Whale watchers

Pods of whales are migrating toward Alaska daily. They don't do the kind of dramatic surging and diving I've seen in the Atlantic--just spouts and the arc of gigantic, gracefully arching backs--but this week they were very close to the shore: about 100 yards out, no need for binoculars. Crowds of very excited watchers were pointing, waving, gesticulating, and whistling at the whales and at each other.