Cape Breton - day 2 - moose and other things

Saturday 23 August

Today was another day spent in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

View from our overnight stop

We began with a hike along the Skyline Trail. This was a good hike of just over 9kms. There were some great views of the rugged Gulf of St Lawrence coast. We were promise wildlife with warnings about coyottes among other species. We did see chipmonks. They really are cute. Moose were also listed as possible sightings.

At times we had boardwalks rather than paths. The boardwalks have been installed to protect the fragile environment

 

There were loads of blueberries growing on the headland.

After lovely views of the coast we headed off on the last section of the hike and were told that there was a moose ahead. We did come across a beast. It was a little way from our track and mostly obscured by the pathetically small trees on which it was grazing. It was obviously being annoyed by something as it kept shaking its head and we could see its huge ears flapping. While we got some moose photos they were not brilliant. Still we had seen a real live moose.

Can you see the moose?

 A little further along we came across another moose. This one was much closer to the track and kept wandering towards us. We managed to get some great photos of this moose. What an impressive rack he had!

Following our hike we headed off towards the eastern side of Cape Breton Island, stopping for lunch at a viewing point with great views out to sea.

Our afternoon activity was kayaking. Trevor and I headed out in a double, kayaking newbies were allocated doubles, with Trevor in the controlling seat. Wearing thongs on his feet proved unfortunate as they kept slipping off the rudder controls. After our turnaround stop we changed positions. While we went OK in out kayak we both agreed that we could do with more practice. We both enjoyed our time out on the water and our guides certainly made it interesting.

Oh, so elegant

 

Our kayaks pulled up on the beach

Houses appear in the most remote of spots

 After changing our wet bottoms we were back on the bus and heading south along the eastern coast. The guys at the kayaking place had recommended a place in Neils Harbour and we stopped there for an early dinner. It was nothing to look at but the food was fine.

The odd seagull or two perched on the roof at Neils Harbour ... and some of these birds were big!

The sun was setting as we left Neils Harbour with the sky beginning colour nicely. Trevor managed to get some reasonable shots as we headed for our overnight stop in the small settlement of Ingonish.

The main industry on Cape Breton Island, apart from tourism during the short summer, is fishing. Once the ice melts the fishermen are out after lobsters. Then it is halibut. After that it is whatever keeps them gainfully employed. The family of our kayaking leader have lived on the island since the 1700s. For some the island is the only place to live. Its rugged coastline is home and they stay.