The afternoon sun was warm. After awhile, we forgot our mission (search of the elusive great white) and just sat there peacefully floating in the bay, soaking in the warm sun. A pelican flying overhead bombed my lunch pail.

Suddenly, I saw a huge, dark gray form pass between us. "Hey, what's that!?" I yelled at Joe. "Where?" he asked. "THERE!" I replied as a huge fin began slicing the water between us. I quickly grabbed my camera and took a picture as the huge beast surfaced between us and raised its head out of the water. Wow! What luck! I couldn't believe we were actually seeing this! Slowly it moved between us and then disappeared below.

We both looked in all directions and waited. Nothing. Finally we decided to head back in and agreed to paddle along the rocky breakwater where most of the sea lions were sprawled in the sun. As we paddled near, we thought it was pretty unusual that there were no sea lions in the water. Seemed they were all up on the rocks. We figured it must be sea lion siesta time.

We noticed what appeared to be a nursery of baby sea lions. As we approached, I saw something huge moving in the water. Way bigger than any sea lion. I got my camera ready (I'm studying photography in school and it's part of the program), aimed towards the figure, then SPLASH! It broke through the surface and lunged towards Joe! I don't remember doing it, but I clicked the camera and took the last photo that will ever be taken of Joe. He has now been lost to the deep. Maybe if we had been paddling real boats instead of sit-on-top kayaks, or another color instead of yum-yum yellow, Joe might have been saved. I don't know. Maybe we would have some of him back. I loaned him my best pair of Nikes that day.

I'm not sure what I learned that day but I do know this... you don't have to be able to out-paddle a shark. Just be able to out-paddle your chum. So, don't paddle alone!

Joe gets the surprise of his life
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Nothing left but plastic
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