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January 18, 2007 - The day of the dolphinsThe Suffolk Times • January 18, 2007.7A The day of the dolphins We get much enjoyment from our grandchildren. Tbey've passed through the cute and childish stages and are now on the bumpy road of learning what makes the world go 'round. One is studying to be a nurse, another a writer, one is working in the construc- tion business and one is in high school Why am I telling you all this? The one who wants to be a writer just sent me her thoughts about an exciting event she witnessed this past week. FOCUS But then Ill let Chelsea tell you �N the story. NATURE "wnatap- peared to be a by Paul dull, gloomy day for my friends and me, on our winter break from college, turned out to hold an adventure we never expected After My friend Babette received a call from her boyfriend that there was a pod of dolphins at Haven's Beach [Sag Har- bor], we rushed to the scene. My friend Liz tripped and fell in excitement on her way out to the car. Five minutes later we pulled up to the beach and rushed down to the shore. There they were, more dolphins than we could ever imagine and, of all places, in our tittle town at the end of Long Island. We were so enthralled by their natural beauty and the rareness of the situ- ation that we followed them to four different beaches, and then across the ferry to Shelter Island We got the clos- est to the dolphins in Smith's Cove, where one came within 10 feet of us "This was a day that we would always remember, and as the sun set we went back across the South Ferry and watched the dolphins jump and ptay as they moved further up the Peconic. Gazing at the horizon, I couldn't help but think that this year instead of sitting inside watching the snow fall, we were running from beach to beach watching these lovely creatures as they gracefully frolicked in our waters." After reading her story, Barbara and I decided to take a day and travel over to Sag Harbor in hopes of getting a look at these seldom -seen dolphins in our local waters It reminded me of when I was a teenager and saw dol- phins in Peconic Bay. In those days seeing those sleek, air-breathing crea- tures was not uncommon. I2 bet there are some of you who can also remem- ber seeing dolphins in the bays When we were first married Barbara and I were canoeing in the Sound when a large pod of dolphins passed close by. They were so close we could hear them breathe as they surfaced. From Cutchogue, where we live, it takes about equal time whether you drive around via Riverhead or take the two ferries and go through Shelter Island to get to Sag Harbor. Seeing it Catch Paul Stoutenburgh every week in TIMES/REVIEW NEWSPAPERS. was a goof -off day, we chose to take the more relaxing route and enjoy the day; each way has its advantages and disadvantages We asked the deckhands on the ferry if they had seen any dolphins "Nope. Heard some were around ... Round trip or one way?" There was no wealth of information there. In Sag Harbor we went to the police station to see if they knew anything about the dolphins in the area Yes, they'd heard some were around a few days before but didn't know where they were now. By this time we were getting hun- gry, so we decided to stop and get some hot soup to warm us up at one of the many eating places in Sag Har- bor. Sitting there looking out the win- dow, we noticed the first snowflakes of winter falling. We seemed to be defeated. No one could help us in locating the elusive dolphins. Then we got the bright idea to try to get hold of Chelsea. Thank goodness for cell phones. She didn't know where the pod of dolphins was but she had just passed by an area where a single dolphin seemed to be in trouble. She saw people from the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation at Atlantis Marine World videotaping and moni- toring a lone, confused dolphin at the edge of the water just off the highway. We decided it would be helpful if Chelsea could "walk us through" the direc- tions to the dolphin via cell phone as we drove along. "Drive to ... take a right ... go along Long Beach ... now fol- low the winding road, etc., etc" So we drove and drove, up and down the winding road, with Chelsea leading us by cell phone. Then we came to a tittle bridge and there down below was the dolphin going around and around The folks from the research foundation were busy videotaping the dolphin as Becky handed out infor- mation cards and explained to people `This was a day that we all would remember.' �z Suffolk Times photos by Barbara Stoutenburgh We found this dolphin Just below a small bridge, where It continuously circled near the shore. It was being monitored by the good people from the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation at Atlantis Marine World. who stopped what they were doing. It was good to see those dedicated people working under such harsh conditions We stepped out of a warm car into what seemed to be an arctic gale lad- en with bits of snow The temperature gauge in our car didn't read in num- bers; it read, "ICE." Outside Barbara could hardly hold the camera steady, the wind blew so relentlessly out of the north. This was a bit much. We tried to huddle behind one of the vans but when we tried to get out and take a picture, that arctic blast drove us back. We were dressed warmly in down jackets but the wind didn't seem to notice. With a scarf wrapped around her head, Barbara clicked away in the face of unbelievable cold and wind. Shaking from the cold, we finally headed back to the protection of our car. Perseverance had brought us re- sults, thanks to Chelsea's directions