100 days

[turtlemichael]

Actually, we are now out into the Labrador Sea heading to L'anse aux Meadows, our first Canadian stop, 36 hours away. It is VERY rough. Really it is the first seriously rough weather we have had. We had escaped so far across the Atlantic but now we can talk about how it was a tough crosssing! The Captain has just advised that we will be missing a port, Gaspe, because of the speed restrictions imposed by the Canadian authorities to protect the right whales which are apparently being carved up, as they migrate, by speeding cruise ships! The consequence is an extra sea day and 6 hours longer in Quebec City so not all bad.

 

[turtlemichael]

Dinner tonight. Very good!


Tempura crab.


Scallops.


Chilli beef and sweet potato fries.

 

[Pushka]

Actually, we are now out into the Labrador Sea heading to L'anse aux Meadows, our first Canadian stop, 36 hours away. It is VERY rough. Really it is the first seriously rough weather we have had. We had escaped so far across the Atlantic but now we can talk about how it was a tough crosssing! The Captain has just advised that we will be missing a port, Gaspe, because of the speed restrictions imposed by the Canadian authorities to protect the right whales which are apparently being carved up, as they migrate, by speeding cruise ships! The consequence is an extra sea day and 6 hours longer in Quebec City so not all bad.

I think a ship brought a whale in on its 'bulb' into a Canadian port recently. I guess no one on Bridge looks down that far.

 

[turtlemichael]

Another day, more ice! I was a bit apprehensive about Narsarsuaq as it looked uninviting when we anchored in the gloom. I did my 45 minutes walking the deck at about 6.30am and all you could see was a few small houses and the airport runway left over from its days as an American base and now a small civil airport.

We did a photography tour which consisted of a boat ride up one of the arms of the fjord where we were anchored past icebergs to the foot of a glacier which was calving in the distance as we watched. Apart from being frigid on the water this turned out to be another magical experience on the wonderful cruise. And I got to touch my first iceberg! After we sailed in the afternoon, we travelled the 4 hours along the fjord back to the Labrador Sea. Again it was magnificent scenery.

You have to feel for the people who live so remotely. I think we passed only one house on the edge of the fjord. There was no road so the only access was by boat and then it would be at least three hours back to the tiny town of Narsarsuaq. You would not want to forget the bread and milk!


Our boat, seating 12, to the icebergs and glacier. When the skipper put his foot down it went like a very fast speedboat








Up close and personal.

 

[turtlemichael]

The boat, the same size as ours, shows the size of this iceberg.


The glacier meets the fjord.

 

[tgh]

Wonderful chunk of ice pic from Richard Sidey on fb this morning.
Lovely bloke and a great photographer , well worth following
Resident Photographer on Silver Expeditions for many years
Can't copy the pic but here is a link :https://www.facebook.com/richardsid...701942522346/2049822428376949/?type=3&theater

 

[turtlemichael]

Wonderful chunk of ice pic from Richard Sidey on fb this morning.
Lovely bloke and a great photographer , well worth following
Resident Photographer on Silver Expeditions for many years
Can't copy the pic but here is a link :https://www.facebook.com/richardsid...701942522346/2049822428376949/?type=3&theater

Very impressive. We saw loads of patches of blue but nothing as complete as that. It is amazing how glaciers and icebergs work. The pics I put up are of ice many thousands of years old.

 

[turtlemichael]

Dinner tonight. Very good, made better by good company and good wine. The 2012 Bin 389 was AUD94.00 on the menu which is good compared with Dan Murphy's AUD75.00. They even have a Grange (can't remember the vintage at the moment) in the low USD300's which is very amazing! Just how far will my cruise credit stretch??


King crab legs


Crab thingy


Calypso steak - excellent

 

[turtlemichael]

Canada in the morning! Woohoo!

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Boy, that cruise has gone FAST !!!

 

[turtlemichael]

Boy, that cruise has gone FAST !!!

You're telling me? 5 days to go.

 

[turtlemichael]

Unfortunately, having got across the Atlantic without meeting an iceberg, our first port, L'anse aux Meadows, has been cancelled because it is too rough for the tenders. We are at the moment anchored off shore looking at the village and getting ready to head out for a sea day and to Corner Brook tomorrow. It's disappointing but such is the nature of travelling by sea.

 

[turtlemichael]

The OH was particularly disappointed that our call at L'anse aux meadows was cancelled. We had planned a tour to the home and museum of Dr Wilfred Grenfell who, from the late 19th century, was a pioneering medical missionary from England who did lots to improve service for early settlers and Inuits in Labrador and Newfoundland.

But a really nice low carb creme brulee for lunch helped ease the disappointment.



As this is the second port cancellation there appears to have been a lot of angst from some passengers. As all (well,most) cruise lines and indeed, most travel providers, put safety as the first priority this is one of the inevitabilites of travelling, particularly on a ship.

 

[VPS]

I agree with that in certain parts of the UK you can not understand certain WORDs THEY ARE Saying !! And we are all speaking english :shock:

Indeed - currently near John O Groats and the last week there have been a lot of Pardon me. Also driving to Scotland from south took a detour off to avoid traffic and got slightly (a lot confused) and ended up stopping at a service station for a pee and lunch and the guy waiting to be served had to translate to the waitress and asked me why of all places I had to go to Walsall where the Birmingham accent is even more pronounced - it's all part of life's experiences

 

[VPS]

Brugge looks wonderful. I would have liked to have travelled there.

Well worth a couple of days - just beautiful - but stay overnight because there are a lot of day trippers

 

[bPeteb]

Unfortunately, having got across the Atlantic without meeting an iceberg, our first port, L'anse aux Meadows, has been cancelled because it is too rough for the tenders. We are at the moment anchored off shore looking at the village and getting ready to head out for a sea day and to Corner Brook tomorrow. It's disappointing but such is the nature of travelling by sea.

That's sad Michael. It was very interesting after having come from Greenland and Eric the Red's settlement at Brattahlid. Where did you anchor? We were off St Anthony and bussed from there.

 

[bPeteb]

Indeed - currently near John O Groats and the last week there have been a lot of Pardon me. Also driving to Scotland from south took a detour off to avoid traffic and got slightly (a lot confused) and ended up stopping at a service station for a pee and lunch and the guy waiting to be served had to translate to the waitress and asked me why of all places I had to go to Walsall where the Birmingham accent is even more pronounced - it's all part of life's experiences

My grandfather was the fire chief at Walsall many, many years ago. Long ago for my mum to have been a girl at the time...

 

[VPS]

I wonder if you could understand them now

Sorry TM for hijacking your thread which I am enjoying immensely

 

[turtlemichael]

I wonder if you could understand them now

Sorry TM for hijacking your thread which I am enjoying immensely

You are not hijacking at all!

 

[turtlemichael]

There was not a lot to photograph today apart from a decent sunset over the Gulf of St. Lawrence. This one is taken from La Terrazza while having dinner. The people next to us were anticipating a green flash, but it did not eventuate. I had to google that when I got back to the cabin.

The captain is confident that we will get ashore tomorrow in Corner Brook so here is hoping!