The boys started each day by the windows in the Restaurant, waiting for breakfast at 7:30.
Today we would be cycling in a loop, starting and ending at our ship, touring around the island. Again, it was a 27 km route, following the cycling route signs. There was a longer side trail for the keen bikers. We knew we would be spending a lot of time on the beach, so 27 km was fine with us. As we were cycling in a loop, we would have the wind in our faces some of the time. Good to have some down time on the beach. It was a beautiful sunny day so beach time would be great.
Thanks to Bill stopping to photo some Black Guillemots, our group stopped at a beach near the ship. It was a beautiful beach with red cliffs and caves. Sam ran into the water and put his hand in the waves and licked it - salt water! Fun on the beach was a good start to our day.
Next we circled through some villages with amazingly bright houses. The laundry was flapping in the wind.
Flying kites inspired K&K to stop to buy a kite for the boys. We headed to a lighthouse to test it out and have lunch. A farmer asked us to help him lift his trailer to hitch it onto his truck. He gave us all a big smile for our help.
We cycled along a grassy path to the lighthouse and Kirk set up the kite. It was VERY windy so it tugged hard on the line. Happy boys.
Soon we were on our way to a very long beach, L'Anse aux Baleiniers. We flew the kite and met a couple in our biking group who were flying a box kite. Then the K&K family got busy building a huge sandcastle, topped with the Acadian flag (Barbara found this on the side of the road).
Bill scanned the beach for birds. He found a juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake and a Bonaparte's Gull swimming just off shore and a young Common Tern hanging around with dozens of Sanderlings. They were very busy digging into the sand for food. Check out the video.
As we biked away, we saw a yellow warbler, a young robin beside the road and some goldfinches feeding on thistles.
We were tired and hungry when we got back to the ship. K&K treated us to a special supper they prepared, after visiting a few local stores. No long wait for our dinner this night. We were able to have our meal in the empty Restaurant on the ship. It was relaxing for us. Plus dinner included the local beer Écume.
