Sunrise to Sunset, and everything in between! September 25, 2012

Prelude:  We apologize to everyone for the technical difficulties experienced yesterday.  We believe somehow we got them sorted out!  Hope you find the read below worth the wait!  Enjoy!
                     PS - Sorry Joyce you didn't get "Storytime with Tricia last night!    ;-(

Today I witnessed simultaneously the tide approaching high tide and the sun rising for the first time on this trip.  Before you criticize me for this being my first sunrise, I'd like to remind everyone we are 1 hour ahead of you, and to observe one, you need to be on a shoreline by 6:30 at the latest.  For those of you who know me, I don't sleep in very often, but I traditionally wake at the same time every day.  Lucky for me, nature was calling early this morning and I woke to witness the dawn of what appeared to be emerging as a spectacular day! With opportunities on our door step, how could anyone possibly miss this.  Not sure, but when Ken wakes up, I'll ask him.

While on the shoreline I watched 3 fishing vessels make their way down the channel toward the open sea.  Sluggish but determined the vessels each tooted along at their own pace. 

The road which loops it's way from town around the peninsula and then out to the highway which exits the town, serves only one purpose and that's to follow the shoreline.  If locals needed to leave town for work or to complete their list of errands away from St. Andrews, there are streets within the town which lead to the only route out, other than using the peninsula road which would be slightly out of any locals route out of town.  It's not a busy road by any means, but what put a smile on my face this morning, were the number of folks who drove to the tip of this strip of land where I stood, each of them, men and women just sat in their vehicles pointing directly toward the sunrise and sipped their coffee.  At peek of the sunrise, most of them started their vehicles up again and proceeded on to catch up with the rest of their day. The smile on my face got bigger as I quietly answered a question I had recently asked a local from Fundy National Park while there:  "Do you ever get tired of this?"  Clearly for those who wake early to sip their morning brew while watching this very sunset, the answer was a resounding "NO".  I'd like to think I could be, given the opportunity, one of the locals sipping my peppermint tea, watching the sunrise, starting my day in perfect harmony with nature every morning.  Who knows, maybe THIS could be the start of becoming a "morning person"?!

Once Ken got up, we kicked off our morning with another bike ride into town, this time with the intention of spending money!  So far, Ken's been let off with little spending, well other than a quilt, but that writing was on the wall before we even left Guelph!

Our MONEY SHOT
Artist, Tricia Gray

As we headed for the shopping district in town, I pedalled into the more residential area where I was pretty sure would lead us to the town's lighthouse.  The timing was perfect, and I am providing you with my artistic rendition of what I have been calling my trip's "money shot"!  The sun was rising at the perfect time for me to position myself in a way where the morning sun shone right through the windows of the lighthouse glass.  I think I should submit this one to the province's photo contest!  People might pay enough to pay for the trip...okay maybe the quilt...alright maybe the activity we will be participating in later...well realistically, it should buy at least a round of "tea" during our afternoon tea at the local pub!

From here we parked our bikes and meandered through the town shops, observing their wares and 'oohing and aahing' at the resident artisans' creations.  Before we knew it, we headed back and change into warmer clothes.  Not because it was turning cool, at least not where we were, but because I had TWO Bucket List activities we needed to get ready for.

If you know me at all, I have ALWAYS wanted to go whale watching...and today was the day!  The other?  To board and sail on a Tall Ship, and now we can both say, "Check & Check"!

When we woke this morning, I heard the weather forecast calling for high winds.  I was hoping Ken wasn't paying too much attention to the forecast, because come "Hell or High Water" I was going Whale Watching today!  Besides, at 6:15 this morning, the ocean was as calm as our bathtub - well we actually don't have a bathtub, but if we did, it would be pretty calm I would imagine!

We arrived at the wharf at 1:10 pm, and boarded with 12 other passengers, and a crew of 3 or 4 depending on how you count them!  The wharf was at low tide, so we made our way down the steep gangway of the floating dock to the end of the floating peer.  Within no time at all the moored Tall Ship approached our position and on we boarded.  After the crew, Ken was the first one on.  We had amazing seats right at the front, on the starboard side of the ship.  The ship usually tours with 26 passengers in the peek of the season, but with the number we were travelling with everyone would have fantastic views to the experience.



Sandy (left), Audrey (right)



As we shoved off, the First Mate, Bob suggested we and the two other passengers (Sandy & Audrey) who sat to our backs on the port side were very brave to be up front, apparently, according to Bob, likely the wettest seats of all.  No sweat we think, we can manage sea spray.  As we left the harbour, the captain came on the loud speaker to suggest everyone on the starboard side were strongly recommended to get on the port side.  Who am I to argue, he should know, so over we shoved.  I snuggled up with Sandy and Audrey, from Bramalea!  They were a hoot!  We chatted about Bramalea, our drives, what we had seen so far and how long we had been on the road, all the while, snapping photos (of the hundred plus trees and rocks we have already captured throughout the previous part of the trip) as we sailed along.  As we moved further away from the harbour, we quickly learned 3 things: 

1)  When a Captain tells you to move to the other side of the boat, it's usually for good reason.  Likely he has some sort of inclination on what's up ahead;

2)  High winds = LARGE swells;

3)  Large swells = much more than ocean spray.

