That picture brings back fond memories. My husband and I were traveling from Seattle to Oregon to visit his daughter and we spend the night in a beautiful bed and breakfast in Astoria Wash. I went for an early morning run and ran out onto the docks because they were so huge and I thought it would be a memorial first time run experience. I'm running along and I look over at one of the finger docks and it looked just like that picture! Apparently those guys come up and sleep there in the early morning and then catch the sun before they take off swimming and feeding during the day. Being the animal love I am I was so fascinated I stopped running and walked out on the finger dock. I got to within about 10 feet of the pile when a couple of them looked up to see who was disturbing their rest. They were so adorable and as usual I had no fear. I start talking to one who were awake - like they knew what I was saying! Suddenly, one huge one just rolled over into the water. I'm so fascinated that I just stand they watching when all of a sudden he silently pops up in the water right at my side and he just stares at me. Somehow I got some brains and thought I bet he is going to knock my off the dock into the water.....so I slowly start backing up, keeping my eyes on him, like I could get away from him! I backed off the finger dock and kept backing up, not taking my eyes off him for about 50 feet and then turned and ran. He was so still, the water didn't even ripple but he never took his eyes off me. As I am running off the docks I then see signs everywhere "Danger, sea lions are dangerous wild animals". I couldn't wait to get back and tell my husband and he drove down to the docks and looked from the car. The woman who owned the bed and breakfast told me I was very lucky, the big guy must have liked me because they have knocked people off the dock and tried to drown them. I think of it as a very fond, yet stupid memory.
Later in the day we went back down to the docks, we talked to a boat crew that was loading up for a 3 month excursion, they go from there to Alaska to fish. They showed us the boat and where they store the fish, it was amazing. Since then, when hubby has watched the fishing reality shows I think of those very, very young me who were packing up that boat to fight the sea.