‘I Thought I Was Gone’: Another Encounter Between Kayaker and Pod of Whales
- Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:07am by
Liz Klimas
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Even if you were floating in the open ocean vulnerable to whatever is below, you probably still wouldn’t expect something like, say, a humpback whale to pop up next to you. But this is exactly what happened to kayakers in two rather recent occasions, shaking them up a little bit.
Last month, a surfer and kayaker in Santa Cruz, Calif., were stunned by two whales lunging out of the water while feeding in front of them. And more recently, on the other side of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Australia, a man fishing in his kayak was startled by a pod of up to eight humpback whales that gave him a little nudge.
Take look:
According to the Daily Telegraph, 40-year-old Jeff Sheppeard was not alarmed at first by the two juvenile whales he saw, until they started coming his way:
“The little one came over and he has flapped his flipper fin in the side about 2m from my kayak and I though ‘Jeez, that‘s getting a bit close’,” Mr Sheppeard said.
“He went down, under my kayak and as he came up his back just hit the front of my kayak.
“I was packing it because he had been tail slapping just before that and I thought if he did it again I’d end up in the drink with a headache.
[...]
“Even the baby ones are still like 5m long, so you feel very insignificant when they are right on you like that. I was pretty shaky at the time. I thought I was gone.”
Sheppeard said that he had his camera rolling when he first saw the smaller whales farther off, giving him the perfect shot when the larger pod later appeared around him.
[H/T Fox News]
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Comments (73)
AmericanStrega
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:03amThis is what really happened:
Whale family out for a day of exercise and lunch.
Baby Whale sees something floating on the surface of the water and moves in to get a better look.
“HEY MOM!”, says the Baby Whale.
“Yes son?”, asks Momma Whale
“Isn’t that one of those Humans?”
“Why yes, that is a human. Don’t get to close. He might have rabies or something.”
“Naw Mom. I think he’s lost. Maybe he’s hungry. Or maybe he needs a home. Can we keep him Mom? PLEEEEEEASE? I promise to feed him everyday and clean up after him. I swear!”.
Momma Whale rolls eyes…..
That’s what really happened.
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:00pmWho ever said size doesn’t matter!!!
Report Post »righthanddrive
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:26pmExactly right!!!
Report Post »Rightsofman
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 6:35pmEver think of trying your hand at writing childrens stories lol.
Report Post »schroeder123
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:10amIf I were that wail, I’d take care of you and your silly little raft.
Report Post »Jumper
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:34amDid you, perhaps, mean whale? A wail is a sound. Damn people, proof read!!!
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:54amAmerica is full of stupid people. Those who don’t understand grammar and those who see how close to the edge of the cliff they can get to. Sort of like seeing how close you can get to a volcano when it is erupting. ie Mt St Helen’s. Of course, sooner or later: BOOM. Good-bye. And sooner or later a dead kayaker will be the cost. Which is fine with me. Once stupid invades your mind, there is no turning back.
Report Post »Dan_o
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:14pmWhile I‘m sure this person’s typo is worthy of calling an entire nation stupid, don’t forget this video was of an Australian. Did that fact escape your superior intellect or could you not see it way up there on your horse?
Report Post »Levinite
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:58pmStupid people, indeed. Especially ones that regard spelling as a subset of grammar.
Report Post »Dan_o
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:18pm…not to mention ending a sentence in a preposition. Shame, shame, Ruler4You. Dummy.
Report Post »68Truthseeker
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:10amNewt Gingrich : Obama’s Radical Ideology Will Be An Issue If I Am The GOP Nominee – 11/30/11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDHmguOpgY8
Report Post »Ishmot2
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:51amELIASIM are you gentle, because I sure would like to pound on you? I get tired of people that think they know everything and wont shut up!
Report Post »adoerfler
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:30amThe whales came toward him – it would be really hard to chase a whale in a kayak. They are curious and gentle; it is amazing that they can play with the guy without hurting him, or even rolling him over.
Report Post »bigfatslob
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:25amDeath to Whales ! They started this whole progressive / animals have rights thing !
Report Post »Rikster
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:46pmReminds me of one of the best bumper stickers I’ve seen in quite a while….
Report Post »Nuke the Gay Whales!!
LoneRanger
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 7:19amWhen you enter the ocean, you become part of the food chain.
Report Post »righthanddrive
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:34pmOh dear me, now Sen. Chuck SchumerD-NY will propose legislation to make it illegal for whales to consider humans as part of the food chain when in the water. He will have Nancy and Reid standing next to him, who will add something like a kagillion dollars in spending to save the kayakers of Nev. and SF.
Report Post »RodentKing
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 7:17amHumpbacks are curious mammals and it’s not uncommon for them to swim up to boats
Report Post »mikee1
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 6:52amLIBERALS, if you can’t run with the big dogs, DO NOT GO OFF THE PORCH WHEN IT COMES TO NATURE.
Report Post »Blackop
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:36pmHow much does GB pay you to shill for him? Or do you do it for free?
Report Post »toomuchgovt
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 6:51amI went on a whale watching tour in Mass. once. It was beautiful. We saw the most incredible whales. Even the tour guides kept saying this never happens, this is a national geographic moment.
It started out when, a mother whale seemed to be letting her baby put on a show for us, the baby was jumping out of the water splashing about, flapping. Before all this happened the mother came right up under the boat, she was much larger, she could have easily flipped us, she stuck her head out of the water and looked us right in the eyes. It was as if she was sizing us up. After they played with us awhile. We soon were surrounded by mothers and babies putting on a display of what we now call the ballet of the baby whales.
It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. God’s grand plan, it truly GRAND.
Report Post »W@nd@
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:35amit appears animals are a good judge of character… can they sense goodness and evil?