The pictures do not even come
CLOSE to depicting the actual
wave and swell sizes!

At a few points a long the way, anchoring yourself in any possible way far exceeded the importance of your personal viewing vantage point!  I found myself grabbing onto rungs on the bench which Ken was poised on.  Quoting Ken, he admitted to me and our new sailing partners Sandy and Audrey, "his butt cheeks were clamped on so tight to the bulk head, he was pretty sure they were leaving a permanent impression there!"  Sandy and I were howling in laughter - only thing is, when you are laughing as hard as we were, often your mouth is wide open.  Wide open mouths mean easy access to ocean waves, or as both Sandy and I pointed out, fish poop and whale pee!  Both Ken and I imagine at times the swells were about 5 feet.  (Later, this was confirmed by Kevin, the owner of the Red Herring when we stopped in after to have a brewed "tea" by a fishing friend of his who was also out in the swells in his small fishing vessel.)  Sounds crazy, but the ride was awesome!  Both Sandy and I said even if we didn't see whales, the adventure up to that point was worth the price of admission! (Although we both added and agreed we would have still been mildly disappointed.)

Before we even reached the point where we were to hover in hopes to view whales, Sandy and I had determined we were kindred spirits in so many ways, and the jokes continued to roll with the continuous rolling of our vessel in the open sea.  The whole journey wasn't rough, thank goodness.  Once we managed to reach a group of islands the waters calmed a tremendous amount.  The boat still rocked and rolled, but most of this time you could at least stand and stretch your legs.  Good thing, 'cause the wedgie I was starting to experience was becoming a little too personal!  The Captain explained to us Mink Whales have been spotted within the cover of the islands over the last several weeks.  After a leisurely slow troll through the islands, we came up empty.  We sailed past the protection of the islands, were we found ourselves back out in rough waters; hungrily look for that one glimpse of hope - whatever that meant.

For about a half an hour we coasted and bobbed along with other sight-seeing vessels in the open waters. 

The captain once again came on the loud speaker to explain one of the other vessels may have seen a spouting whale just port to where we were just past some small islands.  Almost in unison, all vessels darted in the same direction.  Once in position, we tossed and bobbed and I am pretty sure, even though it was completely unnecessary, we all held our breaths.  I know I did!  And then, we all saw the spray!  From here on in, the sighting was confirmed; everyone (including the crew) got excited and for the next 45 to 60 minutes we rubber-necked our way around the area.  Certain there were at least two, possibly even three Finback Whales in our area, they teased us, confused us, surprised us and amazed us.  The closest we got was one surprise spouting and quick view about 40-50 feet off our bow on our side of the ship.  Each siting was AS exciting as the last.  Suddenly we forgot about the rough ocean around us, the howling winds on our faces or the cold sea water dripping down our backs.  We were in the presence of greatness!  This mammal is the second largest mammal known to man and they were the entertainment, centre stage, right off our bow.

As we left this amazingly beautiful sight, the ship was turned about, heading for home.  Back in the shelter of the islands, we were served a delicious cup of Pea Soup (well Ken had a couple of cups!) and crackers - delicious!  In three and half hours we saw amazing coastal views, a lonely seal, eagles and other birds and Finbacks. To boot, we met two like-minded, crazy adventurers in Sandy and Audrey, and according to the crew once we were safely back to where we started this adventure, the ride today was hands down the most adventurous they had experienced all season long.  On top of it all, I don't think anyone "shared their Scrambled Eggs" as first Mate Bob says!  Double Bonus to everyone on board, because if ONE of us started, I am pretty sure we all would have been joining them!

Land at last! Tricia & Ken
brought Jolly Breeze safe to dock!

Once docked, we said our goodbyes to our new shipmates Sandy and Audrey, and headed for a pint and supper at the Red Herring.  We then strolled the evening streets of town, where a few stores were still opened.  Ken had another pint at the "Gables" and I had a tea.  We headed home for a well deserved shower.  Salt water is HORRIBLE when it dries on your skin, and it doesn't taste very nice either!

Ready for bed as soon as this is published, it has been yet another amazing day!  Admittedly, I couldn't help but think when we were out on the rough waters how my "last" bucket list activity went.  For those who may not recall, it started with a wedding and a horse and ended with bruises and a VERY sore body for weeks after!!  I wasn't about to express any sort of concern of any stretch of the imagination of my thoughts to Ken!  Turns out, my "Bucket List" jinx is gone by the wayside!  I wonder what will be the next thing I work towards crossing off!!  Certainly this entire trip and every single day within would qualify!

Tomorrow we begin our "turn about" back home.  Even though neither of us are ready to leave, we always knew it would eventually come to an end.  That's a hard pill to swallow right now, but we'll manage, even thought it may in fact put both of us in an "owly" mood as they say here, at least for a moment.

"Nellie" done here in New Brunswick.  Chat tomorrow,

Cheers,

Tricia & Ken