FISH HOEK, Cape Peninsula, South Africa, October 1, 2005 — Trying to see the whales intentionally is best done from a boat. A friend of Mags' had recommended a tour that went out of nearby Simon's Town. While I was reading the paper and having a cup of coffee this morning, the friend called with a phone number and Mags called straight away and they said they had places on the nine o'clock boat and she booked me.

I gathered up camera, Mags' binoculars, and a few things and she took me to the place and I got a ticket and was fitted with a slicker and life jacket over my own jacket. We climbed aboard and after we'd motored to near Muizenberg, the

captain urged us to get up front. The first whales we encounted shied away. The two of them were probably mating, the captain said. Then we found three who were just curious. They weren't too active but we got very close to them laying off in the water with one dead ahead and one to port and starboard.

We motored off to see some others who were diving. On the way back in some of the passengers wanted to see some Fish Hoek property from the water and we ran into Fish Hoek bay which, of course, I now consider my stomping ground. "My" whale wasn't there, however. Nor did we see sharks there. More on that later.

Mags picked me up when we docked. I saw these whales up close. The only way it would be better is if they'd breached and I got a picture but come to think of it...they were so close that I might have gotten a bit wet.

Mags made a stew and got into a rugby match. She and her friend Beattie are big fans of rugby. This match included their favorite team from the Western Province. I'll say this for rugby: it's more comprehensible than cricket. But then I'm not a big fan of watching sports on TV. Oh, maybe I'll watch the World Series when I get home.

Sue called and told us to turn on the news at one point. Brian was standing there in the news coverage where they showed a kayak with a shark bite. It will be the big news in tomorrow's paper:

Yep, that's Fish Hoek beach and Brian has been working with lifesavers on spotting the Great Whites.

The rugby game doesn't go well until Beattie shows up. The tide turns. I walk Duffy dog around a few blocks. (She's come along with Beattie.) We ate the stew with some red wine for Beattie and I.

Nice day.