Today I randomly opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 97. With eyes closed, I pointed to the page. The word closest to my finger is “Bearings.” This is our prompt today.
Bearings by John W. Howell © 2026
“Are we lost?”
“No, dear. I just have to get my bearings”
“Everyone else is gone, and we are alone.”
“I told you before we stopped to eat that the group decided to continue on.”
“It is lonely without them.”
“That’s true. We’ll catch up to them when they decide to take a break.”
“So you know where they are headed?”
“Of course. We all agreed on the route. Now let me look at the landscape to make sure we are on the right heading.”
“Please tell me we are.”
“Yes, we are. There is no way to miss the Santa Monica pier.”
“Oh yes, there it is with all the bright lights. It is beautiful.”
“So we will proceed south, and I’ll bet everyone is resting near the Monterey Peninsula.”
“You are so smart to be able to navigate like this.”
“Aw, shucks, honey. It’s not my first migration, you know.”
“When will we get to the Baja Peninsula?”
“It is still going to be a couple of days. We are very lucky, though.”
“How so?”
“In the old days, our ancestors had to run a gauntlet of whalers to migrate. A lot didn’t make it.”
“That is a blessing for sure. Oh, look, I see some spouts.”
“Yup. Thair she blows. We found ’em.”
John, that’s what you call a real “whale of a tale”…🐳
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Yes sir. Thanks, Jim.
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And, l loved “Wife Wales” demeanor…such a sweet Cetacea🐳
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Glad you enjoyed it. 😄
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Ya got me. I thought geese. That Jim guy is really smart. I never even heard of “Cetacea”. Nice short story John
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Ha ha ha. He is for sure.
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My brain also immediately jumped to geese. Nicely done, John.
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Thank you, Laura.
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I initially thought you were talking about Monarch Butterflies and I have changed my mind and think it’s California Grey Whales.
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Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner. 😄
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It helped that I have lived in both the Monterey Peninsula and San Diego, so was familiar with both species
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Thanks, Pat.
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I happened to live in both the Monterey peninsula and San Diego do I am familiar with both of them.
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😄
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Best to bring road snacks. That way you don’t stop and get left behind.
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Yeah, lesson learned.
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This was delightful. The conversation and the final reveal were so well done.
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Thank you, Kymber. Glad you liked it.
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Well done.
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Thank you, Craig.
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Oh but of course, you got me there but I should have know traveling there often. Whales 🐳 tales are the best!
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The grey whales are the best.
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I didn’t get it until the final reveal. Well done, John.
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Neither did I, Esther!
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Always a treat to pull the wool over such talented eyes.
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😁
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Thank you, Esther. 😄
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Fantastic, John! 😊 It’s good they can see the pier.
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Yup. They follow the coast to stay on track. Thanks, Tim.
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😊
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I was thinking birds, then seals.
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Could be either of those. Thanks, Liz.
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You’re welcome, John.
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A whale of a tale, John!
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Thank you, Bruce. 😄
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Let’s hope those whale tails aren’t flukes. 😉 Nicely done, John.
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Thank you, Monika. 😄
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Unlike everyone else commenting, I was in a car right up to the very end! Whales wouldn’t fit in my car, though. Good’un, John!
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Could be a car. In fact, I was hoping everyone thought it was a car.
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Didn’t think of the whales, but thought of geese or pelicans!
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Those are good guesses. 😄
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My first thought was seagulls but then wondered if they actually do migrate!
Good one, John 🙂
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Good question. I don’t know.
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I bet you had fun with this story, John. 😊 BTW, the Santa Monica Pier mention brought back memories — all fond. Have a great day!
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We enjoyed Santa Monica too. Thanks, Gwen.
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Well done, John.
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Thank you, Dan.
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Aww, this is a sweet whale of a tale 🐳🙂🩷
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Thank you, Marie. 😄
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Big smiles, John!
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Love it, Jennie.
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Thanks!
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😊
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