Sort of late in the summer of 1996, the wife declared that she needed a vacation and wanted to visit an island somewhere. So, doing the best that I could with my limited skills, I hastily threw together an itinerary that would take us across the island of Newfoundland in the far northeastern reaches of Canada. Proud of my efforts, I showed her the plan — that was quickly met with a look of befuddlement. Apparently, the wife was thinking about beaches in the Caribbean or along the southern coast of America, not an island where we would likely be wearing sweaters and long pants for warmth. But, being the trooper that she is, she joined me as we flew to the vibrant city of St. John’s, rented a car, and spent the next ten days fully immersed in a place that was lost in time. The people of Newfoundland own more boats than cars, they speak English that can be very difficult to understand, and their kids dig an Irish-folk-punk fusion that is quite infectious. The people are also warm and welcoming and love to reveal the best of their island home. Needless to say, we had a great time there, even though we had a difficult time understanding people speaking our own language.
The fun city of St. John’s, oldest in all of North AmericaCabot Tower (upper left) on Signal Hill, a fortress that protected the city of St. John’sView from Signal HillFort Amherst Lighthouse from Signal HillAn iceberg as seen from Signal HillA woodland caribou in Avalon Wilderness ReserveA moose in Avalon Wilderness ReserveTypical view of many coastal townsLobster trapsAbandoned structure somewhere in Newfoundland Whale watching with O’Brien’s Whale and Bird ToursWhale tail!Humpback whale humpMore whale tail!Whale watching on an old-school schooner (don’t remember the name, no longer in operation)Ready to take on a humpback whalePair of humpback whalesTickle Inn at Cape Onion, a beautiful B&B on the northernmost point of the islandView from Tickle InnMore from Tickle InnView from Tickle InnTrumpeter swans on a pond somewhere in NewfoundlandThe town of Deer Lake in western NewfoundlandCute little brook along the trail in Gros Morne N.P.The arches at Arches Provincial Park on the west coastJerry’s Pond in Gros Morne National Park (Gros Morne mountain in background)Beautiful little trail (Gros Morne and Old Crow mountains)Enjoying a Bontours boat ride through the fjords of Western Brook Pond in Gros Morne N.P.A cute little pond on the Gulf of St. LawrenceSunset from Corner Brook on the west coastLobster Cove Head Lighthouse to the right
