K & L's Travel Blog

Today we went on our whale watching trip.  We had beautiful weather, clear skies and warm temperature.  It was cool in the wind on the boat but they had warned us so we were bundled up.  I remember well all our discussion when we bought the tickets at home.  We choose the “middle” tickets: not the cheapest but not the most expensive.  What our tickets got us was a covered deck behind the captain.  There were about 10 people in our area and maybe 40 or 50 people below and just a few in a glassed-in area with food up front.  What I enjoyed the most about our area was how easy it was to run from side to side.  It was worth the extra money.

We were both clear that we did not want to ride the “Zodiacs.” These are the small yellow rubber boats that speed close to the water.  We could not even imagine getting into one let alone out!

Almost immediately we saw a big bunch of Belugas.  They look like big white pillows floating and bobbing on the water. They have their babies each year in this area and then migrate down.  

Yesterday we went to national park and took a hike out to an area where the Belugas are generally seen.  The hike was labeled EASY.  It was pretty flat with some steps but 6 kms was hard on me.

The mosses in the woods were beautiful but no Belugas.  I was exhausted when we returned and I went to bed a t 8:00 PM.

But today there were tons of belugas.  Next, we saw some Minkes breaching.  We saw so many that it got old hat and I stopped screaming “Lorena! Lorena, look!” And then we were privileged to see humpbacks spray and spray water as they get their breath and then boom, their tails goes up in the air and they dive down.  They stay down various lengths of time and you can tell the type of whale by the length of time they are down.  We had a French speaking guide who taught us along the way. I kept having to ask Lorena to translate. I think we were the only two English speakers on the boat.

We saw dolphins, seals and a group of tuna leaping in the air.  The guide said the tuna was unusual.  Next the boat went up the fjord and we imagined how the Appalachian were formed with glaciers from the north on down. 

Lorena was keen on the beer she’d had at Casta Fjord, so we stopped at the small brewery near our rental, and lo and behold the bartender/co-owner also owns our house!  She said had never met one of her renters before.  We had a good chat and marveled at her English. And the beer was good too!  

After a 10 minute grocery stop the car battery was dead again.  We have driven it for four days without trouble.  Lorena went into the store and came out with Jacques who jumped the car in two minutes.  Her French is getting a real work out. I just hope the car will start tomorrow but this time we have so many more resources than when we got stuck on the side of the highway.  I am trying not to worry about it and just look out over our wonderful views.