A little bit about a lot of things:

• Still amazing, after all these years, at what new things one can find to see or do within about a two hour drive of the Central Valley.

Our most recent venture to the coast (and beyond, in this case) was another new adventure with a few pleasant surprises....

Kathy and I decided on this getaway to Monterey that we were going to catch a whale-watching excursion out of Fisherman’s Wharf, and were more than pleased with the trip.

The magnificent gray whales are migrating south this time of year, our marine biologist/guide explained, following their own highway not far off the California coastline (and occasionally finding their way into Monterey Bay).

You can see the whale spouts from the shore, and perhaps even get a glimpse of their mammoth bodies as the whales surface, but that doesn’t come close to the view from the boats.....although the ocean swells dictate that the trip is not for the faint of heart – or stomach.

While we weren’t able to get right up to the whales, we were plenty close enough to get a good look as they surfaced and then dove, displaying their massive flukes as they headed back to the deep.

That is one impressive, massive animal!

While we saw two dozen or so whales, the highlight of the trip was coming across a group of dolphins making their way down the coastline. The dolphins were frolicking as we approached, clearing the water and spinning their bodies with remarkable grace.

Our boat was first to the group of dolphins (alerted by our boat’s crew, three or four others quickly converged to allow their passengers to also enjoy the show). For nearly 10 minutes, our boat traveled with the group as the dolphins cut effortlessly through the water to either side, slicing through the waves in a precise, powerful arc.....I think that was the first time I have ever seen dolphins, and they are every bit as elegant as I pictured!

That alone was worth the price of the boat trip.

The crews emphasize that, while there is much to see in the bay and ocean beyond, every trip is different and there are no guarantees of success in the search for whales or other marine life (although a very high percentage of trips do find whales).

We would highly recommend the trip....although not for small children or for those who are prone to motion sickness.

A light snack ahead of time might be a good idea (we made the rounds to sample in front of wharf restaurants, which was definitely a better plan than eating a heavy meal before heading out), and we were both glad that we shelled out a couple of extra dollars for the motion sickness pills.

More than a few folks looked green by the time we were heading back in, and seemed pretty grateful to get their feet back on solid ground!

All in all......a trip worth taking!

• West Park fans and foes......and community members who simply have an interest in how the controversial Crows Landing airfield project may develop, mark next Thursday, Feb. 28, on your calendar. That’s when West Park will host a community open house to explain the project in greater detail.

The proposed land uses will be outlined, and number of West Park experts will be on hand to answer questions about topics such as traffic impacts, jobs within the industrial park, the rail component and how aviation fits into the overall picture.

The meeting will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the L.J. Newman Memorial Building.

West Park officials tell us the idea is to offer a picture of the project in its entirety, and to give community members the opportunity to get answers for their specific concerns.

West Park has received tons of publicity, but one of the frustrating aspects of the planning process has been the absence of detailed information.

Hopefully we are getting to the point where some solid answers can be provided to address the very valid concerns West Siders have voiced.

We are still anything but sold on this project, but are certainly open to learning more about West Park.

We encourage anybody with an interest to mark next Thursday on their calendar.

• The coaching landscape at Orestimba High School is going to look quite a bit different next year with the departure of Kerry McWilliams from coaching ranks after 29 years in one sport or another – including 24 at the helm of the varsity girls basketball program.

We appreciate all his help through the years, congratulate him on his many coaching successes and wish him the best in the post-coaching chapters of his life.

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