Monterey harbor is rife with sea lions. They are pushy and aggressive and loud as they jockey for position on the sand, breakwater, buoys, and anchored or moored boats, creating a din that rivals Pier 39 in San Francisco. Several years ago, they sank a boat sitting at anchor. We tied up in slip B-14, scouted out the local Farmer’s Market, met a long-time friend from Carmel for dinner on the boat, and made arrangements for the night watchman to come by the boat at midnight to check the engine wiring (Odyssey wouldn’t start unless plugged into shore power at Half Moon Bay this morning, and the night watchman is an acknowledged “engine guy”). The stars were bright, the night was clear. It was about 2:00 AM when we heard the night watchman: “Get out of that boat!” “Get out of there!” followed by “Hey, Marv, wake up, you’ve got a sea lion in your cockpit.” Fortunately, the forward hatch cover was almost closed, because as Marv came up from the rear hatch, boat hook in hand, the lion climbed up into the “oven” (the space beneath the dodger), but was ultimately persuaded to leave over the starboard beam. The alternative of a sea lion down the hatch and into the main cabin is hard to imagine (“Sell the boat” was one suggestion offered in that event). Next morning, we were told that “No one has ever had a sea lion come on board on the docks.” Nice to be a first. (Photos courtesy of the internet/Flickr.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment