July 22-Irish loop and Cape Shore loops

Another beautiful sunny day today so we decided to make the best of it and do the southern loops of the peninsula.  We started out by planning to see Trepassey Bay first, but spoke to a guide who didn't think we could do both loops in one day, so we ended up heading to Cape St Mary's first as it was top of my list to see.  We did a quick visit to Castle Hill National Historic Site on the way, strolled the grounds and did a scavenger hunt among the displays to earn Devon a note pad.  
 

Castle Hill view

A long drive around a desolate spit of land, then drive south on a 1 1/2 car width roadway for 13 kms through the largest stretch of nothingness I have ever seen.  At the end was a beautiful modern building, with displays and gift shops and a path leading off across the field of nothing to the most amazing spot you can imagine.  Birds and birds and more birds, loud screeching, honking, screaming all blending into one big stinky noisy scene.  The path out was long and desolate, with a few benches on the way, then climbing down a gentle rocky cliff to where the nesting colony of these Gannets were, along with Kittiwakes and Murres, I think.  It was amazing. 

Vistor's Centre, Cape St. Mary's

Same building from the end of the trail near the birds

The pathway to the birds

Some of the nesting sites

Part of the nesting sites that you can sit near

Rob loved watching the birds soaring overhead in the crazy winds

Rob's feet over the edge-NOT MINE!

Gannets

After viewing the birds for quite a while, we went back to the centre and chatted with a naturalist who said we should be fine to drive around the other loop before it got dark, so off we went, to check out a spot where he said the whales were often close to shore.  We didn't see any, so kept on going, enjoying the sunset and the moon rise over the bay.  Back to the trailer in the dark, off to bed. (590 kms today)

Moon rise over Witless Bay on our way back to St John's