Bit of a blog - Ambience - Grand Canada Sept 2022

[NorbertsNiece]

NOTES on Captain Egil's Q & A

 

Theatre packed to the gills. Very receptive audience.

 

Hurricane weather pics. Explanation why specific ports missed, icebergs, port closed. Other ports no berths.

 

Covid question regarding cleanliness esp in Borough Market. Testing? Much heckling from the floor. 

 A. Covid protocol being followed and complied with

10 days isolation imposed by Canadian authority. Unable to give free WiFi to those affected.

2nd hurricane building in Florida

No expectation that we'll be impacted. No low pressure building up. Peak season for hurricanes in September. Many cruise ships in area

Covid 40 cases reported

Plan had been to coastal cruise but fog precluded

12nm off land to discharge treated waste

Iceland whole day hopefully now, last cruise ship of the season, currently 1300 - 2100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Cap-aux-Meules traditionally called Grindstone in English, is a village and main urban centre of the Magdalen Islands, which form a small archipelago in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The name Grindstone, comes from the presence of grindstone an abrasive sandstone rock in the hills above the port.

 

Historically, the Mi’kmaq people visited the Magdalen Islands, called Memquit, as part of a seasonal survival migration.

Today, the Acadian village hosts a marina and is a popular fishing destination. The sheltered port of Cap-aux-Meules is an important fishing harbour, as well as a commercial cargo and ferry port.

 

Despite the urban look of Cap-aux-Meules, nature is never far away. A walk in Parc des Buck, at the end of the Chemin de la Mine will reveal spectacular views of the island and its neighbors.

Walking along the coastal path at Sentier de Littoral, there are 2 kilometres of trails leading to the lookout at the top of the cape. From the Chemin du Quai you can reach stairs leading to a scenic lookout at the summit of the hill.

 

Beware ! Everywhere on the islands, the cliffs have overhangs that are very unstable. DO NOT walk close the edge of the cliffs. 

 

A tender port, we have no excursions booked.

 

We are currently due east of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 18 / 34 Cap aux Meules

 

Half way through our journey

 

Good morning and thanks for following 

 

We've just dropped anchor according to Geoff. The fog horn had been sounding every couple of minutes for a while so that'll give you some idea of the current weather conditions. Hopefully will clear soon, nothing predicted hourly on the app I'm using. We'd planned on tendering around 9am before the excursions.

 

0815 Captain Egil has just said tendering hopes to commence at 9am now. Fog expected to lift, nice day ahead. Have scrolled down the app and found the forecast! Fog horn being sounded regularly.

 

0906 Taking ages to upload. Tendering commencing shortly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 28, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Apologies for my silence. Been incredibly busy as you will see and WiFi is extremely slow where images are concerned. 

 

Video here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok. I've worked out what my problem is. Image size. Need to change settings in the camera so they're not such high quality to enable quicker upload. Now need to figure out if I can bulk resize what I've got to post from yesterday which includes a Galley tour and Chef's Table!

 

[NorbertsNiece]

I have a photo resizer in my phone lol! Let's see if this makes a difference 🤔 🤞

 

Walkabout in Cap-aux-Meules. I may have gone shopping!

 

That's no quicker using ship WiFi 😡 at  this time. Will try later.

[NorbertsNiece]

Walkabout in Cap-aux-Meules continued. I may have shopped.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 29, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

I've been heading towards the stairs along the sea front when it started to rain. Gave up the idea of climbing up and head to the pier. Too many ahead to make the tender that's there so catch the next. 

 

Link to morning video here

 

Auguste le Bourdais was a navigator and the sole survivor when shipwrecked in the Îles de la Madeleine in 1871. Rescued days later he had to have both feet amputated. Once recovered he was responsible for introducing telephony to the islands thereby ending their isolation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sail away 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Chef's Table

 

What an evening!! A truly exceptional meal with great company.

 

Before dinner cocktail and canapé. Chat with Restaurant Manager Niko and Executive Chef Sydney.

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

The galley is HUGE. The size of the main dining room. Access is via escalator! Bread is baked fresh for each sitting. Runs like clockwork.... we went down between sittings. It's immaculate. 

