Thar She Blows !

Wow, what a day. We make our way from Port Blandford, south-east toward St. John's with a couple of stops along the way.  Our first diversion takes us through Wittless Bay to Bay Bulls for a look at some of the largest mammals on earth and some of the cutest, funniest birds on earth.

I don't think any of us were prepared for what was about to take place.

The kids are listening to the tour boat operator... 

...  and watching the picturesque landscape ...

...  from homes with a view ...

...  to rocks carved over eons ...

... when suddenly ...

... this happens ...  

...  three humpbacks ...

... putting on an incredible show ...

...  up close and personal ...

These shots are not zoomed in and in some cases it seemed they were almost close enough to touch. 

Some of their fin slaps actually got us wet.

I have dozens of shots like this. These beauties frolicked along side our tour boat for at least 20 minutes until it seemed after a final wave goodbye, they swam off. Perhaps they needed to rest before their next performance or maybe needing to find a school of capelin for lunch.  

Our next sight was incredible in a different way. Puffins nest in hillside burrows.

They are cute little guys but look incredibly awkward in flight, apparently needing to flap their wings up to 400 times per minute to avoid dropping to the sea like a stone. 

A cousin to the puffin are murres, seen here by the thousands on their rocky nesting grounds.
I have never seen so many birds in one place, anywhere, anytime. Advice to anyone who may take a similar tour....  wear a hat, an easily cleaned jacket and don't look up... 

Next stop was Signal Hill. Not only important for it's military significance, but also as the place Marconi received the first ever wireless trans atlantic radio transmission.  

The view from Signal Hill to Cape Spear which housed concrete bunkers and heavy artillery to protect the east coast during WWII. Cape Spear is also the most easterly point in North America.
(Post Trip Correction...  This shot is actually of Fort Amherst as seen from Signal Hill. Cape Spear is several miles south east of this location.)

The view from Cape Spear back toward Signal Hill

It was interesting to see how short a distance (relatively speaking), it is from Cape Spear to many destinations across the Atlantic.


We finished today off with a wonderful meal at Raymonds on Water Street in St. John's. It is said to be one of the best restaurants in Canada and it didn't disappoint.
Only one day left to see more of St. John's before heading home Friday.