hey Pete, i've heard of , never been to Block Is. sound. there must be a few surprises waiting for you out there. i used to paddle up around Mendocino some. Whales going north off the coast 1/4-1 mile. Paddling by myself too far off the coast is disconcerting. I followed some about midway between cliffs and where they were at the edge of the current. I'm going towards Cabrillo Lighthouse about 2miles away. The coast dips, as I had become accustomed to them being a few hundred yards out I was quite suprised to find one the same distance straight ahead. I get a little anxious when there's an animal in the water my size or bigger. The whale was bigger.