SOUTH AVALON PENINSULA

 

NEW BRIDGE- Heading south on Hwy 90 of the Avalon Peninsula, we decided to find the

first place along the water we could spent the rest of the day and night at. It was a

lovely warm day and we just wanted to relax and enjoy. Set up our chairs, didn’t go in until dark.

Perfect!

 

We continued on Hwy 90 stopping in St. Vincent’s at the Fisherman’s Museum, had a

nice guided tour there. Then headed over to St. Stephen’s to see whales, we had

been told this was the best place because it is very deep close to shore. But it was

so foggy we couldn’t even see the water! So NO whales. OK so off we head to

St. Shotts 14km off the main road, the fog had lifted some and we were told this

open range area is GREAT for seeing Caribou. But nar a one did we see!

 

Stopped at Portugal Cove at the Interpretation center of the Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve.

Looked at the artifacts, saw the movie, but to see the fossil area you need a guided tour. Oops

missed that for the day. Although we did find the movie very interesting. Amazing how there are

fossils dating back so far! 

 

All that and this is the only picture Jim took! He took it for his old boating buddy because it’s a very old

Stanley tool and Dale our friend use to sell for Stanley

.

FERRYLAND-We got here at 4:00. It’s a 30 to 45 min. hike up to the lighthouse. Now the sun is out and it’s just beautiful.

We find out they do a great picnic up at the lighthouse. No phone reception and we wanted to get there before closing

so there is a small parking lot half way up a one lane road so off Jim goes! Thank goodness no one was coming down, it

was that narrow! Too bad we missed the picnic it looked great. But the weather was fantastic and we saw whales!!!!!!!!!!!!

The day was not a bust. The whales put on a great show leaping and slapping water with their tails. We stayed up on

the hill till dusk.

 

Hot, cold, rainy and sunny all in one day, that’s about what we’ve been getting lately.

Oh and foggy. We never realized it could rain and be foggy and the same time.

Oh yeah we booked the picnic for the following day but it rained. So skip that and on to

the next place.

BURIN PENINSULA

 

BOAT HARBOUR-This is a wonderful old time craft. Poked mat-making, a rug made with old clothes,

these days this crafter is using old sweatshirts and a piece of purchased burlap. There was a time not

long ago when all Newfoundlanders warmed their feet on hand-made floor mats. Nothing was

wasted in those days. Mats were made from worn out clothing and  left over feed & bread sacks .

GRAND BANK-famous for its fishing history. This is the George C Harris House, a 1900

merchant house with a widows walk.(temporarily removed for repair).The water pond

is a memorial to those lost at sea. Their names are on a plaque just under the surface

of the water, and the statue is of a seaman’s wife on a widows walk looking for

the return of her loved one. 

GRAND BANK HARBOUR  

FORTUNE-The historic town holds the distinction of being “The Gateway to St. Pierre-et-Miquelon.” As many as 20,000

tourists pass through each year on their way to the French islands. It has also been chosen as a “Global Stratotype” ,

it is an international reference point for determining the earth’s age.

Now to the pictures, we were walking along the wharf when we saw them unloading these from a boat. We stopped to

ask what they were. They are sea cucumbers, being packed in ice to export to Japan. The man working the bucket showed

us what they looked liked and explained about the mussel inside, it will move if pushed on top as shown in the picture.

Very interesting!   

   

FORTOUNE HARBOR-Just can’t get enough pictures of these old stages, they are still in use today!

BURIN-One of the oldest towns on the Peninsula. It has developed with the fishery throughout the years, from the

Basques fishermen, to the banking schooners, to the first fresh fish processing plant in Newfoundland & Labrador

and now to the first secondary fish processing plant. And if that isn’t enough it is fantastically scenic, winding

through cozy coves, up and down green hills. We stopped at the museum to learn a bit more history, but the boardwalk called

out to us for a bit of exercise , the hill needed to be climbed for a sisterly chat,(see me on the hill) the gazebo seemed a great place for a

cocktail. Now it was getting towards dinner, why leave it’s just to relaxing. What a wonderful day!

