The first whale I saw in Rocky Point was the 55′ whale fin skeleton at the Intercultural Center for the study of Deserts & Oceans (CEDO) on the road through the Las Conchas residential development. CEDO stresses environmental awareness of the desert and sea, and wise use of natural resources. It is a respected organization and a cool place to visit. Find out more by aiming your browser at CEDO Intercultural.

The second whale I saw in Rocky Point was when my brother, Mel, and I were 15 miles out on the briny blue looking for a reef where lunkers lurked. I was studying the readout on my fish finder, and also trying to enter numbers a friend had given me into the GPS.

MEL: You have any idea what you’re doing?

CAP’N GREG: Of course. After all, it’s my boat.

MEL: Why do you keep pushing those buttons?

CAP’N GREG: It’s what we boat captains do.

MEL: Are we any closer to the fishing spot?

CAP’N GREG: As soon as I figure out how to program this thing, I’ll let you know.

MEL: How fast are we going?

CAP’N GREG: About 25 miles an hour.

MEL: So at this rate, in an hour we could be 25 miles further away from the fishing spot that you haven’t even programmed into the GPS?

CAP’N GREG: If you’d quit asking me all these questions, maybe I could concentrate.

MEL: If you’d stop the boat, maybe you could read the operator’s manual.

CAP’N GREG: Oh, yeah? Maybe I should kick your…

MEL: Aiiieeeeeee!

CAP’N GREG: Yeeeooooow!

MEL: What was THAT?

CAP’N GREG: If I’m not mistaken, it was a whale tail.

MEL: It was HUGE! Must have heard the engine and dived right in front of us. Almost knocked me down.

CAP’N GREG: Holy Mother of Pearl! Any closer and we’d be swimming with the fishes.

MEL: Cap’n, how about we head for port and celebrate our near miss with a few cervezas?

CAP’N GREG: Good idea, bro. And I’ll read the operator’s manual to see if my fish finder has a whale alarm.

MEL: Are you going to write about this someday?

CAP’N GREG: Naaah. Nobody would ever believe it.