We’ve enjoyed our time on “The Rock” and are waiting to board the ferry at Argentia to Sydney. It’s a 17 hour journey overnight. We’ll camp out in lounge chairs and Rocky is booked into a kennel. We’ll be able to check on him throughout the trip.
Newfoundland’s landscape is rugged; lots of rock, ponds and trees that have been sculpted by the wind. There are countless coves and harbours. The ditches were lined with wildflowers and there is just a slight hint of yellow in the leaves.
Many of the houses are bright and colourful. In the past, the houses were painted brightly so the fishermen could see them in the fog and the tradition has continued to this day.
Gander
After Twillingate we stayed in Gander for a few days and visited the North Atlantic Aviation Museum. Gander has strong connections to the aviation industry. The airport was built in the 1930’s and is where trans-Atlantic flights originated. During World War II many troops were deployed from Gander. Gander also housed and fed 6,700 displaced airline passengers during 911. Pretty good for a community of 10,000.
The campground we were at recommended Lily’s Landing for great fish and chips. They were excellent!
St John’s
St John’s can compete with San Francisco for the steepest streets and I think Ms. Google Maps sent us down all of them. It was great to see the old houses and townhouses and the enormous stone churches.
Water Street had lots of restaurants and shops (a quilt shop – yay!) and we enjoyed a nice lunch.
Jerry ran into Dan and Rhonda on one of his walks through the campground. We got together and Jerry went hiking with them near Cape Spear. I joined him later and we toured the original lighthouse. Cape Spear is the most eastern point in North America. Having been to Tofino, BC we’ve been to both ends of the country.
George Street was a great area for live music and we spent an evening there.
We Didn’t Get Screeched
You can become an honorary Newfoundlander by getting Screeched In. To get Screeched you must recite a poem, shoot a shot of Screech and kiss the cod. We thought about it but decided to hang onto our $30. It’s a great money maker for the bars.
We’re now settled on the ferry. Rocky, to his dismay has been tucked in his kennel and we’ve found some comfy chairs. It’s onto Cape Breton Island tomorrow.
At Our Own Pace 