Summer by the Sea

It has been just over a week since my last posting and time continues to fly by. I have spent the last seven days on the wonderful isle of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

The first highlight of the week was not whales, but an entirely different creature of the sea. We were miles off the coast, looking for whales, when we stumbled upon a bait ball. What happened next felt like a scene out of a BBC documentary. Within an instant there were several hundred-pound blue fin tuna leaping out of the water after their quarry. These overfished giants moved with speed and grace that seemed far too great for a fish of such size. Not only was the school made up of several dozen blue fins, but they also stayed in the area for almost five minutes before moving along in a southerly direction. For a fish that can disappear in a blink of an eye, these tuna definitely graced the morning with a once in a lifetime appearance.

            The whales themselves were a bit slow in coming. We managed to find them every day, but sometimes there would be only a few individuals found during the entire eight hours we were out looking for them.

            Several days ago we happened upon our first minke whale of the season. These guys are often nicknamed “stinky minkes” because they can pop up once and then disappear for twenty minutes, never to been seen again. This one stayed by the boat, following us for several miles before we had to leave to get back to the harbor. Since I took photos on the big camera (named “Leroy”), I’ll have to grab them to put up later! Yet still the pilot whales were still scarce.

            However, yesterday was different. We left the harbor to find many pods of pilot whales swimming around Pleasant Bay. After a day of whales, we were treated to a social gathering of many groups during the late afternoon. There were spy hops, breaches, and an array of other playful behaviors. The whales were also very vocal during the whole encounter.

            We went home that evening to find that we could watch the whales from our front porch! They stayed in the bay in front of us until after the sun set.

            I find myself wanting to say that each new day is the best on yet. However, there always seem to be new adventures to be had and more phenomenal memories to be made. Today this continued as we went on a zodiac ride after our work was done on the larger boat. In the perfect light of the late afternoon sun we saw many groups of travelling and feeding pilot whales, as well as many of the epic sweeping cliffs that this side of Cape Breton has to offer.

            These are a few of my highlights from this week! I will try to post again soon with some more pictures from this adventure.

Fair Winds

From West to East

I've done it! After the better portion of the day spent travelling, I have finally arrived in the city of Halifax to begin the next chapter of my life. The trip from Vancouver to Calgary was rather uneventful and short. Since the day was clear, I was able to marvel at the beauty of the Rocky Mountains from many thousands of feet above them.

With only a few minutes to catch my connecting flight, I ran to the gate, boarded the plane, and found my seat. As the jet took off, I was able to see the flat farmland of Alberta stretching for miles to the east. The cloudless skies continued into Saskatchewan, but by the time we passed over Manitoba, I was catching only brief glimpses of Lake Winnipeg through the thickening clouds. That was all I saw until we landed in Halifax (where the cloud cover was so low that we couldn't see anything until we were almost on the ground). It was also raining... I have to say that this made me feel as though I wouldn't have such a hard time getting used to the climate here :)

I have yet to explore the city and visit the university, but for now I am settling in and adjusting to the four hour time difference. It is now time to get some rest and I will write more soon!

Fair Winds!

The road goes ever on and on...

       Despite the best of intentions to continue writing, I have not used this blog in a long time. Hopefully I can begin again, as I enter an new and exciting chapter of life... grad school! Finishing my undergraduate degree this coming spring, I have acquired a part time job of searching for programs and potential supervisors for next year. It has been a gruelling process and the cause of many sleepless nights. I know that it will somehow all workout. Until then I hope and pray that I am making the right choices.

      I suppose my new years resolution will be to keep everyone updated on this process and my adventures throughout grad school (whether hat be sailing the seas in search of whales, climbing remote islands to count seabird colonies, or sitting in front of a computer analyzing data). But for now, I must get back to schoolwork!

       Fair Winds

Of Days Long Gone

This summer ended on a rather crazy note. Shortly after orcalab, I headed off for an amazing voyage around the northwest coast of Vancouver Island on the Pacific Swift, a 111' wooden topsail schooner. It was a great time of fellowship and reconnection with the crew, who have had such a positive influence on me during the past seven years. By the third morning I was out on the deck in the rain, fully immersed in gutting fresh lingcod and snapper (aka rockfish). Being curious about all things biologically related, I was fascinated to find a whole, undigested, mini octopus in one of the large fish's stomach! It never ceases to amaze me how at home I feel on the rolling waves. My mom sometimes says she thinks I'm a "silkie" and that I belong by the ocean.





The highlight of the trip was Boat Sunday, and the amazing service under the stars in a place called Pretty Girl Cove. Afterwards, protected from open ocean, we watched the moon set and the stars fly across the heavens. The skipper was playing music; he is one of the best guitarists I have heard and makes instruments as well. It was a trip to remember, and I am so grateful for the friends and memories made while sailing the high seas.





Summer passed into fall, and fall into winter. Here I am in the middle of another semester. I've got great news! I'm volunteering again at the end of the summer on SALTS. I'm also going to Hawaii for a travel study in May so hopefully this blog will be updated on a regular basis in the future. I want to thank you all your prayers. These last few years have been full of learning, adventures, and awesome times. Yes, they have had their challenges, but these have been made small in the face of all the good things that have occurred.





Fair winds