NL July 25

Hiked 8.2 km (me an extra 5.2!)

Here’s last night’s sunset over our little cove:

We were up and out before 8:00! An unusual event.

Up the Brimstone Head Trail, reputed, by the Flat Earth Society to be one of the four corners of the earth! It was a trail over bog, rocks and wooden steps and very beautiful:

On the return, we went down the Simm’s Beach trail and saw the remnants of an old garden and paddock (locals later suggested it was an old man’s garden AND even later I saw that a young Simms boy died at Tripoli and was awarded for bravery):

We also checked out the cove for Whales, and sure enough, two Minkes appeared:

Back for a coffee and snack and off for a hike in to town. We saw Angus (from the ferry) again, hugged and were offered cod (here it’s 15 cod per boat per day for these weeks). We took pictures of this lovely town.

…including the three churches. We saw two other picture-takers at the Anglican Church. One’s great grandfather had been the minister there many years before. A lovely moment:

After lunch, I felt compelled to try one more trail myself, over 5 km on the Fogo Head Trail. Demanding but rewarding:

The rest of this day was spent chatting with John and Berit. They’re full-timers, originally from Latvia (him ) and Norway (her). They spoke of their travels here for the Brimstone Folk Festival in two weeks, to the Florida Keys for the winter, and to Minot, North Dakota in the Fall for a mega-Scandinavian Festival.

After dinner and sitting out awaiting tonight’s sunset, we spoke more with John, were offered cod, chatted with a local guy who had given Berit a Bake Apple Cheesecake recipe which won her $100 at that Scandinavian Festival, and I went over and sang with the neighbour who was playing guitar.

Stellar day.

Here’s the view of our campsite from the top of the Brimstone Head Trail (look closely and you’ll see the MoHo):

NL July 24

We were tucked in the woods last night, so I needed to walk a bit for this sunset view:

It poured rain all night and this morning, so a less-than-exciting start. We since we didn’t want to catch the “Dangerous Goods” ferry at 11:15 (not a safe sounding voyage), we drove around a bit north of Lewisporte and revisited one man`s colourful (though dull in the rain) tribute to life on the Bay of Exploits:

and another man`s lost ship:

The most interesting sign we saw was ``Watch for Vision Impaired Bike Rider”. Too many possibilities. And the strangest sight was a grader towing a pickup truck (both provincial vehicles, and it was on Loon Bay!). And we were struck again by the many old Salvation Army cemeteries (I guess I think of the Sally Ann as fairly new) along the way along with Pentecostal and Apostolic tabernacles.

We got to the ferry terminal and just missed the chance the get that 11:15 scary ferry. But we were the third for the 2:45. The time flew (in fact, we didn`t sail until 4:00) with great conversations with people milling around.

We talked a lot with Angus (and some with wife Laura) who told a great story. We discussed our Moose misses and noticed he had a Moose bobble head on his dash. We asked if that was for safety. He said that he had once set some rabbit snares and then headed away for a few days. When he got back and out to check the snares, there was this bobble head Moose in a snare. His buddies had placed it there and they all still laugh about the time Angus snared a Moose (and believe me, with his awesome Newfoundland accent, the story was hysterical!).

By the way, I just love being called me darlin` and my love and my dear!

We also met a couple from Toronto, and when he heard we were from near Peterborough, he asked if we knew of Pontypool. It seems his mom spent summers at a Jewish camp there. Neither of us had heard of this until we later Googled. Apparently, between 1919 and the late 1960`s, Pontypool (for friends not familiar, it`s a tiny town near us, almost deserted and hardly what one would see as a booming Jewish summer town) Jews from Toronto, mostly garment workers (as were this guy`s parents), went there. There was a seasonal synagogue as well. Amazing thing for me to research more when we get home.

Then there was Curtis and Clara, the Newfoundland dog, and Lily, the part Lab and part Newfoundland. Great dogs and nice guy who came here a year ago and now roasts coffee beans for a living!:

The ferry ride was great (and it was sunny). See, we`re still happy in Newfoundland:

Here are some pics of the voyage:

We got to the island, drove to Fogo, cruised a little more, took some photos (including a town view from the Marconi Site on the hill) and decided to stay in the Lions Club campground:

After dinner, I walked a short trail and…there they were: two Whales (not sure which kind) frolicking in the cove. Wow!

Sometimes gorgeous views are free. And sometimes, they cost $25 and include water and electricity for plugging in all the electrical equipment.

So, here`s the gorgeous $25 view from my chair:

NL July 23

Hiked 1.5 km (we drove a lot today)

Who said you couldn’t have a nice sunset in a Gas Station parking lot?

Our first goal was the Table Point Ecological Reserve which promised fossils and interesting rock formations. After two missed starts, we THINK we found the spot, but it wasn’t marked, so we took some photos of the rugged landscape and flowers:

We drove through Daniel’s Harbour and noted the “Danger-Landslide Zone” signs and chain-link fence along an old wooden boardwalk. Guess the shore line is falling!

We stopped back at the Arches for some sunlit photos:

Can you say “Chia Pet”?:

Parsons Pond has an example of a typical Newfoundland fishing village ready for road-side photos:

And, guess what? We saw it. A sweet little Moose calf (I decided Mom was nearby):

Now that that’s over with, where are the whales?

We stopped to see the S.S. Ethie shipwreck ruins from the 1920’s and noted again how Provincial and National sites in Newfoundland are a little tired, maybe from budget cuts? Anyway, the path to the beach where the shipwreck lay was not passable:

We took some photos in Gros Morne including Lobster Cove Head and a church’s bell in Rocky Harbour:

Gros Morne peak itself:

and Norris Point (see the snow?):

We did a nostalgic run through Springdale to The Glassy Beach we’d read about on the web. It was my dream come true: a small beach littered with beach glass. Apparently the old dump is down the shore, and these "gems" are the remnants. I was in my glory!

On east we drove past Eddy’s Restaurant. Ever see the claims to “The Best Pizza in Town” or “The Moose Capital of the World”-just saying-and wonder who says so? Well, Eddy says “Our Hamburgers Voted #1 By Me”!

Saw a yellow caution sign with a COW! Then a Moose caution sign. And just a little later, a Moose family way across the Exploits River, but counting just the same.

We drove in to Bishop’s Falls and my memory of a potential free campsite was not good, so on to Notre Dame Provincial Park, $9.75 for site 47. We hope to go to Fogo Island tomorrow or the next day.

Lots of miles driven, but another great day!

Here’s the view from my chair: