We have been very much lazy the last two days. Waking up and being kissed by the sun we drive to Bay Bulls, NL south of St. John's, NL to take a boots tour to the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve in the hope to see some whales and the ever amazing Puffins amongst other bird life. It is pretty cold out at sea, and it didn't take long until the first one shouts out "whale" and we see the back of a humpback whale. And sure enough a bit later there are some minke whales floating through the waters. Minke whales very seldom breach, so they look more like huge dolphins gliding though the water, even though they are much larger.
Minke Whales out at Bay Bulls
After that we continue to sail to Gull Island to pay a visit to the vast bird population of Atlantic Puffins, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and other gulls and seabirds. Gull Island is part of the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve and known for its hundred of thousands of birds inhabiting this rock.
Kittiwakes and Puffins on Gull Island
After a couple of hours at sea we are happy to return to land and to warm our bones again. We take the long way back and make a stop at Quidi Vidi, and artist village in the North of St. John's. Unfortunately the village / artist studios are still closed today and we decide to return tomorrow again. Our friends Elaine and Jim are picking us up early evening and we spend some good time again together over some fish and chips and Elaine's to die for cake. Then it is time to say our good-bye to them and we hope it will not take another two years to meet again.
Quidi Vidi Brewery and Ian Gillies' & Marc Fiset's sculpture "The Fishery"
"The Fishery" by Ian Gillies and Marc Fiset in Quidi Vidi was originally created at the Burning Rock Festival on Fogo Island, NL in 2021 and then moved to Quidi Vidi as part of the Art Search. It uses recycled steel from the fishery and comments on the important role fishing plays in Newfoundland's history and culture.
"Moratorium Cod Drying" by Kevin-Barry Martin
"Moratorium Cod Drying" by Kevin-Barry Martin at The Inn by Mallard Cottage in Quidi Vidi is a conversation piece that explores the history and cultural heritage of this region. It uses a combination of antique cod liver oil bottles necks and copper nails repurposed from boat building, as well as modern materials like those used for clothesline and wood.
It was a bit windy today
Today we run some errants around town first and then do some sightseeing by driving up to Pouch Cove, NL. Unfortunately today is again a gray day with some drizzle, so we limit our outdoor activities but return to Quidi Vidi and strolled a little around. Once again only a few artist shops are open, most of them are still in the process of setting up for the season. So the Quidi Vidi brewery becomes very attractive and sitting on the deck overlooking the harbour with a good pint and a seafood chowder compensates for the lack of art viewing. On the way back to our hotel we stop for some needed maintenance to the car, getting the tires rotated and an oil change done. Now we are ready for another 10,000 miles.
Tomorrow our time here in St. John's will come to an end and we will tour South on the Avalon Peninsula to pay a visit to the Mistaken Point UNESCO World Heritage Site.
"The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance." - Aristoteles, Greek philosopher and polymath, 384-322 BC
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