April 22: The right whales did not come last year. But they are here yesterday and today. Just cruising our Atlantic Ocean coast of Brant Rock with their mouths wide open fishing. The Brant Rock section of Marshfield is named for the Brant ducks that live here. Seagulls are flying all around them, catching what the whales miss. An airplane from the Boston Aquarium is keeping track of them and actually took a count.
Boaters from Greene’s Harbour are out taking photos. These whales can grow to be 59 feet long. That is two telephone pole lengths, end to end. Green Harbor is named after the first mate of some ship that was called Mayflower. He was called William Greene in 1620. For 10 points, who was the captain of that ship?
You do not even need binoculars they are blowing water as they travel and are easy to spot.
The right whales know to come now, before our Massachusetts fishermen set their lobster traps, which the whales know they can become entangled in. Some kind of ducks follow them also. Brant Rock has hundreds of people observing from the seawalls.
In March, this section of town was hit by waves that were twice the height of the beachfront homes. The photos made the national news. A few of those homes are totally missing now. But everyone is smiling today. It is finally a beautiful sunny mid 50’s day. Boston’s ocean water temperature is 43. Nantucket Sound is registering 45.
Marnie and Sandy were interviewed and photographed by the Patriot Ledger News out of Quincy.
“ Here comes summer. Well go swimming every day. Here comes summer. Meet the gang at Joe’s Cafe" (1958)
