There’s nothing like spotting a whale at sea.
We set sail aboard this awesome tall ship from St. Andrews-by-the-sea in the Bay of Fundy.
I’ve intended to go whale watching for the past 7 years. I grew up in New Brunswick, I was obsessed with whales as a kid, and I’ve studied the Bay of Fundy in every Marine Biology course I’ve taken. Yet every summer seemed to come and go before I could take a trip to St. Andrews-by-the-sea, for my intended whale-watching adventure. So this weekend I was thrilled to finally take the plunge.
I’m often asked how I discover things, so I thought I might add this information to future posts. I researched whale-watching companies online and found myself captivated by the Jolly Breeze tours website – mostly because it was well maintained and the writing was both humourous and informative. I was particularly mesmerized by the idea of traveling on a souped-up tall ship – although I recognize that this mode of travel might be a little bit slower than the alternative tours. I enjoy a good boat ride, so this suited my interests perfectly. Oh, and they offered a complimentary breakfast… that’s how you really win this girl’s heart.
Cute little building, eh?
The experience was fantastic. We arrived well-ahead of our reserved 9AM time-slot and were soon sitting on board the ship. The crew was friendly and the ship’s owner was particularly enthusiastic – cracking jokes that helped us to shake the morning exhaustion. The ship’s deck was outfitted with plenty of seating area, and we were offered extra coats and blankets for warmth – an offer I couldn’t refuse on this chilly September morning.
Despite the fog, I had a pretty good feeling as we sailed into the unknown.
A bald eagle sighted on shore.
The tour went better than expected. For a long time it seemed that we all just stared out at the foggy horizon, hoping to catch the sight of a fin breaking water. In fact, from time to time I spotted a porpoise leaping from the water, or the head of a surfacing harbour seal amongst the waves. But there was a long time where it seemed that we would not catch a glimpse of our intended species.
At long last, upon reaching our farthest destination the folk on the opposite side of the ship let out gasps and cries. They had spotted a whale – I couldn’t have been more envious. I quickly adjusted myself for maximal viewing, but I was unable to spot anything amongst the churning waves. I stared for what felt like an age, until I saw the most fleeting glimpse of a large fin breaking through the surface. Not epic blow hole water show, no tail flipping up, and certainly no massive whale body leaping from through the air – but I had seen a Minke whale (according to the ship’s crew).
The staring when on and on, but it wasn’t until we’d turned back and all become fascinated with the on-board touch tank that a second spotting occurred. This one was much more evident, although I didn’t have the time to both experience and operate a camera. My boyfriend managed to capture a series of Lochness monster-esque photo of a Humpback’s fin emerging from and disappearing into the water. It was a humpback whale. I’d seen it. There was photographic evidence. Bucket list check.
Those grey blobs? Harbour seals. Trust me, I’m a Biologist.
This was a truly spectacular ending to my summer and an experience that I’ll never forget. I would recommend the Jolly Breeze tour: it was fairly priced, the crew was pleasant and enthusiastic, the commentary was great, there was a touch tank, plenty of activities to keep kids entertained, and plenty of other little perks mentioned above. I know that everyone in my group had a wonderful time. I’m really glad to have had the opportunity to see a whale at last!
Filed under: Environmental, New Brunswick
