Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Walking in with the Tide

Next to the Bay of Fundy, Iqaluit has the most dramatic tidal changes in the world. I had always wanted to walk through the muck that is the sea bed at low tide. So I put on my rain boots and grabbed Robert, who I dragged into the muck with me.


 It was a beautiful sunny day and I know that we have to embrace them when they come around. Soon the winter will be here and we'll miss the warmth of the sun on our faces.


 We climbed on rocks that are completely covered in water at high tide. We would walk with the tide, find a rock to sit on and wait for the water to catch up to us, then hop down and find another rock closer inland. The water seemed to move so slowly, but as we got lost in conversation it would creep up on us and in the blink of an eye we would be surrounded. I was prepared for this, rain boots and all. Robert however, decided to wear running shoes and assured me he wouldn't have to take them off. I got a good laugh when we realized we were surrounded by at least thirty feet of water in each direction. He had to take the shoes off and walk barefoot in the freezing water while I walked through with ease, dry until the end.


I couldn't be more thankful for gorgeous days in Iqaluit.

4 comments:

Philip Newton said...

That sounds like a great experience!

I wonder where you got the information from that Iqaluit has the most dramatic tidal changes in the world, though. I don't see it at http://www.co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/faq2.html#26, for example - the only Canadian entries that aren't in the Bay of Fundy are on Nunavik's Ungava Bay.

Perhaps you read about Kuujjuaq (on Koksoak River), the biggest village in Nunavik, and confused it with Iqaluit, the biggest town in Nunavut?

Lilian Nattel said...

I have fond memories of the Bay of Fundy. Nice to see the northern version!

Melissa said...

I read the facts about the tidal changes in Iqaluit's visitors guide from last year. It's a really cool magazine that was put together and has tons of interesting facts and tidbits of information.

Philip Newton said...

Ah - cool! Sounds like an interesting magazine. I wonder whether I could get a hold on it somehow.