Kayaking with a Sailing California Sea Lion

   Well, we took off from Kingsley (the ETC mothership) aboard our double inflatable kayak, paddling towards the West Point Lighthouse (we always go there!).

Paddle boarders in the distance towards the Surf Ballard beach and the Locks

Then, all of a sudden, we noticed a black fin in the distance...

Was it a whale? It swam closer...

Then it got this close...OK, not really, I just zoomed in with the camera.

It turns out it was a California sea lion 'sailing'. This involves a sea lion swimming, usually with one flipper up in the air, in an effort to regulate body temperature. The real name for this is thermoregulation. People usually mistake this and think the sea lion needs help but it is totally normal folks, relax and let them do their thing!
   ~Paul, Amber, Sea Lion (we made him an honorary club member for the day)   ETC

The lighthouse wasn't that cool now...compared to the sailing wildlife anyways...