<>In Tofino, I spent a few hours bouncing around in boats hoping to spot migrating gray whales. In celebration of this experience, here are a few notes:

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1. It gets REALLY cold on the ocean in the winter
2. A group of male sea lions hanging out on a rock is a “colony”
3. Gray whales have two blowholes, so their exhalation at the surface is often shaped like a misty heart
4. Harbour seals are very curious
5. Sea otters like hanging out on their backs, and are quite comfortable in the middle of nowhere, in big waves
6. Eagles build large nests
7. 4 metre swells can make you feel a bit queasy

P.S. I did get to see gray whales: about seven of them. They were absolutely remarkable, like chocolate-brown dinosaurs with gnobbly spines and big tails.

(Photo courtesy of Monica and Margaret - thanks!).