A Whale but no Puffins

We headed out this morning for the return trip south back to Port au Choix and the beginning of the end of our time in Newfoundland. Our first stop was the museum at the Port au Choix National Historic Site where we met up for about the tenth time with a senior bus tour group. While all the buses look the same, I assume we've been seeing different groups, but it does make me a little concerned that we're choosing the same stops as senior citizens. 

Port au Choix has several maritime archaeogical sites dating back at least 6,000 years and has some of the densest artifact concentrations in North American.

Part of the Parks Canada property includes a series of trails leading through a forest to part of the excavated site.

We got to the main site area where more than 50 house circles from a PaleoEskimo seal hunting camp were identified and then walked the short distance to a bluff overlooking the beach to enjoy our 100th bag of Miss Vickie's potato chips. We need to support Canadian companies, after all.

Site being excavated back in the day


I'm really enjoying "hiking" in Newfoundland because just about every trail we've been on has included comfy chairs or benches at regular intervals. Check out this set up! Just as they have been every day, my eyes were trained on the ocean hoping to see a giant whale leaping up out of the water. Today I had the added knowledge to look out for the telltale spout of misty water. We may not have seen any whales on the whale watch, but Captain Paul trained us all to spot them.

Midway through cramming some chips into my mouth, I saw something out of the corner of my eye and grabbed the binoculars (FINALLY it paid off to lug them around everywhere). I screeched to Jen and jumped up and saw the spout again but this time with a flash of black! it was an orca! We only saw the fin and didn't get any photos, but goddammit I saw a whale in Newfoundland! It was even more spectactular because we saw this orca at the exact same place people saw orcas 6,000 years ago.


We ended the day in Rocky Harbour and had another great cod dinner. I've realized the classic meal here consists of an all white plate: pan fried cod, baked potato, tartar sauce, and coleslaw. Believe me, I'm not complaining. I added a cup of all white seafood chowder today just to mix it up.


 

    


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