Report Post »I have seen this too..in zoo’s where animals will sense something in a person and try to engage them after a fashion…and others they get agitated with…maybe it is just curiosity on the part of the animal on that particular day…would be great to understand that dynamic!
But wild is wild and we should not bambisize them ever…or assume anything
Secessionista
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 6:34amThese folks intentionally paddle out to get close to the whales – this should be no surprise. It is against the law to taunt or chase them, so these people claim they were just fishing or whatever to avoid trouble with the law. It is no coincidence, and it will be no coincidence when someone is killed.
Report Post »SIXFRIGATES
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 6:06amGotta give the man a hand for staying cool and keeping it PG-13… If it were me the language would definitely call for a strong R-rating…
Report Post »mauijonny
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 5:41amToo cool :) BTW, those are Humpbacks and they are curious critters.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 4:52amIf greepeace has its way we will be over run with these big fishies. I say harpoon the heck out of them and lets eat!!
Report Post »Mustangrider
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:47amActually I don’t think you would like it, I live in the pacific northwest where some of the indian tribes have hunted a few, you don’t hear much about it now because they have pretty much stopped. The reason: whale blubber smells and tastes like crap.
Report Post »elihu
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 4:18am@ Eliasim & Lodgerat
Report Post »Wow! I believe that I have now witnessed the greatest assemblage of ”comedic” comments ever gathered in one place. I don’t know which one of you all are the most bizarre. Unfortunately, I believe you are serious…
jim
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 4:12amGuess, when you see a whale pod coming at you, TURN AND GO THE OTHER WAYYY!!!
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:08amA close encounter of the whale kind!! To close for comfort!
Report Post »decendentof56
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:24amYep….that ’tile slapping’ can be dangerous.
Report Post »lodgerat
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:57amlodgerat,
Isn’t it interesting how it is that you are not the Lord, and yet you presume to speak for the Lord? I know what will happen to you in a few short years.
I don’t. My Bible told me that Jesus died for me. I would never presume to speak for God. I notice that you do in a lot of your posts. It was nice talking with you but I have to shut down for the noght..God Bless
Report Post »lodgerat
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:20amTowards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; from hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee. Sink all coffins and all hearses to one common pool! and since neither can be mine, let me then tow to pieces, while still chasing thee, though tied to thee, thou damned whale! Thus, I give up the spear!
Report Post »TheVoice1
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:30amWhat a great movie Moby Dick always will be a classic of classics…
Stand Strong America
Report Post »lodgerat
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:11amGreen Peace is now posting on the Blaze…Thanks for the lesson.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:03amWhales are really meek creatures. It does seem as if they are getting closer to people recently. Does that mean anything to people, other than the entertaining comical posts that you always seem inclined to make, because you want people to think you are funny?
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:06amThey are gentle giants and people just love driving harpoons into gentle creatures. People like crucifying gentle people too.
Report Post »lodgerat
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:09amNot really
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:11amJust like that saying “The nice guy always finishes last.” The more meek someone is, the more people take a big dump on them. This generation disgusts me.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:17amlodgerat,
Report Post »Actually it is true. And that’s why people even abort babies, because they are gentle, and do not defend themselves. That’s how an evil person can be identified. They attack the gentle.
Eliasim
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:19amThat’s why Jesus Christ was crucified, because he was gentle. And thus he said: if they will do this to me, then what will they do to you?
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:22amTherefore one should become caused to ask themselves: what is the Father going to do to them?
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:38amMoreover, look what has happened to America because you have become too soft. You became soft, and Progressives and the Mid-East is attacking you on the political and mental aspects of your life.
Report Post »lodgerat
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:41amI don’t believe most people pick on the gentle. I know a few do but not most. I believe that most people are good and for me to believe otherwise would make living in this world a sad thing. Maybe I‘m naive but in my world and the people I know they don’t behave that way. I don’t think people making funny posts is akin to being cruel.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:42amCase in point what tragic things will happen in the U.S when all the vicious people no longer have something like football or other cases of idolatry to keep them busy from hating each other?
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:45amlodgerat,
Report Post »Oh you can trust me. Most people do, but that they select a few causes also to support so they can say they don’t. Any one well traveled has seen repeatedly over and over again the nice guy at the job get trampled.
lodgerat
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:45amBy the way, Jesus wasn’t crucified because he was gentle. He was crucified because that was God’s plan of salvation for us. Jesus died so his blood would wash away our sins not because he was gentle.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:49amlodgerat,
Report Post »Isn’t it interesting how it is that you are not the Lord, and yet you presume to speak for the Lord? I know what will happen to you in a few short years.
lodgerat
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:53amlodgerat,
Oh you can trust me. Most people do, but that they select a few causes also to support so they can say they don’t. Any one well traveled has seen repeatedly over and over again the nice guy at the job get trampled.
I really feel bad for the life you’ve had to think the way you do. I will keep you in my prayers and hope the dis pare you feel about life will someday change. Good night
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:01amlodgerat,
Report Post »And I will keep you in my thoughts while the spirit of Jesus Christ is spat into the earth, and it spins you about against your kin and your neighbors.
atechgeek
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:48amEliasim = Fool.
Report Post »Somehow I think everyone knows this. Very annoying and pathetic you are.
TheGreyPiper
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:38am“So long, and thanks for all the kayakers.”?
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:30amA Whale-of-a Tail!!
Report Post »The10thAmendment
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:46amA whale of a tale, meets the tail of a whale. BLISS!
Report Post »grayling646
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:18amDamn adolescent whales. Troublemakers, every one.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:29ama whale flash mob
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:18amSomething must be done about these Whales!!!! Kill Them and save the babies!!!!
Report Post »