Gaspé Part 3: Bonaventure Island—Gannets and Seals

Sunrise at Rerce Rock

 We had a great boat ride today to a nearby island that is a Canadian National Park and a sanctuary for bird migration.

The dock at Perce

The boardwalk at Perce

Close-up of Perce Rock

Tucked against the rocky ledges on this island are several hundred thousand northern gannets. I have never knowingly seen a gannet before; however, today we had the privilege of being a part of their environment for a short time, as the waves rocked and sprayed the boat and its passengers while passing by the cliffs along the island. These are beautiful white sea bird with wide wingspans, as can be seen in the pictures. These birds are divers.

Gannet cliffs at Bonaventure Island

In front of the cliffs full of gannets, Gray Seals basked, splashed, and played on the rocks and in the water. It was a lovely feast for the eyes and very exciting to know that this is the best place in the world to see northern gannets. How interesting it was to see this for about a mile or so along the rocky coast and then, suddenly, it stopped, and we saw no more gannets. I was hoping to see a puffin or two; however, one of the tourist guides told me that there were only about 10 puffins left on the island—
and we did not see them.



The seafood from the North Atlantic, fresh out of the surrounding waters, is incredible—lobster, scallops, cod, salmon, and halibut. We have also found it easy to get vegetables and fruit on this trip. Often, on trips out West, corn or mixed veggies out of a can have been the vegetable du jour. Here we have had fresh cauliflower, asparagus, carrots, and every meal has a green salad (sa-laud in French) on the plate—a variety of lightweight greens, two thin slices of cucumber, and a cherry tomato sliced in half (in every restaurant!).

Traveling, for us, I think is healthy—nutritious foods, lots of walking, fresh air and sunshine, sleep, using the brain to consider other ways of life and process new information—it’s very restorative.

And this morning I had oatmeal for the first time in Québec—I saw the word “gruau” on the menu under “ceréales.” Our server did not understand my question—“Qu’est-ce que ‘gruau’?” That is, she did not know the answer in English. She spoke no English. I took a chance and ordered it anyway, and it was wonderful! I can read the French that we encounter here; however, I hesitate to speak it because the person will answer me rapidly and with a different dialect than what I learned. Also, whenever we travel where French is the language, after a couple days, Robin starts talking to me in what I call “pidgin French”—using a few French words or phrases, mixed with English.

Tonight is our last night in Percé. Tomorrow, if the weather is good, we will go a bit north to Forillon National Park—there are a few more sights we want to see before we head southwest toward New Brunswick and then on to Prince Edward Island.

I forgot to mention in another blog that the Appalachian Mountains end here or maybe they begin here. Who knows? So much to see and do and so much to think about on these trips. The beauty and diversity of our world is very inspiring, and I am so grateful to be able to be a part of it all and to be on the road with my buddy, who should be sorting pictures to add to this blog but is, instead, across the room, softly snoring! (He’s was up at 5:30 this morning photographing the sunrise.)