Monday, July 14, 2014

Whales in the Bay!


How exciting – there were whales in the bay right outside the inn today!  It is pretty amazing – when you can just walk across the road and see whales.  I guess there are still enough capelin around to keep them in the area.  It made for a pretty special start to the day.
Soon after we were on our way down the other arm of the Avalon Peninsula to go to Cape St. Mary’s.  Along the way we had an opportunity to pull off the road and take some pictures of the Picture plants that grow in the boggier forested areas.  They aren’t quite fully in bloom yet, but I was so happy to see this Provincial Flower. 
 
Often where you see the picture plants, you can also see wild iris.  They are both so beautiful and I was lucky to get good pictures of both.

It was a long drive down to the cape, but when we arrived it was absolutely beautiful and sunny.  We did a moderate hike to the viewing point and were awarded for our efforts.  Bird Rock was bathed in sunlight and the cacophony from the gannet colony was out of this world. 
Three of our senses were on overload – hearing, sight and unfortunately smell.  We had a good look and took lots of pictures and then began the 30 minute walk back to be completely fogged in by the time we were leaving the parking lot. 
Other visitors just pulling in, were not going to be as lucky as we were for the truly unhindered views of the birds.  The park naturalists said that the fog can roll in and blanket the cape for an hour or a month.  So I really felt fortunate to have had such a fantastically clear day for our visit.
On our way back up the peninsula, we ended up crossing over from Placentia to Colinet on 32 kilometers of gravel road.  It was very bumpy and dusty.  When we stopped to look at the fish ladders, the van looked like part of a crime scene investigation with all our fingerprints covered in dust.  Maybe the drive back to Holyrood will be enough time on the highway to blow all the dust away.

Tonight we are going to buy some salad and some shrimp and have simple and plain food for our dinner.  The food is so amazing at A Schooner Inn that we have never felt the need to have lunch…breakfast is enough!  However, when we go for dinner, sometimes it would be nice to have something plainer and not deep fried and even a glass of milk to go with it!

Tomorrow we will be up at the crack of dawn and off to the airport to fly to Halifax – we certainly have seen a great deal while we have been here.  We will be heading for our Lunenburg B&B – The Harbour View Inn.  Since A Schooner Inn has been such an amazing experience, I am looking forward to our next adventure in Lunenburg.

Ciao for niao!

3 comments:

Diana said...

Enjoying reading about your travels. Sounds like you are having a great time. Hugs

Brian said...

A small note from the Botanical Beast - Pitcher plant! It is the provincial flower of Newfoundland and Labrador. So named for its ability to trap water in its leafy pitchers and then trap ants and other insects as they climb down and can't get back up due to the hairs on the inside of the leaf facing downwards and preventing climbing back up!

I have been called to breakfast for one of Francesco's trout! Back later!

Brian said...

A small note from the Botanical Beast - Pitcher plant! It is the provincial flower of Newfoundland and Labrador. So named for its ability to trap water in its leafy pitchers and then trap ants and other insects as they climb down and can't get back up due to the hairs on the inside of the leaf facing downwards and preventing climbing back up!

I have been called to breakfast for one of Francesco's trout! Back later!