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Traveller’s Story
“The deep groaning sound and vibration shook my entire being and brought
me to a place where time stood still and nothing else mattered. I was at one
with the whale while it circled the cove again and again. In that very moment
something inside of me changed forever.”
My First Whales
The first time I encountered whales up close was in Battle Harbour, Labrador
in July of 2009. The whales were feeding very close to the cove. The humpback
whales were lunge feeding on Capelin. They made groans deeper than any
bass sound I have ever heard and it echoed through the cove from deep
within their belly. One particular whale kept coming right up to the edge of
the rocks where I knelt down close enough that I could have reached out and
touched it if I wanted to. I was watching and listening to this whale as a large
iceberg bobbed in the background. The moment was surreal; I had never seen
anything as raw and as beautiful as this.

Capturing Memories
The salty sea air, the wind, the waves, the whales, and the icebergs captivated
me for hours. While listening and watching, I remembered that I had a camera
in my hands and I snapped a few photos. My friend who had joined me on the
weekend excursion took my video camera and also filmed some video. I made
a YouTube video with the photos and video captured from my encounter, which,
days later, was featured on the CBC National News with Peter Mansbridge.

Like a Dream
The humpback whales who had enthralled me had also captivated the
imagination and wonders of many other viewers who tuned into the news
that night. It was like a dream come true. I would absolutely love to go back
and visit the beautiful province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Read more tales of Newfoundland and Labrador written by travellers like you,
and build a digital book to share your own story at StoryExchange.com.

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