SOUTHWEST AVALON PENINSULA

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLACENTIA-Castle Hill National Historic Site

above Placentia. Everyday M-F at 2:00 weather

permitting they put on a short play about the

French Fort and it’s battle with the English.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAPE ST. MARY’S ECOLOGICAL RESERVE-Yes that’s me bundle up in my down jacket. We have

heard the phrase Newfoundland has four seasons in one day! We woke to sunshine, drove 10

minutes then hit fog. We  slowly read everything in the Interpretation center hoping it would

clear some but it didn’t so we set out for our 1 mile walk out to the Bird Rock.

BIRD ROCK-It was so worth! Looks  like a snow covered mountain. We are not birders

but this was so impressive we just sat watching the show. The Northern Gannets each had

a  fluffy down young chick(if that’s the right terminology)which the female and her mate

protected fiercely. Watching the mates together was lovely the way they rub their heads

together wrapping their long necks around each other and up and down.

There were also Thick-billed Murres, Common Murres, Black-Legged Kittiwake, Razorbill &

Black Guillemots.

 

 

 

SALMONIER NATURE PARK-ON HWY 90. This nice 2.5km boardwalk through the nature park is free. They take in injured wildlife until

they can return to the wild if able, if not they remain there.

BONAVISTA PENINSULA

  

   

TICKLE COVE-We drove up to this small town  at the end of a road because we liked the name. Again

what a wonderful surprise

. We found a place at the wharf to overnight. It was such a beautiful area as you

can see in the first photo we walked along the coast and enjoyed the views even in the wind.

 

Is this great or what!

 

TRINITY-Rising Tide Theatre New Founde Lande Trinity  Pageant. The outdoor pageant take you on a

journey through the lanes, roads and historic sites of Trinity.

And look who we bumped into again. Sherrie,Jack, Joyce and Larry.

Here we all are with one the the actors from the play. Fun afternoon.

Recommended to bring a short chair or blanket to set on.

 

Also today is our Granddaughter Abby’s Birthday. We were so glad to be in an

area with phone reception. Happy Birthday Abby!

 

ELLISTON-Just outside of town is Puffin Point, a very short walk to the end of the

bluff. Darn where’s that zoom camera!

  

 

 

ELLISTON-The Root Cellar Capital of the

  World with over 100 of them. Even I had to stoop over. And poor Jim bumped his head.

BONAVISTA-They call it the fish Capital. And after strolling the small streets for a few hours you understand why.

You come across the replica of John Cabot’s ship the Matthew, the Ryan Premises National Historic Site,

a restored 19th-century industrial salt fish complex. And the Original buildings of the Courthouse and the Orangemans

Lodge. At the end of the peninsula is a Statue of John Cabot and the Lighthouse Provincial Historic Site.

 

Joining in the fun, me playing the Roman Knockers and Jim playing the Ugly Stick!

This was at the Ryan Premises where this local group plays a few days a week.

PRINCETON-Jims most memorable day! We were parked down by the wharf where Jim was

talking to two fishermen getting ready to go out. They invited him to come along. Jim ,not

a fisherman was so excited when he caught his first fish in less than 5 minutes! The limit is

5 apiece which they had in less than 2 hrs. In the photo above is Gary, cousin to Morris

and Alf standing on each side of Jim and Patsy, Gary’s wife. They gutted and filleted the

cod then gave us a huge bowl full that we promptly took to the RV and cooked up some

for lunch. Delicious! I don’t think I’ve ever had fish this fresh.  We just can’t get over the hospitality

of Newfoundlanders.

Alf on the right of Jim is the full time resident in Princeton where the others are Townies

as Patsy called herself. She also told us we were called PFA’s,” people from away”.

These Newfie’s certainly do live up to their reputation as they most friendly people you’ll

ever meet.