A day at the beach

New Zeeland, South Island, December, 2006.  My wife Sue and I just had lunch at Waxy O’Shea’s, an Irish Pub in Invercargill, a quaint upbeat little town whose most illustrious resident inspired the movie “The World’s Fastest Indian”.  We agree to head to the shore on the south edge of the island.  Sea- lions will be basking there after months at sea.  We dawn our light yellow jackets which are needed.  A stiff breeze is blowing inward from the direction of the tumbling waves.  We look in the direction of Antarctica three thousand miles beyond the horizon.

Scores of sea lions scattered along the beach most looking dead asleep.  But not the biggest one.  He is on patrol keeping the other lesser males away from his beautiful harem.  They all seem quite indifferent to our presence.  Signs tell us do not get too close.  We don’t have to be told why. We are strangers for sure but we are also the only ones anywhere in sight.  No threat are we.  Camera ready enjoying the bright sun, maritime air, and raw nature before our eyes.

Suddenly from the raft of lions out at sea a youthful lion arrives at the foamy edge of the deep.  Mister biggest sea-lion takes note immediately.  With surprising speed he slides with an ambulatory gait directly towards the young interloper.  My camera is ready for the encounter.  The newcomer heads back into the surf and Mr. biggest sounds a few grunts of satisfaction.  Slowly he flips and flops back to his sleeping group of much smaller lions.  But again, a new guy comes back ashore this time with a little more bravado.  Mr. biggest heads towards him again.  But newbie stands firm.  They meet.  Tension is present.  A number of the sleeping queens raise their heads.  A few docile males take a peak.  A few squawks, grunts, cries? are bellowed.  But no fight.  They seem to recognize each other.  Was this the prodigal son returning after being lost at sea? The youngster skirts around the biggest guy and ambles over toward the now noisier group.  We anticipate some vigorous action but alas they all flop down again still needing rest and no sign of recreation, just yet.

Soon the newcomer was completely assimilated and seemed to be embraced by the fatigued rookery and falls asleep amongst the rest of the bulbous group.  It’s too nice a day at the beach to get upset at anything,  but to enjoy a needed snooze.

Sue and I sat there marveling at being so close to natural events of creatures never seen before by us or perhaps by any other person.  The scene continues with sea lions arriving almost on schedule, the schedule of nature not of man. A few hours pass.  The group nearly doubles in size as we smile just watching and trying to understand this little niche of the world so very far from our home, from our past, and even from our future.  A day at the beach with sea lions.