Humpback Whales in Pacifica

It's a Saturday morning and I'm lazily moving about the house when my wife calls my phone on her way home from her workout.

"Quick! Get changed, grab the binoculars and some water," she says excitedly.

"Why? What's up?" I ask.

"Humpback whales!"

Out we rushed to the pier a few miles away. Dozens of fishermen with their poles cast over the concrete walkway seemed oblivious to our ocean visitors, so we wondered whether we were too late. But then a 25-foot fountain of water appeared a mile from shore followed by a dark hump, then a dorsal fin, then a large tail that splashed out of the water. We spent the rest of the morning watching the migrating humpback whales swimming back-and-forth and thanking our lucky stars that we live in beautiful Pacifica.

A couple of months before the whale visit, I was sitting on my surfboard waiting for a wave when a 9-foot dolphin swims by a mere 10 yards away. They're a common sight in the summer. I've also seen seals and an otter while out in the ocean. Sea birds are always out diving for fish.

Such is life living by the coast, where people and ocean wildlife mix and mingle by the beautiful Pacific Ocean view.

n.b. Yes, the great whites visit too, but they don't bother the locals ;)