Long May Your Big Jib Draw!

It’s another whole language up here in Newfoundland!  The translation to that is “A good wish for the future!”  More on that later

When we left PEI, we had a 300 mile drive to Baddeck, Nova Scotia on Cape Breton Island.  We stayed at the Bras d’or Lake Campground and we even have 50 amp, which is great since it actually got pretty warm. 

 

They purposely put curves on the bridge to help keep drivers alert. 7 miles long!

This is a good jump off point for the Cabot Trail, up to Cape Breton Highlands National Park.  It’s quite enchanting.  We packed a picnic lunch and were off.  You hug the coastline where lush, forested river canyons carve into the rust-colored cliffs. Part of the trail is on the Atlantic while the other side is the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It ended up being a very long day, about a 5-6 hour drive and the last part the roads were horrible with lots of stops for construction.

Can you spot the bird?

McKenzie Valley

Rain coming!

Winding road along the coastline.

The other thing that Baddeck is known for is the Alexander Graham Bell Museum National Historic Park.  The park commemorates the life and work of the man who invented the telephone, as well as many other inventions. 

 

The iconic national park red chairs!

The next day we were up and out by 8:00 a.m. to catch the ferry to Newfoundland.  It leaves at noon, but we have to be there no later than 10:15 and we’re here at 9:00.  Talk about a long day!  The ride took about 6 or so hours.  We got to our campground shortly after 7.  And Newfoundland time is 30 minutes ahead.  Everyone is tired.  Also several folks have come down with Covid. One couple stayed behind. Problem is, there are no more reservations for the summer for RV’s.  So if you ever plan on coming here, you’ve got to make a reservation early.

Campground sunset

 

Our campsite for the next 2 days is at Grand Codroy RV Park, in the Codroy Valley of Newfoundland.  Sweet family that runs it and she was our bus tour driver the next day.  This southwest tip of Newfoundland is absolutely beautiful and it must resemble Ireland. Although I’ve never been there, this is my interpretation.  The mountain range here is called the Long Range Mountains, still a part of the Appalachian Range of mountains. Then there are hanging valleys.  And what are those?  They are often associated with valley glaciers, joining the main valley along it’s sides. So you will see the U-shaped ‘V’ and the lip, which has a small notch eroded by the brook. 

 

Found this interesting

Waterfall

Kept wondering about these boxes.  It's their trash recepticles.

There is lots of Scottish ancestry here.  We made a stop by the Precious Blood Church, which was built in 1912.  It’s all wood construction inside (fir).  Inside where there are now electrical lights hanging, just imagine the lighting used to come from lanterns hanging there.  I would be afraid of a fire hazard.  It’s heated by a pot belly stove.  And if you look closely at the benches, they sure don’t look comfortable.  And how about them youngsters falling through the backs of the pews!

I'd be afraid of losing kiddos through those pews!

The Rose Blanche (White Rock) is a tiny fishing town, but home to the Old Stone Lighthouse.  It is located on The Neck. It was built 1871-73 from a nearby granite quarry.  I’ve never seen a stone lighthouse before.

 

So pretty

In the evening we enjoyed some good local musical talent and we were then “screeched” in and are now honorary Newfoundlanders!  Here’s how the ceremony goes!  You’re called up, given a rain hat to put on, then a sizeable piece of bologna (this stuff is sold very differently than back home).  Next up you take a jigger of Newfoundland’s finest rum, dance a jig. And then you are taught some sayings from Newfoundland.  They have their own special language here.  And then!  You must kiss a fish, which was a cod!  Well how about that!  I agree with everyone that the people here are one of a kind. Just delightful.

 

Some more sayings that I don’t want to forget:

1.      GOOD DAY ON CLOTHES means it’s a good day to put clothes on the line to dry.

2.     TOO BIG FOR YOUR BRITCHES means the person is assuming too much authority or has a big ego.

3.     AWFUL NICE DAY means an exceptionally or remarkably nice weather day.

4.     A FINE KETTLE OF FISH is a difficult situation or a bind, to make a mess of affairs.

5.     BIRCH BROOM IN THE FITS refers to a person’s messy hair.

6.     HOW YA GETTING’ ON? Is a casual greeting meaning “How are things going?”

Next up we continue on the Viking Trail up to St. Anthony, Newfoundland for a few more adventures!