suit), and I was amazed because I thought they would feel different. My grandson was petting a small Orca who even let him hug him.

We had been there for about half an hour when a huge Orca appeared and came swimming at the boat. We all held our breath because we thought we were going to tip over. Just before he reached the boat he dived under it and came up on the other side. You could hear us all breath again as we began to clap. I never thought Orcas would put on such a great show. The other Orcas began to follow the huge one and we stayed there until they were gone.

We returned closer to the shore and we saw a few blue Herons standing on a rock with one of their legs in the air. The guide pointed out a pod of Halibut and just then the Gulls swooped down trying to catch one. We past the stony James Bay Beach and saw some huge gnarled old trees. When we entered the Inner Harbor we passed the hotels and condos. The boat slowed down as we came to Fisherman's Wharf and we could see two Seal jumping up to catch the fish that some people were holding to feed them. We saw the big fishing boats and the three rows of cute house boats. Then we went passed the ''L'' shaped cement staircase, (there were three big stairs), where the local First Nations and other artist sell you their merchandise. The longer part of the ''L'' is in front of the Empress Hotel and as you turn the corner you hear the wail of a lone bagpipe.

We went past the yaughts and ended up at the Ocean Explorer pier. By the time we took off our float suits we had been gone for an hour and a half.

I didn't even have to ask our grandson what story he'll tell when he gets back to school in Calgary, during the ''show and tell'' first class on what you did on your summer holidays. I know because they were with us for another day and that's all we heard about!

If you want to learn more about this adventure the link is:

https://oceanexplorations.com

If you have a chance to go whale watching any place in the World I hope you do because it's a wonderful experience.

Thanks for reading my review.

©LL2005