Home, Final thoughts

 Our last morning on the rock began in a rush. I woke just before 5:30 and could not get back to sleep. I was concerned that we may sleep in. So we got up and packed our suitcases and went down to breakfast. This breakfast was not included because technically our tour ended yesterday at noon. We could have had the buffet but decided on a la cart instead. I had pancakes and Ken had an omlett  and sausage. As usual the presentation was very special.

Then we went back to the room and brushed out teeth and left the room to wait for the taxi. The trip was quick and uneventful. Again we were helped to sign in and get luggage tags. I had succeeded and all was on my SMART phone. When the time came we dropped off our bags and headed for security. I was confused when they held back my bag and searched it. Would you believe that that wonderful, expensive, precious bottle of bake apple preserves is considered a liquid and they confiscated it !!! Horrors!!! I almost cried. We proceeded to the gate area and other people from the tour were there. I went to tell my sad story to the other ladies only to discover that their bake apple preserves had met the same fate. We were sad together. Only one lady had put her preserves in her checked baggage. She did it because of weight, because she decided that the jar was too heavy to carry around all day. The fact that is was a liquid had not accured to her.

But my hero came to the rescue. Ken surprised me with a jar of Bake Apple preserves that he purchased in a gift shop. I do not want to know what he paid but I was so happy to receive it. I have not tasted it yet. Who knows... I may not even like it.

We had been assigned seats at the very back of the plane again. It was so uncomfortable. Plane travel is just not the treat it used to be. It was a long tiring day.

We touched down at 6:30 and Dave drove us home. We just got into the door, had a piece of toast and fell into bed. I have a bad case of jet lag today. I am awake for about 2 hours and then back into bed .

I did manage to get to a grocery store to buy some milk and a few necessities. Hopefully tomorrow will be a lot better

Some things we noticed.

The province looks very different from west to East. The northern penninsula and western regions are more rugged and less fertile than the center and the East. The trees are stunted and there are a lot of areas of bogs and almost muskeg like areas. There are large rocks almost everywhere. The rocks range from the size of a large house to as small as a piece of carry on luggage. These were left by the glaciers of the last ice age.

They have community gardens in the north and east. About mid June the people get together and they plant potatoes and turnip and carrots and cabbage, hearty crops. These are found in various place around the area. Everyone helps with the planting and the care of these gardens and everyone shares in the produce,. It is not an assigned thing. People just take what they need and no more. It is on the honor system.

Also great piles of firewood are along the roadside. No one takes wood that is not theirs, another example of the horour system and people being good to each other.

Front doors that are not used. Many of the homes have front doors with no step or path leading to them. I am sure that the front door is there because of a building code and only because of the code. Everyone uses the back door. The tea pot is always on and the door is always open and ready to welcome people who drop by. That is the way it used to be in Cape Breton. Now people feel they have to call ahead.

In the north and in a lot of the island they do not yet have the system of great plastic containers for garbage. Instead they have there wonderful octogontical wooden boxes. They are often painted in bright colors so they can be easily seen in the fog or in the snow.

The population is mainly Scottish or Irish or English. There are few people of colour living on The Rock. When I asked about it I was told that the people of color do not live in any certain area and most are professionals. The common saying... What do you call a black man in Newfoundland??? Doctor!

The most common relegion is Church of England.

On Line Shopping:

I do not have a photo but they have their own version of on line shopping. Home made mittens and socks are hung on chothes lines and you can stop and check them out and buy from the line. This on line shopping can be in a store or in a front yard.

There is very little farmable land and so there really is not a dairy industry. During the negotation with Canada to become the 10th province the strange clause that was included was the fact that the province could continue to use margarine. It had been banned in Csanada as a measure to help the dairy farmers.

To get the accent correct.

 Remove the letter "h" 

Add the letter "S" 

Put the letter "H" where it does not belong.

Example..".I Likes is at". Translation.."I like his hat."

Use terms of endearment such as love and darling for everyone

Remember it is Newfinland   NOT NewFOUNDland....and Labrador.

Summary: 

We had a great tour, saw a lot and met many wonderful people .

BUT we have concluded that we are probably too old to travel this way. Going steady for days is hard. When cruising or RVing we tour for a few days and rest for a few days. With a bus tour there are no breaks and living out of a suitcase and getting up early every morning is hard on octogenarians. We would probably never do a long one again. But I would do a 4 or 5 day one, perhaps to the Yukon to see the Northern Lights.

Thanks so much for following along. Next trip is an Alaskian cruise in September. We Hope!!

Day 12

\St. John's, a city on Newfoundland island off Canada's Atlantic coast, is the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador province. Its harbour was settled by the British in the 1600s. Downtown is known for its colourful row houses. Above the city is Signal Hill with walking trails and the site of the first transatlantic wireless communication, Cabot Tower, which commemorates John Cabot's discovery of Newfoundland. 

DAY 12: 

Wednesday – Depart St. John’s Atlantic Tours’ arrangements end upon check-out. We hope that you have enjoyed traveling with us and that we will see you again soon!

I plan to add one more post when we get home. Posts about the trip and about The Rock!!!

Day 11

Witless Bay is a town on the Avalon Peninsula in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Located on the Irish Loop, 35 km south of the provincial capital, St. John's, Witless Bay is a small, scenic, traditional Newfoundland outport community. The town had a population of 1640 in the Canada 2021 Census.

