A fitting end for 2020. What else could one expect from such a tumultuous year, than a skunked trip? Indeed, Captain Jared bravely led the Pacifica out into the bay, and while a total of four separate whale boats search Monterey Bay, far and wide, things were slick from the start. Early on, a Northwest breeze began to invade the coast, riling up an already wave-laden sea. Suddenly, another boat wired in that they had spotted a whale. Within minutes, all four whale boats converged onto the scene to aid in relocating the animal. After several minutes, I (Zay) sighted but a single blow, clear as day, just to the north. Desperate, the fleet moved up (though of course, cautiously). Seconds turned to minutes, which turned into what-seemed-like hours. Nothing. Our lonesome whale had absconded with nothing more than a mere distant glimpse. In celebration of the whale’s disappearance, the sea conditions deteriorated, and some rather nasty chop sent the fleet back home, empty handed. 2020, I would have expected nothing less. However, even at the end of this year (and let us not kid ourselves that our troubles will have vanished come next morning), there exists a fire within us all. Hope and good cheer reigned supreme: a solemn indifference to our troubles. Our passengers and crew enjoyed themselves. Inquisitive minds learned something new. Adventure was had, and wild new places were explored. Some days you eat the bear… Tomorrow is a new day. More still, a new year. Even so, what truly is just another year? Good times come, and good times go, like the ebbs and flows of the tides- cresting and falling like waves upon sand… yay verily, tomorrow is a new day, and I am looking forward to it.
–Naturalist Zay
