We had another morning walk around the neighborhood today. We went down different streets and saw different homes, and still very interesting and beautiful.
Sea World today. In spite of the fact that Kent is morally opposed to keeping intelligent animals in confined tanks, he came along, and we all had a great time. Once again, it was a beautiful day and there was much to see and do. There are a few silly rides at Sea World, and after going on a couple, we went in search of marine life. We found it. We went to three shows--sea lions, dolphins, and orcas. They were all fun, and Brandt actually played a small role in the sea lion show (more on that to come). We got wet, some wetter than others, and we lost Blythe for a couple of minutes, though found her quickly. We enjoyed seeing other animals, like penguins, walruses, belugas, and flamingos. Another fantastic vacation day.
There were some small rides just inside the park in a Sesame Street themed area. I am at a loss as to why Sesame Street has anything to do with Sea World, but there you are. They were little rides, but the kids all seemed keen on riding. These first pictures are on an Elmo fish ride. (What?)
This was an Oscar the Grouch worm ride that went back and forth and around.
(Again I say, "What?")
Brandt was bopping back and forth between two flexible mats.
It was kind of a funny thing.
On our way to the Sea Lion show, we came across an enclosure with sea lions. They were very active, swimming and leaping up on the rocks. There was a woman talking about them, giving those of us watching interesting tidbits about their behavior. They were incredibly vocal. There was a little kiosk where you could buy fish to feed the animals, and they were well aware that fish was on offer. Some of them didn't seem to care much, but several of them were up on the rocks, looking out at those of us looking out at them, and, for lack of a better word, yelling for fish. One in particular just sat there with his mouth open, barking at us, insisting someone throw him a fish. So people did, us included. He was so persistent.
This is also the spot where we lost Blythe. Not really lost, just got separated from. We had all been standing around and then began to move towards the show. I thought Kent had Blythe and Kent thought I had her, but neither of us did. Kent was ahead of me with Brandt, and when I caught up and asked where Blythe was, we instantly realized she had been left behind. I turned right back, and really, we hadn't been apart from her for more than a minute or two.
That was enough. Blythe was standing with the woman who had been talking about the sea lions, on the verge of tears, obviously telling her that she couldn't find her mom or dad. I called to her and rushed right up, and she leapt into my arms, overjoyed to be reunited. While it didn't seem that big of a deal to me, we really had only been apart maybe two minutes, Blythe was fairly traumatized. She was clinging for quite a while afterwards. But the woman who helped was very nice and gave Blythe a fun card about a seal, then showed her one in the enclosure. She rallied.
The non-aquatic mammals gazing at the aquatic mammals.
These birds knew a good thing too.
They wanted fish as much as the sea lions.
This sea lion is yelling,
"Throw me a fish! NOW! In my mouth!"
The first show we saw was the sea lion show. It featured two very large sea lions, an otter, two trainers, and a very goofy actor. "Biff" was wandering around the set and the seats before the show being quite entertaining, and he called Brandt out of the audience to come help him. We were sitting close to the front in the soak zone, and Brandt was wearing a bright orange minion shirt, so he stuck out.
Biff had Brandt stand at a spot, then backed away from him maybe 15 feet. He motioned for Brandt to move towards him, which Brandt did, right up until the point that Brandt almost ran into him. Biff held up his hands and had Brandt back up, but when he got too far away, Biff motioned him towards him again. Brandt walked forward, but again, when he got right up to Biff, Biff motioned him back. He did that one more time, then, when Brandt was close to him again, motioned towards and away at the same time, making everyone, including Brandt, laugh.
Biff then squatted down and, with hands joined, encouraged Brandt to put his foot in his hands and he would launch him into the tank. He motioned that he would toss Brandt in, showing his hands, until Brandt realized how silly Biff was being and turned and walked away. Brandt handled himself so well, considering that he doesn't like to be the center of attention. He was totally the center of attention, and I could tell that people thought he was darling. How could they not?
Stand right there.
Come this way.
A little closer.
At this point Biff said "Whoa!" and had Brandt begin to back up.
That's far enough.
A little closer.
Back and forth at the same time!
Let me give you a hand up.
Come on!
I'll just help you jump in.
What?!
Where are you going?!
Our star performer.
He's getting "soaked" in a fountain of water coming out of that post behind him.
The actual sea lion show was fairly silly. The sea lions performed several tricks, as did the otter. They danced, swam on cue, balanced balls on their noses. They raised flippers on command, and seemed only to want a bit of lovin' and several fish as reward for their good work. We were close to the action, but didn't get wet. Then we were off to the dolphin show.
