Hump day.

[southwesterly]

This was at the mile buoy in Santa Cruz today (Photo by Paul Scraub).
These whales have been there for over a week now.

[headmount]

I was that close once but the the thing was moving out 180 from me and it only lasted about 4 secs.  If they popped straight up like your picture, where they were way above me head, I'd freak.  Probably have a seizure from fright.   We get these things in big numbers starting around Nov and especially in that bay where I took the video I just posted.  It's not something I look forward to encountering again but will probably happen.  Yeah I know it would be great vid but man it's scary.

[LaPerouseBay]