The South Riding RV Travels

337

31st July 2007 - Cheticamp NS - Whale Watching

From Baddeck we set off along the Cabot trail to Cheticamp on the western coast of Cape Breton Island. The coast up here is famous for whale watching. There are numerous tours, some from converted fishing vessels and some on these inflatable Zodiacs. We opted for the Zodiac because apparently they roll less. They can travel up to 50mph if the sea is calm - and it was.
Travel is slow whilst in the harbour as we pass the fishing vessels. Fishing is still a primary industry around here but only a shadow of its former self.
The town is quite low lying and protected only by these boulders. Fortunately we are still in the Gulf of St Lawrence and not facing Atlantic gales.
The outskirts become little boxes on a hillside as the boat ramps up the speed for the half hour journey out.
The predominant species found here are Pilot whales. They grow to 15-20ft long and the males can reach 3 tons. The females are smaller and carry their babies for 16 months. They weigh 100kg when born. They travel in small groups or pods of up to 10 feeding on small fish and particularly squid.

We did find some and followed them for almost an hour. They can dive and disappear for several minutes.

We watched the whales about a mile offshore and closed with the cliffs on the way back. This was a waterfall into the sea which was visible from where we were watching the whales so was quite some size.
The scenery here in the Cape Breton National Park is very rugged with well worn rock faces made of very hard rocks. The boat is picking up speed now as we head back.
The cliffs are quite steep as they fall to the water with fairly dense trees above. However we did have an eagle eyed boatman looking out for us (or was he warned  in French by others - he claimed he was Scots and spoke no French....)
High above us on the cliff edge was this bear right at the limit of our telephoto as we rocked about in the boat.
While down at the bottom of the cliff there were caves hiding who knows what....
And a last look at the cliffs as we cross the bay back into Cheticamp harbour.