Whale Rescue

I slep very soundly indeed last night and didn't wake until after 8.00.  I hopped out of the van to check on the whales who had been left last night a kiometre or so away.  Promising - very promising!  No sign of any whales at all.  A nearby camper shattered the feeling though by pointing his finger south where I could just make out a group of orange vested Project Jonah people and a host of others.  Whilst the big pod had swum off into othe bay overnight a few - just 17 - had restranded in 2 smaller groups.  With no wetsuit I wasn't going to be able to be of any use, so I had breakfast before heading along the road to see how things were progressing.  

The whales were just metres from the road and again, there was a mixure of sizes.  The first to be freed was a tiny calf who called for it's mum whilst swimming amongst the remaining whales and rescuers trying to find her.  That in itself was an amazing and very touching sight.

About an hour and a half passed and gradually the tide reached the stranded beasts.  One by one they were manoeuvered and pointed in the direction of the open water and one by one they writhed, wriggled and finally freed themselves from the land below.  As the last of the whales was freed the rescuers formed a chain to gently dissuade them from returning by cutting off their land-bound paths.  It wasn't long at all before every single one of them was swimming away from the shore and into the deeper waters.  A spontaneous round of applause broke out when people realised they'd saved every single one of this particular pod.

It was a quietly contemplative drive back home.  I was shattered.

Back to reality with a thump - unpack van, shower, washing, prep for work tomorrow.........
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