Dyspeptic is the Merriam-Webster Word of the Day for May 25, 2025

“A formal and old-fashioned word used to describe someone who is bad-tempered (in other words, easily annoyed or angered), or something that shows or is characteristic of a bad temper”

Dyspeptic

I thought of the California sea lions, in particular the one who keeps hogging the boat ramp. We have the Jetty electrified but keep the boat ramp passable for the elephant seals. Unlike the sea lions, the elephant seals can’t bend their rear legs under themselves to move about over rocks or large obstacles. They can only drag themselves on their bellies by pulling themselves forward using their front flippers. The ramp is the only way for them to get on land here.

Today I watched the two larger elephant seals try to get to the water. He wouldn’t budge. They were forced to slither around him to the right against the jetty wall and over the bits of exposed rusty metal from the rails.  He even bit them as they passed!. A few hours later the small elephant seal was forced onto the rocks to the right side of the ramp. It was hard to watch the small one trying to get herself to the water.

I know this cracked tooth guy. He is reticent and very difficult to move. When I have needed to get the daily sea water readings,  I’ve tried the herding board on him many times but I need to get so close it isn’t safe to approach him. Today, motivated by his bad behaviour, I decided I needed to try harder. I used the wheel barrow, figured it would keep me a good distance away and I could drag the legs to create some noise and vibration. Works like a hot damn!

Facility work

• cleaned the solar panels
• cleared the north electric fence of vegetation

Vessels

• ecotourism: 7
• private:1

Weather

Winds 10 to 22 knots, variable throughout the day, from SE to NW.  Clear in the morning, cloudy in the evening – enough sun for the batteries; generator hasn’t run since May 20 :)