Tadoussac, Quebec
Last night we went back to the sushi bar for a scallop appetizer that we had enjoyed the night before. We ate dinner at Elements and it was the first poor meal we have had. We both chose the halibut and it was overcooked and really smelled fishy. We picked up some dessert in the Azure Cafe to enjoy in our room. Norma's cold seemed to have gotten much worse and we had an early night. She didn't sleep much as her coughing kept her awake. We have decided to have a room-service meal of hamburger and fries tonight.
This morning finds us sailing to Tadoussac where the Saguenay River meets the St. Lawrence and where an abundance of krill mean the presence of whales. The area is designated as a Marine Park. We saw three whale blows last evening but were too far away to tell what species. We are told that we might see 13 species of whales and marine mammals but wildlife sightings are not guaranteed on our whale-watching tour this afternoon.
This morning we pack! Hard to believe that the trip is almost over. Yesterday, I dispensed thank-you notes to some of the crew that have been wonderful to us and that is a signal of the beginning of the end.
Sandeep, our butler, exchanged our medium jackets for a small. We figure if we had been on the ship much longer, the medium would have fit! They are great jackets, waterproof with a zip-out lining that can also be worn as a jacket on its own. They are made by NorthFace. Thank Heavens, I asked one passenger where he got his jacket. When he told me that they were promised them when they booked, I inquired. I don't think they gave out very many of them as I've only seen three people wearing them. They only have men's sizes so perhaps that is the reason why they haven't been offered to everyone. Their secret is safe with us.
GREAT EXCITEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had just about finished my packing when the captain announced that Beluga whales were spotted on the Starboard side and, of course, we are on the Port side. We rushed out and were able to use the crew staircase to the Observation Lounge. And, there they were - a large pod. This was one whale that I really wanted to see so it was a real treat. I managed to get the Observation Lounge scope on them and we both had really good looks. I must say that Scenic invested in some really good birding scopes unlike Crystal that had purchased unwieldy hard-to-focus scopes like you find at viewpoints that are absolutely useless when it comes to spotting wildlife.
Back at the cabin, I no sooner got out onto our balcony when I spotted another whale about 10 feet away. I am sure it was a Minke as they have been spotted here and it was too small to be a Fin. I screamed for Norma so loudly that when I looked down the row of balconies, I saw that I had alerted several others to the whale. Further out we spotted another large pod of Belugas. Things are looking good for our whale-watching tour later today.
Our whale watching group was divided into two groups and we were led quite a distance from the pier to a place where we were give overalls and a heavy jacket which we were to wear on the zodiac we were taking. It was very warm and we had bundled up with several layers of clothing so were not too keen on adding yet another layer. However, it came in handy once we got away from shore. Two boats loaded with Scenic passengers left the dock in search of whales. Our first sighting was of harbour porpoises, next grey seals, then Minke whales, then humpbacks, and belugas. The other boat was in for a real treat. Two humpback whales surfaced right beside the other boat and began to play with it - pushing it, swimming underneath it, raising their heads up above the water! Raising their heads above the water is called "Spyhopping". What a treat for those on that boat. We enjoyed the spectacle too. The other boat was trapped for an hour as the captain couldn't start his engines and move away for fear of harming the humpbacks. We watched three of them display their flukes (tails) close to us. Boats have to stay 400 metres away from the belugas as they are endangered but they swam quite close to us. The captain of the other boat said that in his 20 years of whaling tours, he had never seen such behaviour - heard about it, but never saw it! Finally with great flashes of their flukes, the humpbacks swam away.
I asked one of the passengers if he would send me some of his pictures since I didn't take any. Too busy enjoying the moment. It was a perfect day - no wind and calm waters.
On our return to the room, the first thing Norma noticed was a variety of coloured balloons stuck on the ceiling - the second thing was a beautiful birthday cake. We plan to have that after our hamburgers. I am pretty much packed and Norma is busy working on hers.
We have to be out of our room at 8 tomorrow morning but don't disembark until 9:30
This morning finds us sailing to Tadoussac where the Saguenay River meets the St. Lawrence and where an abundance of krill mean the presence of whales. The area is designated as a Marine Park. We saw three whale blows last evening but were too far away to tell what species. We are told that we might see 13 species of whales and marine mammals but wildlife sightings are not guaranteed on our whale-watching tour this afternoon.
This morning we pack! Hard to believe that the trip is almost over. Yesterday, I dispensed thank-you notes to some of the crew that have been wonderful to us and that is a signal of the beginning of the end.
Sandeep, our butler, exchanged our medium jackets for a small. We figure if we had been on the ship much longer, the medium would have fit! They are great jackets, waterproof with a zip-out lining that can also be worn as a jacket on its own. They are made by NorthFace. Thank Heavens, I asked one passenger where he got his jacket. When he told me that they were promised them when they booked, I inquired. I don't think they gave out very many of them as I've only seen three people wearing them. They only have men's sizes so perhaps that is the reason why they haven't been offered to everyone. Their secret is safe with us.
GREAT EXCITEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had just about finished my packing when the captain announced that Beluga whales were spotted on the Starboard side and, of course, we are on the Port side. We rushed out and were able to use the crew staircase to the Observation Lounge. And, there they were - a large pod. This was one whale that I really wanted to see so it was a real treat. I managed to get the Observation Lounge scope on them and we both had really good looks. I must say that Scenic invested in some really good birding scopes unlike Crystal that had purchased unwieldy hard-to-focus scopes like you find at viewpoints that are absolutely useless when it comes to spotting wildlife.
Back at the cabin, I no sooner got out onto our balcony when I spotted another whale about 10 feet away. I am sure it was a Minke as they have been spotted here and it was too small to be a Fin. I screamed for Norma so loudly that when I looked down the row of balconies, I saw that I had alerted several others to the whale. Further out we spotted another large pod of Belugas. Things are looking good for our whale-watching tour later today.
Our whale watching group was divided into two groups and we were led quite a distance from the pier to a place where we were give overalls and a heavy jacket which we were to wear on the zodiac we were taking. It was very warm and we had bundled up with several layers of clothing so were not too keen on adding yet another layer. However, it came in handy once we got away from shore. Two boats loaded with Scenic passengers left the dock in search of whales. Our first sighting was of harbour porpoises, next grey seals, then Minke whales, then humpbacks, and belugas. The other boat was in for a real treat. Two humpback whales surfaced right beside the other boat and began to play with it - pushing it, swimming underneath it, raising their heads up above the water! Raising their heads above the water is called "Spyhopping". What a treat for those on that boat. We enjoyed the spectacle too. The other boat was trapped for an hour as the captain couldn't start his engines and move away for fear of harming the humpbacks. We watched three of them display their flukes (tails) close to us. Boats have to stay 400 metres away from the belugas as they are endangered but they swam quite close to us. The captain of the other boat said that in his 20 years of whaling tours, he had never seen such behaviour - heard about it, but never saw it! Finally with great flashes of their flukes, the humpbacks swam away.
I asked one of the passengers if he would send me some of his pictures since I didn't take any. Too busy enjoying the moment. It was a perfect day - no wind and calm waters.
On our return to the room, the first thing Norma noticed was a variety of coloured balloons stuck on the ceiling - the second thing was a beautiful birthday cake. We plan to have that after our hamburgers. I am pretty much packed and Norma is busy working on hers.
We have to be out of our room at 8 tomorrow morning but don't disembark until 9:30
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