The dolphin show is by far the most exciting. Trainers are in the water with the animals, there is much leaping and splashing and swimming around. Lots of splashing too. Lots. The young kids wanted to sit right down front and center, even though they were warned that they could get wet. They didn't care. Kent and I, and Eugene and Sharae, sat down by them, though not on the front row. I was glad we were back several rows because Brandt and Luke, and to a lesser degree Ava, Makenna, Blythe, and Collin, all got absolutely soaked. Brandt's shirt was sticking to him it was so wet. But it was very exciting and no one seemed to mind getting wet and everyone dried off quickly.
Those in our party who did not want to get wet.
They are sitting nice and far back.
Front Row Joes
Here is the part in the show when the dolphin swims by along the window of the tank and flips its tail, splashing water on all those in the front two rows.
Brandt is waiting, yes, even asking for a splash.
Dolphin winding up for the swing . . .
The really big splash.
Alright!
They are wet, but undaunted.
Uh oh.
This larger dolphin swam towards us.
Its splash was much larger.
Brandt ended up much wetter.
Much, much wetter.
Maybe that wasn't so terrific.
Leaping dolphins, however, are terrific.
From the dolphin show, we made our way towards the orca show, with a stop for some lunch. The food at all the parks was grossly overpriced and not really all that great. Oh well. I suppose we were paying for the experience of being in a really fun environment. The orca show was fun, though not as fast paced as the dolphin show. The trainers aren't in the water with the animals, but they leap around, splash, and slide up onto the viewing podium close to the audience. We didn't get wet at this show, and the children were sort of disappointed (they had dried off). I could certainly understand why orcas are top tier predators; they are enormous! I can't imagine being a considerably smaller animals and being hunted by a killer whale. Yikes!
This whale was splashing, but we were far enough away that we didn't get wet.
Those people on the other side of the stadium did get wet.
Really wet.
Although you can't really tell from this picture, there is a baby whale here.
Having done all the shows, we spent the rest of the day doing some rides and seeing the marginally less popular animals. There is a raft ride that the kids went on several times. I wanted to go initially, but as people were getting off soaking wet, I decided that late in the day, I didn't want to end up cold, so I didn't go. The kids were fine the first two rides, but the third time, they both ended up soaking. Brandt and Griffin got into a big dryer near the end of the ride, but Blythe didn't for some reason. She was cold, and we ended up taking off her shirt and having her wear Grandma Sue's jacket. While it helped a bit, her skirt was still soaking wet, and she spent the last hour shivering. The sun was setting, it was cooling off, and even though the day was warm, being soaking wet when it is 65 degrees isn't super comfortable. Poor thing.
Rowen, handsome indeed in his french fry container hat.
Pictures of our group in the rafting ride.
At the end, with no one really super wet.
As a result, they all ran back to the line immediately to go again.
Round two
Brandt is having a great time!
At the end.
Christopher, Griffin, and Brandt got really wet.
They got off.
Everyone else went for a third time,
and they regretted it.
Not only was Blythe soaked, Crew needed a new, dry shirt.
In the dryer.
Their feet stank!
My somber, little gray dolphin.
While Blythe is almost the size of a baby dolphin, I'm short for a grown one.
There is a sky tower ride in the middle of Sea World.
You ride up a big pole which the circular car spins slowly, overlooking the park,
then you descend again.
Nice and relaxing.
Some of our party wanted to go ride a roller coaster thing, and Blythe wanted to be part of that group. Brandt and Kent didn't, so I started to walk towards it with Blythe. As soon as it came into view, she said to me, "I do not want to go on that thing."
"That's the thing we are walking towards. That's the thing you said you wanted to do," I replied.
"I've changed my mind," she said emphatically. We went to look at penguins with Kent and Brandt instead.
My little hatchlings.
I don't know what is covering part of Blythe's picture.
We went into the Arctic area. To get to the animals enclosures, you go on a helicopter ride simulation. It was fun. Brandt really liked it. I loved seeing the beluga whales. They are beautiful, all white, and smooth looking. We watched them for quite a while. There was also a polar bear and some walruses.
We walked past these flamingos on the way out of the park.
I love their hot pink plumage!
This one was giving me the eye.
This was perhaps Brandt's favorite part of the park.
It is a tank of cleaner fish, the kind that will suck dead skin off your body.
They tickle!
They especially liked Kent.
He must have been really scaly.
Neither of the kids looks especially thrilled about being here.
In their defense, it is the end of the day, we have been going, going, going, and they are wet.
In spite of what this picture indicates, we did have a great time at Sea World.
We had a relatively quiet evening. When we got back to the house, Blythe and Brandt both had a warm shower. Blythe felt much better (we had much less whining). While everyone else went for Mexican food for dinner, we opted for other things. We went to a cafe called Tender Greens, a slightly more upscale version of Zupa's. We had salad and soup, yummy bread, roasted vegetables, and cookies. It is a chain, and I wish they had one here. I would go regularly, if only for the roasted veg. When we got home, we did reading and got in bed to recharge for tomorrow's trip to the zoo.
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