Day 2: Today you will travel on a 46-foot passenger vessel to the islands of the Ecological Reserve which lie just a few kilometres off the east coast of Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula.
The reserve contains North America's largest Atlantic puffin colony. More than 260,000 pairs of the province's official bird nest here during the late spring and summer. Notably, Witless Bay Ecological Reserve also hosts the second-largest Leach's storm-petrel colony in the world-more than 620,000 pairs come here to nest. These population estimates are an important indicator of the health of the world's ocean.
The east coast of Newfoundland is home to some of the planet’s largest gatherings of marine wildlife. Every spring the world’s most abundant marine mammal, the harp seal, hauls out on the pack ice that drifts south in the arctic springtime. Millions of these animals give birth to their pups just east of St. John’s. Soon after the birds start breeding the planet’s largest gathering of acrobatic Humpback whales arrive to join the marine feeding frenzy taking place off the Avalon Peninsula every spring and summer.
Next you will visit the Geo Centre and speculate about what we can learn about the ages of the earth from the rocks. Newfoundland and Labrador has been called the “Galapagos of Geology” and the “Proving Ground for Continental Drift”. The province features the earth's oldest rocks, visiting icebergs, recent glaciers, precious gems and minerals, fossils, ancient volcanoes, and rocks thrust up from the mantle of the earth.
From the centre you will travel to the top of Signal Hill to view erratic boulders, investigate a small geological fault, and immerse ourselves in the hill’s history of battles, aviation milestones, and communications breakthroughs. We take a group photo on top of Cabot Tower, Newfoundland’s most famous landmark before returning to our accommodations.
Day 3: You will depart St. John’s and head south to the continent's most easterly point at Cape Spear National Historic Park. The lighthouse was built in 1836, making it the oldest and most photogenic lighthouse in Newfoundland. Look for whales, wander through the World War II gun batteries and learn about the lighthouses and maritime adventures of earlier times.
Next you will travel to the archaeological site at Ferryland where we learn the story of the first Lord Baltimore and the New World’s early colonists. From 1504 onwards, various fishing captains and even pirates - known as privateers in those days - made use of Ferryland Harbour. Here we learn about archaeological methods and learn about the food and medicines of the 17th century.
Further south there are whales, members of the world's most southerly caribou herd, a tern colony, and the Mayflowers first New World landfall and our host introduces us to these more distant wonders.
Day 4: Visit and learn about a salmon restoration project (fish ladder, counting trap) on the way to one of the world's most spectacular seabird colonies at Cape St. Mary's Sea Bird RookeryCape St. Mary, is one of the largest, most accessible and spectacular seabird rookeries in the world. Located at the south-western tip of the Avalon Peninsula, a four-pronged land mass connected by a narrow strip of land to the rest of the island, the reserve protects hundreds of thousands of birds who breed and nest on the islands and coastal cliffs of this rugged landscape. The unfolding of a complex and vivid history that began in the 1500’s, includes a most interesting account of the struggle to build and maintain a lighthouse at Cape St. Mary to guide navigators past its formidable headlands. The high sea cliffs serve as a perfect viewpoint to watch the whales cavort around their northern coastal feeding grounds.
We look at various specimens in the bus and look out the window at the fishing gear in the communities as we ponder the ocean. Look for moose and caribou on our way back and forth between Cape St. Mary’s. Tonight we enjoy a Newfoundland feast.
Day 5:You don't need any prior paddling experience to join this one da y sea kayak adventure. The sea kayaks are stable and very sea worthy, ideally designed for exploring the unique coastlines of Newfoundland. During the trip you will learn about the area's marine biology: how to identify different species of whales and dolphins, as well at low tide you will examine sea urchins, stars, mussels and squirts. There will also be an opportunity to explore sea caves, waterfalls, arches, tidal flats, beaches and unique geology. If the timing is right there is a chance you will encounter whales, dolphins and experience massive icebergs drifting near shore.
Day 6: Depart for home with memories of a dramatic destination and new friendships.
Submitted by shawnstratton on Sat, 2006-04-01 21:41.