I just saw this story about sea otters in the Santa Cruz/Monterey area and had to reblog it. Before I moved to Mexico, my husband and I used to kayak in Elkhorn Slough, a small river that ran down to the ocean in the Monterey/Santa Cruz area. I had an amazing experience with sea otters in this area when I became separated from Bob. I was floating down the slough and noticed one sea otter, then two, until I was surrounded by a ring of sea otters that kept floating closer until they formed a circle around me. At least one was on her back with a baby on her stomach and suddenly they all started singing! It was the most surreal experience. They floated closer and closer and finally I broke the circle and paddled down the slough toward the ocean where Bob and friends were waiting for me. When I read this story, it all flooded back to memory.
Chris found this story about a California Otter stealing surface boards.
See entire article, video and photos.
By Holly Honderich in Washington
If you were to take a swim in the clear blue waters surrounding Santa Cruz, California, in recent days, you may have encountered an unlikely predator. Small and dark, whiskered and fluffy, she has developed a knack for theft and a taste for surfboards.Her name is 841. She is a sea otter.
For the Love of Challenges
I’ve gathered a list of challenges and their hosts. So if you know a challenge host, please direct them to my blog. Feel free to contact me anytime. I hope everyone will be able to use my lists.
Qi (energy) hugs
Cee
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 
What a delightful encounter you had! There otter be a way for you to shoehorn that vignette into one of your books!
LikeLike
Perhaps..I really haven’t written much about my years living in California, except in journals I haven’t dipped into.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmmm. Sounds like potentially a pre-quel to Innocents in Mexico? I’d read it.
LikeLike
I have the post-quel (yes, made-up word) to Innocents in Mexico to get out first. So little time, so many words.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh what an magical experience you had. Thanks so much for sharing it with us bloggers 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very cool experience!
LikeLike
It was. Wish I’d had a phone to record the sounds..This was pre-cellphones.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I sent your post and article link to a friend in Vancouver who’s worked with sea otters at the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre there. Your personal sea otter encounter is amazing!
LikeLike
I tried listening to sounds of sea otters but they didn’t sound like what I remember “my” otters as sounding like. As I recall, it was a sort of crooning. Perhaps your friend can tell me if I’m crazy or not.
LikeLike
Maybe it was a special performance just for you. 🙂
LikeLike
A benefit of getting separated from the pack.
LikeLike