Twillingate, Nfld

June 13, 14...Long drive to Twillingate, about five and a half hours including short stop at Gander for a quickie lunch at Tims. Late aŕrival to a B&B overlooking the harbour. Unfortunately, raining with temperature of 10 C. Brrrrr
Woke up to very cold this a.m. and winds of 20 to 25 knots. Knew we wouldn't be going out to view the icebergs on iceberg alley. Drove to lighthouse where there are lots of walking trials but way tooooo windy. Almost got blown off the viewing area.

A visit to the Twillingate Museum was worthwhile, then a drive to the marine museum which was closed. That left the next option, the Auk Vinery for a tour. Only four full time employees and they ship 15,000 cases of varying wines a year. Most berries are supplied by locals for the wines. Neat names like Moose Joose, Jellybean Row, Funky Puffin, then on for lunch of chowder and mussels and cod burger.

Later that evening scouted out restaurants for dinner. Anchor Inn nice but not too home style. Ended up in same place as lunch for lobster, crab and a seafood platter. Excellent!

lunch

Tom's dinner

Peter's dinner

Helga's and mine.....check out the fork!

Bonavista

June  11...On way to Bonavista for a couple of days.  Drove out to lighthouse and then back to hotel where we had lunch and dinner.  A walk of town to view the sights.  Next day off to Dungeon Provincial Park, Elliston and Mowberly.  A record number of root cellars, walked out to see the Puffins, Lunch of cod tongue and chowder.
Tomorrow off to Twillingate.

Giovanni Caboto

Bonavista's finest B and B (just kidding)

Dungeon Provincial Park, "hole in the wall"

view from the hotel

memorial to ice fisherman and his son

cod tongue lunch

view in front of our hotel

Woody Point, Trout River

Started with another fantastic breakfast and drove out to Woody Poimt. No traffic and at least it wasn't raining cats and dogs. Couldn't  really stop for the scenery as it was bitterly cold and wind was howling. Trout River, a Tidy Town community, award given in 2010. A pretty big fishing community but it seemed as all the fishermen were at home.
Celebrated the ending of our trip last night with champagne, thanks to Tom and Helga, and then back to Earls for a fantastic dinner of cod. Best retaurant in this place, I believe.
They advertise 24 flavors of soft ice cream which I just had to try. Coffee flavour, of course, but a bit disappointing.

Earl's

Home from Deer Lake




No problem flying from Deer Lake. Direct flight and customs great. Peter left his pocket knife in his pocket once again and assumed it was to be confiscated. However, the nice gentleman asked if we  had a stamp and lo and behold I did, so we addressed an envelope and now are awaiting the arrival of one pocket knife. Should be interesting. Only from the friendly people  of Newfoundland.

crazy times at the supermarket

celebrating the opening of the instore liquor store!

What a gorgeous  day!  All the wind, rain and cloudy weather has miraculously disappeared. Driving from Rocky Harbour and plan to stop at a few lookouts for the views we missed.  There are some unscheduled stops as crews are working on the roads.
Since I have suddenly discovered a bonus that I can work on the blog while waiting in the car, I have added some bonus pictures.....art work from the hotel and a baked apple plant which only produces one berry per plant.  They do have an abundance of berries here which grow wild...strawberries, blueberries, partridge berries which are similar to ligonberries, and baked apple also known as cloud berries.

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baked apple berry

Rocky Harbour, Gros Morne, Western Brook Pond

Our longest drive yet, approximately five hours and bypassed Deer Lake where we fly out on Thursday. Beautiful scenery and could see the sky is clearing.
Met up with Bert and Joan for a drink at the hotel, then off for dinner for more cod. Again great home cooked meals.

A drive up the coast to the Lobster Cove lighthouse, then a drive to the Western Brook, a three km walk in. Waves in the Inland lake were unbelievable, a beautiful scenic walk in and now awaiting the boat tour into the fiords. We are dressed to the hilt and so far not too bad.

Well the ride was really spectacular  although would have been better without the rolling and wind. One hour in and then another back. Lots of rock. For the most part we stayed down below but a few did brave the outside. 

After we visited the fisherman's hut further down the coast. Three brothers, their wives with four children lived in a small three bedroom cabin for the summer. There were no roads in in the 1950's so all supplies and their family were brought in by boat. Tough life! The road came in in the late 1950's, trucks picked up the fish every day and life became a bit easier. A full day today.

life in the 1950's

St. Johns, Ferryland, Newfoundland

June 10...Drove to Ferryland for the Island Picnics.  Cold walk to the lighthouse where many ships ran aground and sailors perished or some were saved by the Ferrylanders.  While there, fog rolled in and fog horns sounded.  Lunch was excellent.
Next stop was Cape Spear lighthouse where Canadian forces watched for German Uboats entering the Canadian waters.  Very bitterly cold and windy and again fog horns from the lighthouse sounded and a wall of fog quickly enveloped the area. Some underground tunnels and barracks still to be found.  This is the most easterly point of Canada.
Dinner at Rumpelstilskins at the hotel, Best Western, excellent!
Next stop on the way back to St. Johns was St. Amherst, another lighthouse and fort across from Signal Hill.  A very small community here.  Watched fishing boats entering St. Johns harbour.

June 9...Arrived in St. Johns yesterday via direct Westjet flight. Walked Water and Duckworth Street before picking up Tom and Helga on their arrival via Air Canada. Amazingly both flights were full. A quick sightsee of Signal Hill, national historic site.  Gorgeous vista and amazing view of the town and very calm and protected harbour. Later in the evening a dinner at Bistro Sopia, excellent dinner of poached cod and beautifully presented.

Cabot Tower on peak of Signal Hill

Cape Spear

a lonely fishing boat, no icebergs!

Terry Fox at mile zero