Day 2 Monday August 23, 2021

 Day Two Monday August 23, 2021

We planned our trip in advance with somewhere to go and things to see and do each day. It was nice to go to bed at night knowing you travelled and saw all  you wanted and to wake up in the morning with a plan for that day. Those who know me well, know how I love to have a plan. 😌

It is important to know the itinerary was a suggestion only of the day's events. We travelled into all of the harbours along the way but only visited museums and such if the mood struck us at the time. The drive times listed on the itinerary were an estimate of how long it would take to drive from point A to point B that day. We took our time along the way which caused the travel time to be doubled and often more.

Along with the day's itinerary, I printed off some of our destinations from Google Maps in the event we were without data/internet coverage and the possibility of not having a navigational system in our car rental.

The second day's travel took us along the Irish Loop of  the Avalon Peninsula from St. John's travelling south down the coast  and then north to our hotel "The Wilds Resort and Golf Course" near Holyrood.

The colours of the wild flowers were beautiful.

Every harbour has at least one church sometimes three and more. I was very disappointed they are kept locked.

The gates of this church were unique in that they were made from cannons.

                        We stopped for lunch along the way,                          the food and drink were so good.

Deep fried Cod and onion rings,

         with the one of the best craft beers I tasted while here                   "Rolling Rock"

At this same restaurant I found a genuine Ugly Stick! From my stance it looks like I am tuning up.

This is how it is played. They look simple to make, you use a yacht mop, add a tin can for the head, a boot for the stand and then add noise to it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tg92ZBNPkU

The scenery is breathtaking in Newfoundland, you can not imagine its beauty, you have to see it. I was taking so many pictures one would have thought it was my first time off Manitoulin.

These are barrons on the land which are caused from the high winds coming in off the Atlantic.The landscape changes throughout the province from evergreen trees in some parts, to mountains in others and  to barrons particularly along the coast line.  

Laundry on the line blowing in the Atlantic wind is one thing I see in my mind when I think of Newfoundland, I asked one of the women if they used the cloths lines much in the winter, she said just for the whites. Tough women out there to venture outside at that time of year to hang cloths.

To reach the Cape Rice lighthouse you turn off highway 10 prior to Trepassey and travel what seems to be a long drive, only because you are anticipating the end. 

            Along the way there is a little pool of water with many miniature boats in it. 

                         The road snakes along with lots of high hills and valleys to climb up and down upon the barrons.

These barrons are called the Trepassey Barrons and they along with other barrons in the province provide food for the elk.  Years back there were many elk living in Newfoundland, they later developed a brain disease killing all but a few. The population is growing and now they have a hunting season for them but only in some areas of the province. Caribou are also resident to  Newfoundland and there is a season for hunting them as well.

This is the Cape Race lighthouse, it is still manned today with 2 lighthouse keepers per month on a rotating basis.

 Myrick Wireless Interpretive Centre on Cape Race

 Jimmy Myrick was a 14 year old boy  when he  received the Titanic's distress call at the Cape Race's Marconi Wireless Station on April 14, 1912.

From 1859 to 1866  the New York City Associated Press kept a newsboat at Cape Rice to meet ocean liners passing by on their way from Europe so that news could be telegraphed from Cape Rice to New York and be printed and circulated three days before the ship docked there. Sailors would man their skiffs in all kinds of weather to search the waters for canisters thrown overboard with news items to be telegraphed.

In 1904 the first wireless station in Newfoundland was built at Cape Race.

The road back from Cape Race to Highway 10 did not seem near as long as the road in. That happens so often doesn't it?

Another harbour stop for sightseeing.

Our lodging for the night was the Wilds Resort, the staff were locals from the surrounding area and we found them to be very friendly and helpful.

This was the view from our room, The Wilds Resort sits as number 2 on my list of hotel accomodations on this vacation.

This ends day 2

Newfoundland, Canada

Newfoundland Canada Vacation 2021

This summer we decided to make a trip to Newfoundland for two reasons, the  first was to visit with our grandson Jeromy and the second was to see the province for the first time and experience its beauty and its food. To sum up our vacation in one word "WOW!"