 

I neglected to ask to be shown where they prepare Gluten Free and other dietary dependent meals. Sorry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Awake at silly o'clock. Don't go to bed on a full stomach. Just saying. Also. Achy breaky heart. Of all the uke tunes to have to wake up to in my head why this one? Answers on a postcard. 

 

Glad the galley pics finally uploaded. Will attempt to start food ones now and sleep at the same time!

 

The table was beautifully laid. Chef read through the menu first.

 

Presentation was immaculate. Hot plates. Ladies always first. Gazpacho. Salmon. Soup. Lobster. Sorbet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 29, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Fish. Meat. Insane chocolate dessert. Chef given a round of applause. Petits fours. Cheese (of which I didn't, couldn't, partake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 29, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 18 / 34 Corner Brook, Newfoundland 

 

Good evening and thanks for following 😀 

 

We've just pulled into Corner Brook. Sail in was lovely. Would have been lovelier had I been out on deck! Last night's wine pairings were spectacular! What I know about wine you can write on the back of a Canadian postage stamp (and they're tiny!) AND the lyrics to Bohemian Rhapsody!! I now know I like Pinot Grigio IGT Italy followed by Tikki Sauvignon Blanc 2021 NZ!!

 

We're staying on ship's time which is half an hour behind local time.

 

Sailing in to Corner Brook. Balcony view of pier.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 29, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Newfoundland’s fourth-largest city, Corner Brook is the hub of the islands west coast. Corner Brook is set against the impressive backdrop of the Long Range Mountains, which form the northernmost section of the Appalachian Mountains.

 

It is a dramatic first impression when you arrive by ship, especially during the final stage that takes you around 20 miles through the Bay of Islands, a freshwater fjord, towards the mouth of the Humber River.

 

It is the administrative headquarters of the Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nations band government. The Mi'kmaq name for the nearby Humber River is "Maqtukwek"

Hills fringe three sides of the city, which has a dramatic views of the harbour and the Bay of Islands. 

 

The town is also home to a large paper mill.

Captain James Cook, the British explorer, charted the coast in the 1760’s and the Captain James Cook National Historic Site, set on a cliff top, offers a spectacular view over the area.

 

The town enjoys more clearly defined seasons than most of the rest of the island, and in summer it has many pretty gardens. The nearby Humber River is the best-known salmon river in the province, and there are many kilometres of well-maintained walking trails in the area as well as opportunities for zip lining and river rafting for the more adventurous.

[NorbertsNiece]

We hired a taxi at the pier to take us on a tour. A very enthusiastic driver called Joe described everything we passed by and stopped at. 

 

First stop the railway museum. The Railway Society of Newfoundland was created in 1987 when Baldwin Steam Locomotive #593, “Newfie Bullet”, was removed from Bowater's Park to the Historic Train Site at Humbermouth, Newfoundland. The Railway Society of Newfoundland has accumulated the rolling stock, trackage, freight shed and site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 29, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Views from a taxi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 29, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

At Steady Brook, near a ski run and a very long zip line, we encountered a 65' totem pole depicting the history of Newfoundland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 29, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Now, I've only just seen him but the first pics depict the 'Old man in the mountain' which convinces Joe that native Indians inhabited here first.

 

Sited along the Humber river it is a popular hiking trail.

 

The river is popular with fishermen. One salmon caught per day is permitted.

 

We start driving to the James Cook Historic site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 29, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Courtesy of Atlas Obscura:

 

At the Captain James Cook National Historic Site overlooking the city of Corner Brook, the Blomidon Mountains and the wide Humber Arm of the Bay of Islands, a statue of the British explorer and navigator Captain James Cook holds a quadrant and surveys the lands below, much as he did in the 1760s.

 

During the Seven Years’ War, James Cook accurately surveyed the entrance of the St. Lawrence River, giving General James Wolfe a critical advantage in bringing his forces up the river to the Plains of Abraham. After the war, Cook would be tasked with surveying the southern and western coasts of the island of Newfoundland and the nearby coast of Quebec and Labrador.

