Boat Tour - Puffins

 When we woke up this morning, it felt freezing. I was convinced it had to be 20°, although the truck insisted it was 58°. I’m pretty sure the truck is broken.

We headed out to Peggy’s Cove, which turned out to be absolutely adorable. You could probably count the number of houses in the whole community. They’re perched at varying levels on the rocks, painted in cheerful colors, and clustered around a picturesque harbor. At the end of the cove stands the lighthouse—such a charming scene.

We boarded the Olivia Margaret with Peggy’s Cove Boat Tours, joining a small group of 20 people for an hour-long ride out to Pearl Island. Once there, we circled the island and paused often to spot puffins. While they weren’t especially close, we could clearly see them—especially when they splashed down into the water. Quite a few people tried to photograph them in flight, but puffins are fast little birds and not easy to catch mid-air.

Along the way, we also saw seals, gulls, cormorants, and several other seabirds. Back on land, we wandered around Peggy’s Cove and clambered over the massive rocks surrounding the lighthouse—by this time, the place had really filled up with tourists.

One thing that struck me today, and really over the past couple of days, is how much this area feels like an artist’s paradise. There was even an art tour happening in town. We didn’t have time to follow it, but I imagine there are hundreds of beautiful paintings and photographs inspired by this landscape.

Next up was lunch at Shaw’s Restaurant, right on the water. We had fish and chips, and it was hands-down the best fried haddock I’ve ever tasted. Our waitress told us it’s caught fresh daily. Paired with a fantastic tangerine and grapefruit Radler from local brewery Punch House, the meal was perfect. The view out the window of the cove didn’t hurt, either.

With full bellies, we took on a hike at Polly’s Cove, which turned out to be one of our more unusual hikes. The trail hugged the coastline and meandered up and down over giant boulders. It wasn’t always easy walking—it honestly felt a bit like exploring another planet.

Back at the trailer, we ended the day with a bit of ice cream and a short walk to the opposite cove to catch the sunset. Another picture-perfect day in the books.