Jeromy was very fortunate to receive employment at the completion of his college program in the position of Air Craft Maintenance Engineering Technician with Pal Aviation in St. John's, Newfoundland. He is enjoying the job, the people he works with and loves St. John's. Jeromy is not a newcomer to Newfoundland, he spent many vacations there with his parents as his mother's parents and families are from Northern Newfoundland.

He and two of his fellow students from the same program who were also hired, made the long journey driving from Ontario last August. COVID has prevented anyone of nonessential travel up until recently so we took the opportunity to get vaccinated and make the trip.

Allan and I flew from Sudbury at 4 o'clock on  Saturday afternoon (August 21/21) and arrived at St. Johns  shortly after 11 o'clock that same night our time, or, 12:30 am Sunday Newfoundland time. We met Jeromy at the airport, picked our rental car (Ford Escape with GPS Navigational System) and went to an airport hotel for the night.

Jeromy had to work the following morning so we had a short visit before he went home with plans to meet us later in the day (Sunday).

Mid Sunday  morning  Allan and I began our 8 day tour of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. St John's is a city filled with history and beauty. Although it was a cool cloudy/rainey day which is quite common we came to see, it was an amazing sight to see.

Signal Hill and the Cabot Tower which overlooks the city of St. John's was our first stop that day. Signal Hill played an important role in military signaling from1704-1870. It was also the location of the first transatlantic wireless signal by Guglielmo Marconi in 1901. Cabot Tower was built in 1897 as a monument to John Cabot's 1497 voyage to North America and the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria's reign.

The following photos show you the amazing views  from on top of Signal Hill

F

I was surprised and pleased to see the amount of Scotch thistle there is in Newfoundland. Here it is called the Canadian Thistle and is believed to be brought to Canada by the early settlers and traders. It really is beautiful to see.

A view from another location on the hill.

More Canadian (Scotch) Thistle

 I had no idea Heather grew in Canada. The theory is that Heather was introduced by Highland soldiers who used heather brooms for sweeping out their camps and Scotch and Irish settlers brought it over to be  used for bedding. 

Who would have though Heather to be a weed? It grows well in Atlantic Canada because of the climate and the acidic soil. The island of  Newfoundland is famous for its wild blueberries and they too grow well in acidic soil.

There are still quite a few old cannons scattered around the park. One of the cannons next to the Cabot Tower gives the Noon Day Gun sound which goes back to at least the 19th century, it signals the hour of Noon to St. John's below.

Looking East from atop Signal Hill

Looking down into the mouth of the St. John's Harbour toward Fort Amherstburg.

We were fortunate to be overlooking the harbor mouth when this vessel was 

going out into the Atlantic. Following Signal Hill and the Cabot Tower 

we just drove and looked at the beauty of the city. We  would not have 

believed how the streets are so steep, it was like the car may tip backwards on some and the twists and turns were very interesting. At many intersections there can be 5 or 6 streets to turn onto to depending on  the designated route. There were times the navigation system would tell you to go in a direction you saw no other side to and there in front of you was a steep hill to travel down. 

                        

Later in the afternoon we met up with Jeromy, he had been living right in St. John's for the past year with his Ontario friends but recently moved to Pouch Cove. He now has his motor cycle license and proud of it, it saves him costs of gas to travel. We followed him to his place of residence on what he called the scenic view - and it was that. Beautiful!

One of Jeromy's Ontario friends has bought a house where they now live in Pouch Cove and  believe it or not this is the view they have while sitting on the loo! I would be there all day, never get anything done.

This night we booked into the Gov'nor Hotel - the night clerk said it is the oldest hotel in North America - that could be. but I have not been able to find documentation that indicates this to be true. However I did find out from one of the waitresses that the pub is over 50 years old. That really isn't old considering the city was established in 1582. 

The Inn and pub are in true English style.

The carpets are made of wool and the pictures and walls are designed to the likeness of a true English Pub.

The food was delicious. We did a taste test before going back for supper - chicken wings, simple enough and absolutely delicious!

Before the supper meal I ordered Cod Tongues for appetizer, Allan was not impressed, Jeromy was surprised he actually liked them and I loved them - you might have figured out from past blogs that I am an adventurous eater. For the main meal Allan and I ate  cod and Jeromy had the prime rib. Each of us eating what we favoured most.

The Govn'or Inn and Pub was my favourite place to stay - it definitely rates #1

This ends day one