Puerto Madryn-Whale watching
Trip Start
Jul 25, 2007
1
13
124
Trip End
Ongoing
Puerto Madryn,
Argentina
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Well we hadn't spent 5 minutes on the saddle until our hands were numb and turning blue (we had no gloves as it looked sunny out)! So we decided we'd never last the hour & better get gloves. So went shopping & got gloves. High tide was due at 9.45am and it was now just after 9am. So Enda (who was in a great mood...the cold doesn't suit him!) insisted we would never make it to the beach now in time for high tide, and we'd just have to get a taxi and put the bikes in the boot!
Well if ever we had flashing signs saying ´PADDY´S APPROACHING´ it was that morning. The poor taxi man was clearly not used to being asked to put bikes in his boot...not like back home here! So Enda in his fluent Spanish with his hands waving in all directions & between pointing at the boot, the bikes and the map aswell as making whale sounds and movements he proceeded to explain what we wanted to do. Eventually the taxi man got the idea & with Enda´s help loaded the 2 bikes into the boot, and off we set for this remote beach.
Slightly worrying was that (for what was meant to be a one hour cycle), 40mins later doing an average of 50km per hour, we were still in taxi & no beach in sight! I was now seeing Enda´s sense in taking the taxi (he been the man is always right of course).
Whale´s tail
ANYWAY enough of the bullshit, we eventually go to the beach and my God was it worth it. A pebble beach in the middle of nowhere, and 15-20metres from the waters edge swam at least 20 whales splashing about. We both agree these whales have definitely been the highlight so far. Its so amazing getting to do something you never imagined you would. They totally mesmerise you, we watched them for over an hour and still with every tiny splash we were gasping with ´wow´s´ and ´awwww´s´ as was everyone else on the beach.
Mostly they raised their head for air then as they submerged they sprayed out the water through their blowhole, and then when their body was fully under the water, their tail appeared out of nowhere and slapped down against the water splashing it. A few did full leaps out the water, like a back flip, but they were further out from the shore & couldn't really be caught on camera. It was so unbelievably cold that day, they said it was -4celcius but it felt worse & sea breeze didn't help!
So the cycle home! Yes remind us never to listen to adventure junkie hostel owners again....it took just over 2.5 hours! One hour cycle my arse. Speaking of arses ye should have seen us trying to walk and sit after the cycle...we walked like ducks for 2days after, the pain was cat. Ok enough typing for now...that was only Thursday morning, Thursday evening was tour to sea lions which we'll write later xoxo
Comments
Endas whalesound (LOL)
Hi guys, loving the updates, sounds amazing. Great to hear the combination of pigeon spanish, gesticulation and whale sounds! I would have paid to see that. Keep up the good work, really enjoying the tales. T x