Whale watching at Cape Spear

We've had a couple of days of foggy rainy weather, arrived in St John's yesterday afternoon and set up in Pippy Park.  The weather forecaster's talked of a frost warning last night but it didn't occur.  This morning we woke up to a beautiful sunny day.  We drove out to Cape Spear National Historic Site known for it's lighthouse on a rocky cliff, for more than a century it has served as an important approach light to St John's harbor.  Cape Spear is the eastern most point of North America.  The point is a great whale watching spot, we saw pods of orcas and quite a few humpback whales.  Didn't get a picture of the orcas but did get a few shots of the humpbacks, on is blowing and the other shot is his fluke coming out of the water an he dives.  This is a beautiful spot to visit with lots of hiking paths and view points to watch birds and whales.  Nita counted 249 steps going up to the lighthouse.

Pics, the newer lighthouse, the old 1835 light and house for the keeper, just over Nita's head is Signal Hill and just beyond is St John's, and whales

Crown's land

The unoccupied land in NL is referred to as the Crown's land and that is most of the land.  We have stopped in a park in Brigus right on Conception Bay, they are gearing up for a blueberry festival this week end and the village will be grid locked.  I asked about the blueberries and they said all the Crown land in this area are full of the berries, just grab a bucket and go picking, may do that in the morning.

We left Fortune this morning, it is located on the end of the Burin peninsula so we had to back track about 100 miles to get back to the main highway.  We passed through some interesting named towns and villages, Dildo, Come By Chance, Hearts Desire, Hearts Delight and Conception Harbour.  Kept looking for Giving Birth but couldn't find it.

We had fun talking to a couple visiting the park manager, his performing name is Ronnie Razor and his wife or mate is Vicki Kell. He said his stage name comes from being a part time barber.  He plays Newfounland music on the accordian and Vicki sings and writes some of songs.  They gave us one of their recent CD albums and we enjoyed it over our non french dinner, not to bad though, grilled salmon and corn on the cob.  Picture is Ronnie, Vicki and Nita.

Last day in St Pierre

Monday morning we had our continental breakfast at the hotel, nice croissants, jams and tea.  Hiked to the cemetery to observe some of the different tombs and head stones.  The day before we took a van tour of the island, the french driver wasn't the greatest English speaker, anyway as we paused by the cemetery he pointed out some unique crypts and tomb stones,  a number of them had port holes in them, he said fishermen were buried in them, you could look right in, kinda dark didn't see much.  On other head stones there were holes and it looked like a fan was inserted,  he suggested those buried there were smokers and the hole was to let the smoke out,  suspect there is not much truth to that.

We departed SP at 2:30 for a 2 hour ferry ride back to our home sweet home(away from home).  We had calmer waters on the way back and had some whale sightings. Back to shredded wheat instead of croissants, peanut butter instead of fillets and scallops in grand sauces,  whole wheat bread instead of great baguettes, the french know how to eat, think I put on a few pounds in a few days there.

Pics, port hole crypt, smoke hole on stone, waiting for ferry back to Fortune-how do you like our fancy luggage, NL, ferry arriving, more colorful houses in SP..

More Saint-Pierre

SP became French in the 1800's, population is around 6000.  There are two other nearby French islands in the prefecture, Miquellon and Langlade, both are much larger that SP but much less populated. St Pierre is about 5 miles wide.  It is amazing the large number of  motorcycles and cars for an island with probably less that 20 miles of main roads, guess they like going around and around.  They get a new minister/mayor sent in from Paris every four years, doctors are rotated in from Paris for a few years.  Health care is free and some special care patients are flown to Paris.  Higher education is  provided free and many are sent to Paris for college and most return after graduation.  It must require a major French subsidy to maintain these territories.

We are staying in the Hotel Robert (pronounced row-bear).  It's not very fancy as you can see but the best in town.  It's old but comfortable and clean, one of it's claim to fame is that Al Capone spent a short time here during Prohibition.  The island had a reputation in those days as a good site for smuggling.

Had a pretty sunny day today and took a tour around the island, had another fine french dinner.

Pics, view of the heart of St Pierre from hill, the Ile de Langlade in background and Hotel Robert

Saint- Pierre, France

We arrived in France this afternoon after a rough 90 minute boat ride from Fortune, NL.  Think Nita was about to jump overboard as a good percentage of the passengers were sea sick,  however she made it.  Saint Pierre and Miquelon islands are French  and are about 40 miles SW of Fortune.  They are not  at all like NL, seem to be totally French.  We went to a nice french restaurant tonight at 7 and got out of there at 9:30, enjoyed the meal and had conversations with folks at several tables around us.

We parked our MH at Fortune as the ferry only takes passengers. 
Will be here till Monday afternoon.

NL has offshore oil production and on the way down to Fortune we passed Rocky Harbor that is the base for the drilling, we observed a large drilling platform that was towed in from offshore for repairs. Pics, ferry ride, arriving in Saint Pierre in fog, colorful paint jobs on houses, not Jenny Craig, ditto and oil platform 

Newfoundland rocks and rocks

The natives refer to NL as the rock.  And that's what it is, and it is a beautiful place.  As you drive it is up hill and down, hard to find a level spot, rv's like level spots to allow the refrigerator to work properly, when you park at night you usually have to chock up the wheels to get level.  There are natural lakes and ponds everywhere and to our amazement no boats or people on most, probably because there are not that many people in NL, population of 500k, moose 110k. The country is green with evergreen trees and birch trees (moose food), there is little evidence of agriculture, probably due to the rocky terrain.  As you drive along and listen to FM radio the few stations you get play, you guessed it, rock.  One stations call sign is Rock of the Rock.  Most side roads are not paved, not dirt, just ground up rock.

Well that's enough BS about rock, will do some more exploring around the Grand Banks today and get ready to depart for foreign lands tomorrow with a time zone change.  The next post will probably be next Mon. or Tues.

Headed South

Yesterday we left Trinity and headed south.  We did a bunch of chores, grocery shopping, fueling, getting money from bank, etc.  Stopped at a park in Swift Current located on Placentia Bay.  Had a Newfie dinner we prepared with cod, potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower, probably a Newfie wouldn't claim it but it was quite good.  I cooked and Nita cleaned up my mess.  Picture is our camping spot on Placentia Bay.

On Sat. we will have to pull out our passports and will depart NL and Canada and will not reenter the USA. Where are we going?  Guess you will have to stay tuned in for the Sat. episode.