During my daily climb last 3 Mouse, I took a route that faced the harbor on the South Tower cliffs. I spent all my remaining light that day not climbing but watching the antics of the finpod and the dolphins visiting them that day, as they swam and played far below me. I had heard of dolphins growing up, of course, and seen pics and vid. You can well imagine that they don’t much prepare you for the in-person experience. I dreamed about them that night, and the next dawn I was on the beach, waiting and watching for my new obsession to return.
The casualness and ease with which most Outreachers welcome you into their daily lives still slips my grip at times, but it worked well for me here. The finpod were quite easy to converse with, and they were willing to let me do a rotation of interning with them to meet the dolphins properly. Unfortunately, it required me to practically disappear from the rest of my life for the duration.
In fact, I’m due now for one of my last two negotiated sessions, so I’ll have to come back later to tell you all more about it. But it’s time for me to get back on the Mesh and I really do miss my climbing routine, no matter how clever those slippery mammals are. Plus I’m still training for my next Rider run, coming soon to a harbor near you.
–Fali
I know exactly what you mean, Fali. I’ve never studied them, or even gotten to know them, but there’s a pod that shows up right outside my kitchen window, and I can watch them for hours. And have, when I should have been doing other things.
-Jik