Marine Mammal Interpretive Center

The interpretive center was a short walk from the hotel. 

We walked through this jawbone of a blue whale (the largest whale) to enter the dinosaur hall. 

The pin whale is the second largest.

All whales used in the exhibit were dead when they were found.

This humpback whale was only 13-16 months old. It was just back from migration in the southern waters.  If you look closely, you can see two small bones two thirds of the way down the spine. These are the remains of their back legs which evolved to be unnecessary.

Baleen whales use baleen to filter water to eat plankton. Whales with teeth eat small fish. 

This dinosaur has teeth.

 

Peat Moss and Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park

Two distinct experiences today: peat and whales.

 

Entrance to the peat bog. 

Peat moss is partially rotted plants and greenery.

These rakes were used to gather up the peat. They remove about an inch of the bog per year. 

95% of peat moss is sold to the US.

 These vacuum trucks sucked up the peat into those round cylinders behind the cab. Later, the cylinders would be emptied into a very large container.

The tractors are leased for the summer and then returned to the dealer. 

The bog owns the vacuum contraption.

Eventually, the peat would be packaged into these large white bales. 

 

We had visited the inside of the Marine Park earlier, but we returned after lunch to look for whales.

It was a very windy day, so some of us opted for the upper deck for spotting. 

I stayed outside in the glorious weather.

Thar she blows! I didn't spot the blow (the usual sign of a whale), but was able to spot this fin of a minke whale as she surfaced.

There are a wide variety of whales in this vicinity. 

Some of the RS gang getting ready to board the bus.

The Marine Environment Discovery Center and First Nations neighborhood

The next stop was the Marine Environment Discovery Center where we had a presentation on the St. Lawrence estuary.

A stunning mural and electric car chargers

Lots of information about the St. Lawrence estuary

 

 All signs in the First Nations neighborhood were in French and the First Nations language.

Police department

Welcome sign

 

Archeo-Expo and The Little Pig

We hopped on a local school bus to visit some discovery centers. 

 

It was much more comfortable than I remember during my school days.

Our first stop was at the Archeo-Expo, a facility devoted to archeology in the area. Very interesting to see all the tools, etc. that have been found. 

There was a interesting section on Ti-Louis, a man that lived in the area and found many artifacts. He acquired the nickname, Ti-Louis, because he was short.

View from a balcony at the center.

 

We stopped at this boulangerie along the way - The Little Pig

 

 

We stopped, not to eat (Whaa) but because Benny, our leader, wanted to show us the oven. 

 

Apparently, the owner bakes her bread and other tasty treats in this outdoor oven. 

This sign states that this is a traditional oven. If you have a question about it, ask during business hours. Do not open the door, and DO NOT throw your trash inside. (Michele, please add to this or correct my translation!)

Tadoussac Walk and Beach

 After lunch and a lecture on the Saguenay - St. Lawrence Marine Park, I took a walk around the town.

One of the quaint streets

Along the St. Lawrence River

The Tadoussac harbor

Not sure what kind of gull this is...

I love how the mist hangs in the air. It reminds me of Alaska.

The hotel at night

Hotel Tadoussac and Whale Watching

 We're spending four nights at Hotel Tadoussac in the small village of Tadoussac on the Tadoussac Bay.  

The first Hotel Tadoussac was built in 1864 by wealthy citizens of Montreal and Quebec City. It had a broad facade of twelve windows and three stories. In 1879, the building was sold for the price of $12,000. In 1888, the hotel underwent its first complete renovation and was torn down in 1941.

The following year, 1942, the Hotel Tadoussac was rebuilt by William Hugh Coverdale, president of the Canada Steamship Lines.

My room is on the first floor, straight ahead, between the two trees.

Back views of the hotel. The mist was lingering over the area in the morning.

Next, we walked over to the pier for our whale watching adventure. The ship was large with many decks and inside and outside viewing options.

We passed several Zodiacs used for a "closer encounter" with the whales.

View from one deck to another. The announcer spoke mostly in French with some English words thrown in. She used the clock as a method for identifying where the whale sighting was. We were mostly able to identify the numbers, but the biggest clue of a possible whale was the rush of the other passengers to one side of the boat or the other.

Suddenly, in the distance was this lighthouse. Once there was a fierce storm and the lighthouse keepers had to flee to the very top. Now it's automated, as are many others.

Close up of the lighthouse. You may be able to detect the wood covering some windows on the top. They were blown out by the storm.

The St. Lawrence River

We traveled up the St. Lawrence to the Saguenay River and Fjord. The hills on the sides were very similar to what I saw in Norway. The entire area is part of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. With its exceptional biodiversity, it is apparently one of the best places in the world for whale watching.

 

I didn't see any whales. There might have been a minke whale, but I couldn't see it. 

Whale sightings can vary dramatically from day to day, but this season's sightings (because of the 5 degree rise in water temperature) have been lower than usual.

 

We have another opportunity to spot whales from the shore today and another whale watching cruise tomorrow.