Cove of Many Faces

The Swallow Tail peninsula is named for its resemblance to the long tail of a swallow with wings extending on either side (Pettes Cove to the south) and toward Fish Head on the north.  Swallows were very common on the island, lining up along the power lines when the chicks fledged.  Unfortunately, it is rare to see swallows now as their population declines across North America.

Marine navigators often picked out rock features or other features along the shoreline to help find their way along the coastline before electronic devices took over.  This can be even more challenging where fog can more in suddenly and may stay for days in the hot days of summer.

There are a number of rock features around Swallow Tail that are distinctive.  Some are old, some are more recently formed from erosion, and others are just cool.

Two rock figures in Pettes Cove.  This is also where a small cave/rock arch is located where a group of Finnian raiders hid in the 1800s.  There may be other figures or faces in these rocks but these stand out, particularly at high tide for the one on the left.

Closeup of the figure on the left, reminiscent of a woman with long flowing hair.

Closeup of figure on right, reminiscent of a young boy sitting.

Perhaps a bit harder to see but two faces in the rocks near the footbridge.

Closeup of the nearest rock which looks like a face with large head, angular nose and chin - reminiscent of the Iron Man.  This rock could easily fall down the cliff because of the fragmented structure of the rocks and is part of the mafic dyke (iron based volcanic rock that filled in a gap in much older rock) which the footbridge spans.

Further face with juniper hair, long flat nose and slight smirk (crack in rock face).

 

Rocks that were pointed out as a woman with a baby on her back (in the centre) and a dog (on the left) but also described as a boy and girl with a dog or a child with a backpack and a dog.  This angle also includes two other rocks on the right which haven't been described.  These are located at the very end of the peninsula and visible from the ferry.

Rock formation at the end of Swallowtail

Not only were light houses important to navigation before Loran C and now GPS but also having precise knowledge of the coastline and various landmarks or rock formations helped mariners find their way. Around Grand Manan there are many unique rock formations, many of which are named, such as Seven Days Work, the Bishop, King Point, Southern Cross. These are so distinctive that they are often printed on the nautical charts but some are small and are not documented but are local knowledge.

There is a unique rock formation at the eastern tip of the Swallowtail peninsula beneath where the fog bell and small building (now attached to the lighthouse) were located. From a certain angle these rocks look like a woman with a baby on her back or children climbing the rocks with a dog waiting beneath them. Even if the light house wasn't visible in thick fog, if these rocks were glimpsed, the mariner would know where they were. Of course, at Swallowtail, the fog bell and later fog horn would be another clue, but most of these formations are not located at a lighthouse.

I first learned of this when I was sailing around Swallowtail with one of the older fishermen. He pointed out the rock formation and had described it as a woman with a baby, but it was later described as a girl and a boy, a boy with a backpack, etc. The dog, however, is always the lower rock.

Next time you are travelling on the ferry, look for these rocks. They can only be seen from certain angles.