DAY 11: 

Yesterday we

had very typical NFLD weather and it was even more so today. Umbrellas came out of the suitcases but they weren't really necessary but it was very cool and FOGGY

We had breakfast at the Delta. It was so good and there was everything you could ever think of. It was included in our fare. Right away I headed for the fruit  They has raspberries, blue berries, strawberries, kiwi, honey dew, and cantelope oh and red and green grapes also. I selected a yogurt and some granola to go with all of my wonderful fruit. Ken had bacon and sausage and eggs and toast.

There were many fellow travellers in the restaurant at the same time. 

We left and went back to our room for our coats and bags. We did not have to put out suitcases because we are here again tonight.

The bus was out front and we found it right away. In fact we were the first on the bus this morning. We took our usual seat at the back of the bus. We have sat here for the entire trip. It has been wonderful to have so much space. Choosing the small group tour was definitely a wise decision. 

We boarded the bus to head for Bay Bulls. The boat here will take us to Witless Bay Ecological Reserve which is the home of millions of breeding birds.

When we weere all boarded the young guides did the safety drill and then one young man sang a sea shanty and we all stamped and clapped along. By then we were out of the harbor and I knew I was in BIG trouble.

The sea was rough and there was enough motion that I was sea sick almost immediately. I managed to ask Gerard to get me a barf bag just before breakfast began to return. To make a long sad story a bit shorter and less sad I was sick the entire trip. I only had some fruit and yogurt for breakfast but I am sure it multiplied during the short time I carried it. I made it do a return to the surface several times. I stopped for a little while during the time spent at the reserve. I managed to take a couple of quick pictures of the puffins before we began to move again and I began to replay the past half hour adding dry heaves to the mix and then more returns of breakfast to the surface. 

 The young people were very helpful bringing me barf bags....4 or 5 of them ( I lost count)  paper towels and wet wipes and water.

I was so glad to return to land . Fortunately Ken got lots of pictures of puffins that I can add to the book.

After we left Bay Bulls we headed for Cape Spear. Along the way we passed several small villages. One was the village of Petty Harbour.. This is the home of Alan Doyle.

When we arrived at Cape Spear it was almost entirely fogged in. There are 2 light houses there but they could not be seen through the fog.Can you see them?

This is what you should be seeing.

 I was still not feeling heardy, I was tired so I did not roam around much. I had a quick peak in the gift shop. We got a model of Cape Spear. Ken walked further but I got back on the bus.

We left the cape and headed back to the delta. On the way back we enjoyed the view and Gerard passed out Puffin Poop for everyone. Actually it was chocolate covered raisins. 

At the arrival at the Delta we said good bye to Gerard and Terry and headed to our room.

We were very tired and we decided to eat a small snack and have a nap. 

We went down to the Pinacle restaurant had supper and toured the hotel a little and then called it a night.

We head home tomorrow. The taxi has been ordered and the bording passes are safely stored on my cell phone.

Working

 I have no idea what I was doing last evening but what ever it was I could not get on to blog. But first thing this morning I tried and it was fine. 

Now to try to catch up. I hard it hard to do it the next day but here it goes.

We headed for Brigus and spent an hour and a half there. It is another place where old building have been reconstructed or restored. We were divided into 2 groups and we wer in Gerards group. Our goal was to go and visit the tunnel. This was a tunnel dug by a fisherman who wanted his boat closer to the shore for easy unloading. So he dug a tunnel through the mountain. 

We also spent time touring the Hawthorne Cottage , a beautifully reconstructed home of one of the more famous residents. I do not really remember the claim to fame , you will have to google it. LOL

It really was well done.

I remebr now... he was a fomous sea captain. Check out the boards.

We also got a quick look at Ye old Stone Barn, and St. George Heritage church.

By the time we finished walking around we were beat. My bad knee was yelling as was Ken's back. We were glad to get back on the bus.

We boarded the bus and headed for St. John's We had to go for lunch on our own.We were only a block away from George Street but it was uphill so we stayed on Water Street. We found an Irish Pub . 

There was a mural of the Clancy brothers just inside the door so in we went. The food was good and we were seated near the window so we could enjoy people watching as we drank our beer and enjoyed our lunch. Ken had a chowder and I had cod and home fries.

After lunch we returned to the bus and our new guide was there. He was the St.John's expert. We drove around the city while he expounded on what we were seeing. He was a retired musician who has been in many careers and had many stoties to tell. As Terry drove he told us about the buildings we were passing. Some I remember, some I do not. 

Signal Hill

The fun part was the opportunity to see Jelly Bean row. Apparently the government of St.John's will help with the cost of painting your home. The rule is that your house cannot be the same color as your neighbours. If you allow your home to look shabby the city will tell you that you must paint and if you do not they will paint it and present you with the bill.

The final land mark to see was mile Zero. It was special to see. 

We arrived at the Delta and headed for our room. It was really very nice. The hotel seems beautiful. We will have to try to find time to look around.

We were greeted by a member of the staff and we got our keys and breakfast vouchers and a cookie and juice. This was about 4:30 and our special dinner was scheduled for 7:00.

We had time to rest and I ironed Ken's shirt. Tonight was to be special so we had to get dressed a little.

The food was traditional Newfoundland fare, jigs dinner and figgy pudding were features. Gerard bought everyone a drink. He proposed a toast to new friends and our trip. He wrote and read a very moving poem.

We even had a musician performing traditional music. It was a lovely evening, a perfect finish to a special holiday.

Tomorrow is our last day.