Harley's Humpbacks: Whales in Edmonton by Harley Reid

Date: October 2003

"Whoosh," goes the mighty humpback whale as it exhales with explosive force. That is the unmistakable sound the gentle giants make as they surface to breathe again before continuing on with their whale business. "Whoosh." This time the whale sound echoed in our front room waking me from a Sunday morning nap. Then, four whooshes, one following the other. Was it a sign? A gathering of the Prairie Humpbacks, Edmonton Chapter? I raced to the sliding glass door, pushed it open and stepped out on our balcony. I was nine floors up, on the south bank of the North Saskatchewan River facing the Telus Tower. My heart was pounding as I quickly scanned Edmonton's beautiful river valley for whale signs, the tell tale waterspout as they blow, the curve of the immense body as it surges forward. Even with the river¹s water level at an historic low I hoped to see them slipping and sliding eastward following the river's current. Not a sign. Was October 19, 2003 going to be another whale-less Sunday? All of a sudden the autumn colored riverbanks trembled as the grand daddy of all whooshes rattled the Richter Scale and there they were. Moving effortlessly eastward, they passed the Legislative Buildings and were approaching the James McDonald Bridge. As they drifted by me tears clouded my eyes. It was a true Kodak moment, a grand sight to behold, a pod of four brilliantly colored hot air balloons, and their propane burners whooshing to heat the air and keep the giants aloft. Maybe we get whales next Sunday.