 

Spending five years completing this task, he produced the most accurate maps of the area, which would remain in use for the next hundred years by fishermen and traders and settle territorial and fishing rights between British and French settlers. After Cook’s surveying was finished, the British Admiralty would send him on further voyages to chart various regions of the Pacific Ocean. During those journeys, Cook became widely known for his violent, tyrannical approach to the Indigenous people he encountered.

 

In a park on the summit of Crow’s Hill, various plaques surrounding the statue show Captain Cook’s route to the New World and copies of Cook’s maps. They tell the story of the cartographer that made his name surveying the lands of present-day eastern Canada.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 30, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

We head back to the ship via a post office in a supermarket. I avoid photographing price comparisons but a pack of Cadbury's chocolate fingers was more than Can$3 plus tax so more than £2!

 

Many many eggs have been delivered!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 30, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Tomorrow we are in Havre St Pierre.

 

Located along a sandy point, Havre-Saint-Pierre offers a panoramic view of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Long known as a tourist destination thanks to the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve.

 

The city has earned three fleurons under the Fleurons du Québec program (established to encourage municipalities to beautify their gardens). The town is also noted for the excellent fishing, being made up largely of snow crab, scallops, and lobster, with excellent salmon and trout to be found in the numerous rivers and lakes.

 

Tourism contributes significantly to the local economy due to the town's position near the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, a park encompassing a large number of islands in the Mingan Archipelago of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.

It is noted for the unique variety of flora and fauna to be found there, such as puffins and the rare Mingan Thistle, and for the unique geological features on many of the islands, which are referred to as "monoliths".

Popular with huntsmen and fishermen and as an adventure tourism destination this region on the St Lawrence River has a unique personality.  

 

I am going on a walking tour there :

 

Heading off from the pier you will enjoy a gentle guided walk around 

Havre-Saint-Pierre. You will learn how this small town was founded 

in 1857, by six families from Les Iles-de-la-Madeleine.

 

For many years, fishing, hunting and lumber were the main 

industries of the village, but today, mining surpasses them all. During 

this experience, you will discover the history of the “Cayens”, those 

people who are proud of their Acadian heritage.

You will have time to enjoy a short break at a local restaurant for a 

taste of delicious cloudberry pie, a traditional dessert in the region.

 

Your guided walk takes you on a journey into the lifestyle, as well as the historical and economic background, of the town. You will pass the iron and titanium mine and the poet house (Roland Jomphe).

You can then either choose to walk back to the ship or you will be given a complimentary ticket to independently enter the Maison de la Culture Roland Jomphe, an old Hudson Bay company store, where 

you will find a permanent exhibit whose theme is “the other story”, 

time-lining the history of Havre-Saint-Pierre from its founding until today.

 

PLEASE NOTE

This experience involves approximately 2h of walking/standing on 

mainly flat even ground with a few steps.

 

Flat, comfortable footwear and appropriate outdoor clothing 

recommended.

The experience may operate in a different order.

[NorbertsNiece]

Sailaway from Corner Brook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[baser]

Great information and very useful. Can you tell me what the swimming pools are like iesize wise are they heated and can you have a decent swim.looking forward to more of your rewiew

[NorbertsNiece]

Just now, baser said:

Great information and very useful. Can you tell me what the swimming pools are like iesize wise are they heated and can you have a decent swim.looking forward to more of your rewiew

Currently empty. Don't expect any kind of decent swim..... more of a large plunge imo.

 

Currently sat in a café in Havre St Pierre being treated to cloudberry cake, coffee and WiFi on the walking tour.

 

Will share the error message I frequently get on board.

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 19 / 34 Heading towards Havre St Pierre

 

Good morning and thanks for following 😀 

 

Clocks went back an hour last night so wide awake 0630!!

 

That's us on the right

 

0800 sailing towards, and by, land.

 

Sailing into port.

We pass a massive nature reserve; see lots of small animals leaving and re-entering the water (seals?)

 

The Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve (French: Réserve de parc national de l'Archipel-de-Mingan) is a national park reserve located in the eastern area of Quebec, Canada, on the north shore of Gulf of St. Lawrence. It features the Mingan Archipelago, a chain of around 40 islands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 30, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Have been out on deck 7. Will need hat, gloves and scarf for 14 lol 🥶

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 30, 2022 by NorbertsNiece