Dusk in gros morne

Dusk in Gros Morne (Woody Point). Acrylic on canvas board, 8x10 inches

While vacationing in Newfoundland last year, my sister Amy and I spent a night in the lovely town of Woody Point, located in Gros Morne National Park.  

While normally a laid back kind of place, a few weeks prior to our visit, Woody Point (and neighbouring town Trout River) received worldwide media attention when a 25-meter dead blue whale was found on the beach in Trout River. Tragically, the death was attributed to the whale becoming trapped in the ice.  

Many of you likely remember seeing this story on the news. 

According to a ROM magazine article:
"Gases released by decomposition of the now long- dead Blue inflated the carcass like a balloon to the point that people were concerned it would explode. The story made headlines around the world, and even led to a sketch on Saturday Night Live about an exploding whale amidst revelers at a bikini beach party. " 
Click here to check out the SNL sketch.

Fortunately, no such explosion materialized.  The whale was eventually towed from Trout River to Woody Point - after which it was transported to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Toronto. 

Check out "Blue Whale Recovery", an excellent article from ROM Magazine if you are interested in more information about this story.  

Till next time! Kathy

My sister by the head of the blue whale (the rest had been shipped to the ROM when we arrive in Woody Point).

My sister... here we are arriving at Woody Point