Road to the Isles (Newfoundland)

This road (super rough) took us to Twillingate, home to icebergs, but unfortunately we’re late in the season for that.  The harbor looks into the pristine waters of the Atlantic Ocean. There are many fishing boats.  It has a beautiful, rugged coastline. There are historical streets.  The Long Point Lighthouse, which overlooks Notre Dame Bay, was spectacular for whale watching.  You could hear those massive humpbacks breathing. 

Isn't it beautiful?

See the whales?

Meal of the day - hot turkey and dressing

 We were there during their annual Fish, Fun and Folk Festival.  Had some interesting lunch (Fisherman’s Brewis – which is made from fish and the hard tack bread) from the Lions Club (at least interesting to us.)  We experienced a lot of music here, both at our campground and at the Dinner Theatre.  We stayed at Peyton’s Woods RV Park. It’s nice. We had 30 amp while some folks had 20 amp or had to boondock.

 

Dinner Theatre - funny and good

Part of our group

Good dinner!

The Split Peas - a ladies kitchen band and a staple of the community

Fisherman's Brewis

The most memorable thing was our neighbors – Jackie and Mark.  They are a true example of how Newfoundland folks treat you.  The first night Mark cooked us up a mess of fresh scallops. Then they gave us gifts of bologna and white blood pudding (that you eat with messy eggs). Yep, I had to ask if a messy egg was a scrambled egg – it’s not. They took us over to another neighbor’s trailer and he played and sang a few songs on his guitar.  I’m really enjoying the music here. It’s all a story, and usually about the sea, or fish, or the old homelands of Scotland or Ireland.

 

Yummy fresh scalops!

Thank you "my love"!

And the next morning we woke to hear another neighbor play his bagpipes beside our camper.  So beautiful when he started playing Amazing Grace.  I won’t forget our time here at Twillingate and the new friends we made.  Here's a few more beautiful photos!

Our next leg of our journey kept us on Highway 330, the Road to the Isles.  We made a stop in Gander.  If you will remember 911 (September 11, 2001) when the United States shut down their air space, there were many “plane people” who wound up on the island of Newfoundland that day.  On that day, there were 6,600 people who descended upon the town of 10,000.  Gander was previously known as a stopover point for trans-Atlantic aviation before long-distance flights became possible.  Flight crews quickly filled their hotels, so passengers were taken to schools (which were shut down), fire stations, church halls.  The Canadian military flew in 5,000 cots. Stores donated blankets, coffee machines, bbq grills. Passengers couldn’t retrieve their luggage. It was the kindness of these Newfoundlanders that helped them all survive a terrible tragedy, reminding us all about what humanity is.  This town is also the inspiration for the phrase “Come From Away” or CFA which is what we are called.

Paradise Farm RV Park, located in Bonavista, was our home for the next few days.  Thank goodness this place has 50 amp as the temps here climbed into the upper 80s!  We went to see the puffins at Elliston, just down the road. They are also famous for their root cellars. They are everywhere!  I sure wish we could have these at home!

So cute!

We made a stop at the Newfoundland and Labrador Matthew, a re-created boat that John Cabot sailed across the uncharted Atlantic in 1497.  Over 500 years ago, Cabot and his crew landed here in the “New Founde Landes”. Very interesting. He set sail from Bristol, England destined for the Far East.  On board was the Italian explorer Giovanni Caboto with a crew of around 20 men.  They made landfall here in Bonavista in about 6 weeks.

 

The Memorial United Church, constructed entirely of wood, was built during the period 1918-1923 and was dedicated to the young men of the parish who had paid the supreme sacrifice of their country during the First World War.  It can seat 1,375 people.

 

Our last stop on that day was The Ryan Premises National Historical Park.  It commemorates five centuries of commercial fishing on Canada’s east coast.  The exhibits are all about cod, seals and survivors.

 

The next morning we headed out for The Dungeon Provincial Park, a very unusual rock formation known far and wide as the Dungeon.  Basically, it is a twin entranced sea cave with a collapsed roof, which has been carved into the cliff face by the incessant action of the sea.

 

Livestock along the way

The Dungeon

We made a stop at the Cape Bonavista Lighthouse.  Construction began in 1841.  The lighthouse is now automated and has been restored to the 1870 period.

 

We also took a walk over to see John Cabot’s statue.  There are a lot of puffins here too.

 

Our last campground in Newfoundland is at St. John’s, the capital and is called Pippy Park.  It has full hookup but only 30 amp. And the weather has gotten pretty warm! It’s a nice park in the city, wooded and kind of tight for the big rigs, and you can hear the highway noise.

Stopped at the Cape Spear Lighthouse, the most eastern part of North America.  Straight across the water would be Ireland.

 

Eastern most point in North America. Ireland is behind us.

Maybe this helps illustrate where Ireland is vs where Greenland is.

Very pretty jellyfish!

We went to visit Signal Hill, home of the first transatlantic wireless transmission.  The Cabot Tower Historical Park is situated on Signal Hill. It was built as a monument to John Cabot’s 1497 voyage to North America and to the 60^th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s reign.  The tower housed signaling functions until 1958, and gained additional prestige in the communications field by receiving Marconi’s first Transatlantic transmission of the human voice in 1920. 

 

Pretty interesting!

Cabot Tower

Looking across the harbor at St.. John's

Far away view of some of the jelly bean houses. They are so colorful!

We went for lunch in the quaint fishing village of Petty Cove. Very pretty!

 

Group shot

Painted on their shed

Can't say I've ever had shrimp tacos with fries!

We’re starting to get the hang of the Newfoundland language.  Here’s a few more phrases we have learned!  But, we are having to tell them to slow down the speed a notch or two so we can understand them. Lol.

“Ow’s she cuttin’, me cocky?” – How are you, my friend?

“I’m just ‘bout gutfounded.” - I’m very hungry.

“Who knit ya?” – Who’s your mother/parents

“I just dies at you!” – You make me laugh.

“Put da side back in ‘er.” – Close the window.

Saturday, August 6 we finally get on the ferry off the island!  The Argentia ferry to North Sydney, Nova Scotia is 11 hours. Then you get to add in the boarding arrival time of 2 hours plus.  We do have sleeping cabins so it should be a good trip!  What else can we say about Newfoundland?  One more saying…..”I’ll drop over ‘round by and by.” Which means – I’ll visit sometime.  I would like to think we might come back here, just because it’s been a great time.  But let’s face it – we got other places to explore! And we’re 2600 or so miles from home!

 

Met up with folks we met at Twillingate

They gifted us with cans of Screech and Cola!  Thanks! Great way to end our Newfoundland stay.