Now we knew the dolphin was in good hands and headed back home. The Suffolk Times • January 18, 2007 of t e dol —We get much enjoyment from our grandchildren. They've passed throug the cute and childish stages and are now on the bumpy road of learning what makes the world go 'round. One is studying to be a nurse, another a writer, one is working in the construc- tion business and one is in high school, Why am I telling you all this? The one who wants to be a writer just sent me her thoughts about an exciting event she witnessed this past week: FOCUS But then I'll let Chelsea tell you ON the story. N A T U R E "what ap- peared to be a by Paul dull, gloomy day Stoutenburgh for my friends and me, on our winter break ed y shins rom college, turned out to hold an adventure we never expected. After my friend Babette received a call from her boyfriend that there was a pod of dolphins at Haven's Beach [Sag Har- bor], we rushed to the scene. My frienc Liz tripped and fell in excitement on her way out to the car. Five minutes later we pulled up to the beach and rushed down to the shore. There they were, more dolphins than we could ever imagine and, of all places, in our little town at the end of Long Island. We were so enthralled by their natural beauty and the rareness of the situ- ation that we followed them to four different beaches, and then across the ferry to Shelter Island. We got the clos• est to the dolphins in Smith's Cove, where one came within 10 feet of us. "This was a day that we would always remember, and as the sun set we went back across the South Ferry and watched the dolphins jump and play as they moved further up the Peconic. Gazing at the horizon, I couldn't help but think that this year instead of sitting inside watching the snow fall, we were running from beach to beach watching these lovely creatures as they gracefully frolicked in our waters." After reading her story, Barbara and I decided to take a day and travel over to Sag Harbor in hopes of getting a look at these seldom -seen dolphins in our local waters. It reminded me of when I was a teenager and saw dol- phins in Peconic Bay. In those days seeing those sleek; air- breathing crea- tures was not uncommon. I'll bet there are some of you who can also remem- ber seeing dolphins in the bays. When we were first married Barbara and I were canoeing in the Sound when a large pod of dolphins passed close by. They were so close we could hear them breathe as they surfaced. From Cutchogue, where we live, it takes about equal time whether you drive around via Riverhead or take the two ferries and go through Shelter Island to set to Sae Harbor. Seeins it was a goof -off day, we chose to take the more relaxing route and enjoy th day; each way has its advantages and disadvantages. We asked the deckhands on the ferry if they had seen any dolphins. "Nope. Heard some were around ... Round trip or one way ?" There was no wealth of information there. In Sa, Harbor we went to the police station to see if they knew anything about the dolphins in the area. Yes, they'd heard some were around a few days before but didn't know where they were now. By this time we were getting hun- gry, so we decided to stop and get some hot soup to warm us up at one of the many eating places in Sag Har- or. Sitting there looking out the win ow, we noticed the first snowflakes of winter falling. We seemed to be defeated. No one could help us in locating the elusive dolphins. Then we got the bright idea to try to get hold of Chelsea. Thank goodness for cell phones. She didn't know where the pod of dolphins was but she had just passed by an area where a single dolphin seemed to be in trouble. She saw people from the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation at Atlanti. Marine World videotaping and moni- toring a lone, confused dolphin at the edge of the water just off the highway. We decided it woulc be helpful if Chelsea could "walk us through" the direc- tions to the dolphin via cell phone as we drove along. "Drive to ... take a right ... go a ong Long Beach ... now fol- low the winding road, etc., etc." So we drove and drove, up and down the winding road, with Chelsea leading us by cell phone. Then we came to a little bridge and there down below was the dolphin going around and around. The folks from the research foundation were busy videotaping the dolphin as Becky handed out infor- mation cards and explained to people `This was a day that we all would remember: Suffolk Times photos by Barbara Stoutenbu We found this dolphin just below a small bridge, where it continuously circled near the shore. It was being monitored by the good people from the Riverhead Foundation for. Marine Research and Preservation at Atlant Marine World. who stopped what they were doing. It was good to see those dedicated people working under such harsh conditions. We stepped out of a warm car into what seemed to be an arctic gale lad- en with bits of snow. The temperature gauge in our car didn't read in num- bers; it read, "ICE." Outside Barbara could hardly hold the camera steady, the wind blew so relentlessly out of the north. This was a bit much. We tried to huddle behind one of the vans but when.we tried to get out and take a picture, that arctic blast drove us back. We were dressed warmly in down jackets but the wind didn't seem to notice. With a scarf wrapped around her head, Barbara clicked away in the face of unbelievable cold and wind. Shaking from the cold, we finally headed back to the protection of our car. Perseveran't;e had brought us re- sults, thanks to Chelsea's directions. Now we knew the dolphin was in good hands and headed back home.