Grandkids, Round 3 Part II

     After exploring beautiful Cape Breton and the Cabot Trail, Jeff and Becca and family returned to Halifax and spent a few days exploring our neck of the woods.

Low tide

     Friday we headed to Brier Island where some of the best whale watching is. We stopped on the way to check out the levels at low tide in Margaretsville. We'd been there before for a few minutes with Stan and Melanie. This time we did a tide comparison. We took pictures on Friday on our way . . .

. . . and another on the way home on Saturday. At low tide the water was out past the end of the pier. At medium high tide one of the boats was out setting traps. High tide came after dark so we didn't wait around for that.

     We had to take two ferries to get all the way down Digby Neck to Tiverton and across Long Island and then to Brier Island. Papa said it was his first time on a ferry, and Jacob was pleased to have beat Grandpa at doing something (they'd just been on a ferry between PEI and Cape Breton the week before, so it was no big deal to him--he told Papa not to worry).

     Once we got to the Brier Island Lodge (not as majestic as the name sounds), we got settled in and then went to check out the seal colony on the other side of the small island. Supposedly it was a short, nice 10-minute walk. It was more like at 30+-minute hike through some gorgeous scenery. Apparently we'd just missed seeing them all over the rocks because the tide had come in and they were out feeding.

On the way to see the seal colony

     Jeff had seen a sign advertising a breakfast at the fire station. It took a little sleuthing, but we finally found it (the locals appeared to know exactly where to go--it was a busy place). They put on an impressive breakfast at a very reasonable price, something that couldn't be said for our other meals on the island.

Hard at work

     We went back to seal cove again and saw a few seals, but the tide was out again.
     Then it was time to get on the boat that would take us out where we might possibly see some whales. Becca had researched things and found a highly recommended company, Brier Island Whale Watching. When we talked to people at breakfast about it, they all said it was the BEST of the whale watching groups.

     In their literature they said that while they can't guarantee whale sightings, they would do their best and stay out as long as possible in hopes that we'd see some. They even gave the rather nebulous promise that if no whales were sighted, at the discretion of the captain, we would be given a return pass--which doesn't do us much good if we can't go back another day, so we had high hopes.

     Although we all had jackets, we appreciated the fleece blankets they had on board for our use. It was overcast and pretty cool out on the water.

     The Bay of Fundy is one of the best places for whale watching because the dramatic tides stir up the food the whales like to eat.

     It didn't take long before we started seeing whales. Lots of whales. Literally, tons of whales! Many of them swam close to the boat. They get to know the sound of the engines of various boats and know there's nothing to fear from the familiar ones, but if a new boat comes into the waters, they steer clear until they learn it's not a threat.

We mostly saw Humpback whales

On its side, waving a pectoral fin

You don't want to be downwind from a spouting whale--they have terrible breath!

This whale came up about 40 feet from the boat

Three traveling together

Waving goodbye before heading down deep to feed

     It was an AWESOME tour. As soon as we got off the boat, it was a mad dash to get to the ferry. If you miss the ferry, you have to wait an hour for the next one. They're timed so that you can get across the middle island to the next ferry if you don't stop along the way.

     On the way home we stopped to eat. Eliza got a kitty cat pizza.
   
     Sunday morning they headed home. That was the last of several weeks of visitors. The Johnsons (Mom, Scott, and Mary Jane) came in May, Stan and family arrived the last day of June, Brad and family came the end of July, and Jeff and family arrived a few days later. We've loved, loved, loved having visitors and it made up for those we didn't get in Siberia.