theWHALE ROUTE
“What are the chances we’ll actually see a whale?” whispered Collin as we pulled on bright orange rain gear and climbed aboard a 20-seat zodiac. From experience, I had to admit his skepticism was not without warrant. None of us could have guessed the wonder that was in store.
Plans for a summer trip had been through several permutations due to shifting Covid conditions. My friends — Cliff, Gary, and his son, Collin — and I had finally settled on Plan C, which included exploring to the end of the road on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. Also known as The Whale Route, it’s part of Highway 138, which extends 1,420 km from the southwest corner of Québec to its terminus in Kegaska, a tiny fishing village only recently made accessible by road.
Surrounded by Whales
Our first whale sighting was the breaching of a humpback in the distance — impressive, but a long way off. Our pilot, however, brought our vessel to a standstill above an underwater valley (the Laurentian Channel, 300 metres deep) where freshwater meets salt and warm water meets cold, creating the perfect feeding grounds. Soon,
