Comment from Whitewave

Excellent

So, seeing the whales up close is one thing but too close for comfort is quite another! A great picture of one of nature's most amazing sea creatures. I guess it wold only take a little spout from one of these to completely swamp the 'Motor Vessel, Spout'.

 Comment Written 11-Jun-2022

---

reply by the author on 11-Jun-2022

Hello Whitewave,
Thanks so much for the great review and comments. These animals are so big that it wouldn't take much at all to swamp a boat. One fellow who owned a sailboat had a Humpback come under him and sank the boat, and it wasn't all that small.
Have a blessed day.
Tom

Comment from Jannypan (Jan)

Excellent

Well, the first mistake was paying to go watch whales, Tom, but I
guess one can't stand on the bank and see them. The company
in charge of the sight seeing must have been family owned and
operated. I'm happy no one was lost overboard. [I know this is
fiction.]
Thanks for sharing, Jan

 Comment Written 09-Jun-2022

---

reply by the author on 10-Jun-2022

Hello Jan,
I, of course would never pay to see whales. One day I was fishing in Icy Strait, and my gear kept snagging some little creature that looked a bit like small strands of spaghetti with two little black eyes. Apparently there was a regular bloom of whatever it was, because almost every Humpback whale for miles around came to feed on it. I counted 42 of them, the best I could tell, since some where always sounding. Actually, you can see whales really close to the beach, sometimes just yards away. Especially when there are herring pushed in close. Of course the tour companies don't want to let on about that, they wouldn't make any money. I actually had one surface right next to my boat when I was tied up at the cold storage dock selling fish. I could have dropped a golf ball down it's blow hole. Frankly it was a little unnerving. They could sink the boat without too much trouble. Thanks so much for the fine review and comments. Have a blessed day gal.
Tom

Comment from jessizero

Excellent

It should have been fun . . . That's a great start. The rest of the story was great, too! I like that you leave them waiting for a tow into town. Thanks for sharing!

 Comment Written 09-Jun-2022

---

reply by the author on 09-Jun-2022

Hello Jessi,
While this is just a fiction story, I've heard of several scenarios like it play out here in Alaska. Too often young people are hired without any experience. In at least one instance, a party of fishermen or whale watchers died when the boat they were on hit a rock which was marked on a chart, but the captain in charge was ignorant apparently. Thanks so much for the great review.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom

Comment from Bill Schott

Excellent

This seventy-five-word story, Things Not to Do, has the proper word count and gives this scenario as one of those things not to do. The whale encounter will definitely be remembered.

 Comment Written 08-Jun-2022

---

reply by the author on 08-Jun-2022

Thanks for taking the time to read and review this little seventy five word story. I appreciate it.

Comment from Gypsy Blue Rose

Excellent

Excellent entry for the 75 Word Story writing prompt contest. It's pretty funny :)

Good flash fiction about fun adventure gone wrong.

It flows well with descriptive words that paint a clear picture...

Good luck in the contest.

Gypsy Blue Rose
"The poet waits quietly to paint the unsaid."-- Atticus

 Comment Written 07-Jun-2022

---

reply by the author on 08-Jun-2022

Thanks for this great review and the comments. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I love the quote from Atticus. Thank you for sharing it.

Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

Lol. Oh well. Perhaps that young captain got a date despite the disaster! I remember being really seasick trying to view whales. I blinked and missed what everyone else saw. Best wishes in the contest!

 Comment Written 07-Jun-2022

---

reply by the author on 08-Jun-2022

Oh my, I can't imagine getting seasick. To add insult to injury, you missed the very reason you were on the water. Life just isn't fair sometimes.

Comment from GARY MACLEAN

Excellent

Always scary to me to go out in water deeper than I am tall. Your tale just validated my fear.

A couple observations

5th sentence: add comma after "So"
Last sentence: "in to" should be "into"

 Comment Written 07-Jun-2022

---

reply by the author on 07-Jun-2022

Thanks so much for the review and the corrections. I'll make them. I like going out in the boat, just not when someone else is steering.

Comment from Iza Deleanu

Excellent

This is too funny, I laugh my pants out:) "The "captain" was some college kid who was enamored with one of the young female passengers. We saw the whales up close alright. Now we're bailing water and waiting for a tow in to town." Thank you for sharing and good luck with your writings.

 Comment Written 07-Jun-2022

---

reply by the author on 07-Jun-2022

Thanks for the great review. I'm so glad you enjoyed this little seventy five word story. When you're in the same vicinity of whales, it's always a good idea to be paying attention. They go where they want to and we're no match for them.

Comment from John Ciarmello

Excellent

Ha! this is a great 75... I enjoyed that the captain was a college kid hooked on a young passenger and not paying attention. I guess you can't believe everything you read in the brochures.

 Comment Written 07-Jun-2022

---

reply by the author on 07-Jun-2022

I can promise you that you can't! I've listened to several tragic scenarios play out on the VHF radio because un-trained persons were given the responsibility of running a boat that they weren't qualified for, and the passengers just assume that they are in good hands. Thanks for the great review.

Comment from Wils

Excellent

I know it's not a comedy but I can't help but smile at this one. The thought of the flirty "captain" and your wet predicament. Hope this isn't a true story. Thank you for sharing.
Geoff

 Comment Written 07-Jun-2022

---

reply by the author on 07-Jun-2022

Thanks for reviewing this story. No, it's not true, but it wouldn't surprise me any. The part about hiring college kids is true though. Many lodges hire them to run their clients around.