The day before, it was easy to find a whale cruise. Businesses like this were set up in several locations on the wharf. We booked tickets for the early cruise the next morning.

Our boat was a reasonably large craft called the Princess. It had sufficient decks for watching, as well as a warm interior for escape from the cold morning.

The Caroline, a smaller boat from another company, beat us leaving the harbor for the ocean.

The Princess had a spacious deck that allowed folks to both sit and to walk past. This man walking down the deck wore an amazing shirt.

On its way out into the Pacific Ocean, the Princess passed the city of Carmel.

Waves pounded the rocks lining the shore at the end of land just before the ocean.

Monterey was backdrop to whale watching that morning. Still misty because of moisture from departing rain storms, the hills formed a relaxing background.

On the other side of the Princess, opposite the land, were dozens of fishing boats busily at work at the edge of Monterey Bay.

Folks on a sailboat also watched whales that afternoon. Notifications of sightings were broadcast on the marine band for all to hear.

The Caroline boat closed to our position to get a better view of passing whales.

The presence of the Caroline in the background illustrated the size of the humpback whales that were eventually seen.