We did a lot of travelling yesterday and so decided to stay in St. John’s area and have a lazy day. We explored the streets and shops in St. John’s and then went up to Signal Hill. 

    

  It was still misty and not too clear over the sea so we waited for a while for the sun to burn through. We asked at the tourist Information how to reach the lighthouse we could see from signal hill. It is called Fort Amherst. 

   

 We were so pleased we went over there as we got much better views of the Cabot tower, the batteries and the port. You park the car and walk up the road to reach the lighthouse. From the lighthouse you can see the vertical strata of the steep rocks and cliffs of Signal Hill. There is a view of the path leading all the way from signal  hill  down and along the cliff to the battery and town .

From Fort Amherst we drove to Cape Spear  to photograph the other lighthouse and this is where we had a special experience! 

 There was a much bigger iceberg there than the ones we’ve seen before and …….. Lots of whales! At least 5 and people told us there would be more than this . They were probably minky whales. 

   The capelins were rolling and the seagulls gannets and whales were there feasting on them. Capelins are like large sardines and this time of year they come in large numbers to the coast round here. We could see the whales blow holes and their huge bodies coming out of the water. We sat over an hour just watching the spectacle. There were lots of people doing the same as us. We felt so lucky to see this and a huge iceberg too.

On the way back to conception bay South we stopped in Maddox harbour and had a sandwich. What a wonderful day.

Looking forward to seeing you all very soon and missing my home a lot now. 3 months is a very long time to be awayxxxxx

Hi we woke up very early this morning and crept out while everyone was asleep. We wanted to do ALL the Irish Loop this time. First we stopped at Witless Bay for a yummy breakfast! At last proper bacon… We continued along taking photos and exploring coves and harbours. The sun came out and we could see for miles after a misty start from St John’s.  

   We soon got up to Ferryland and stopped at the cafe advertising a million dollar view. We sat drinking tea and looking out on a scene like Ireland. Look Lily, we saw a moose! But really we haven’t yet seen a real one. 

   We passed St Vincent’s at one point and it was beautiful, very remote but lovely. We found surf beaches too.  

    With lots of stops and chats to very friendly people it took us 9 hours to do the whole drive. We set off at 7.30am and got to Conception Bay South at 4.30pm tired but excited by all we saw !

We got back to Doreen and Kens and their 2 daughters and families came for supper as they call it and we had lobsters! It was great fun cracking them open and very messy but they tasted delicious 

 

Well…. We assumed we could do this all in one day…no way we only got a third of the way round today. These are a few bays we passed through on our way.  

 We passed this miniature ship and harbour scene, it was very well done.  

 We travelled  to the archeological dig at Ferry Land. The staff all spoke with an Irish accent, 

We spent 2 hours there and were shown some of the artefacts they had found, how they washed them and labelled them. We saw the archeologists at work and the village remains from 1600s. The English set up a fishing port at Ferry Land for the abundant cod in the area, the French then burnt it down, and then the English built it back up again. Many pieces of pottery are from Bristol and Devon.

   

 We saw a 17th century working kitchen too. 

 We had chowder soup at the Tetley Tea Rooms with a view over the bay. By this time it was 4 pm and time to go back. We cut across the loop on the way back. It was like a moor with lakes and rocky outcrops, very barren lands and a different environment to what we’d seen before. 

In the evening we went out to Shananigans Pub for our dinner to save Doreen cooking for us again.

I will write more tomorrow and add the photos

We woke up to cloudy cold weather but no rain. Vince and I and Ken (Vinces cousin) set off after breakfast to chase icebergs and to explore the coastline. Dressed in warm clothes.

 We called in at various places along the way. Brigus is a beautiful harbour and this tunnel is famous. They had to blow their way through with explosives to create more landing space for boats, smuggling went on .

Here is a picture of 2 cousins 

  

 Further on we reached the place where Amelia Earhart flew from. From Grace harbour singled handed over the Atlantic Ocean.

 We drove through the towns of Hearts Content ,Hearts Desire and Hearts Delight  amongst other lovely names. 

  The light house at Hearts Content and the bay of Hearts Desire and Hearts Delight. We saw these rocks jutting out of the sea at one point. 

   It was a lovely drive along and round the headland opposite to Conception Bay.

Love this island xxxx

Hi Doreen had a phone call from her friend this morning to tell her that there was a large iceberg passing by her part of the coast and that it was breaking up. We followed Ken and Doreen to the area and were really excited to see the icebergs in the fog rain and cold wind! (Also when we got back to their home later on in the day you could see another ice berg from their garden in the bay near them!) 

       It is 8c and very cold and rainy today. What a shock to the system..winter clothes. We had to find things to do inside in the warm and dry.

We went to the geocentre under Signal Hill. It was so interesting geology,anthropology, archeology,history,space,astronomy, 3D films, titanic story……… All about Newfoundland. It was sponsored by the oil industry and the whole exhibition must have cost millions. 

 We then went to a fluvarium. It is a section of a running river sliced off with windows to look through to see the ecosystem and trout swimming by in the weeds. So it is the river in action. Also frogs, toads and eels were there to see. 

About 4.30pm it stopped raining and Vince and I went shopping in St Johns. We needed trainers as our sandals are letting in the rain 

P.S. We left Vancouver at the right time. There are now huge forest fires with smoke drifting all over Vancouver and Vancouver Island and still high temperatures and no sign of rain!

Counting the days to see you all now missing you all but enjoying Newfoundland lots of love Grandma and Grandaddy xxxxxx 

      

   

 Today we went to the “church by the side of the road” with Doreen. It is a lovely church in a lovely location. You can see the sea through the church windows. We were introduced to the congregation. We had to stand up and turn to face them and then they clapped us. Can you spot grandma and Doreen walking up to the church?

    

 After lunch we drove right round the long headland stopping at each bay and learning each ones history. Pope John Paul had visited one church and shrine in 1984. The Queen and Prince Phillip had opened a hall in another town. We didn’t see a moose but we saw moose horns on the side of a shed!  

   We read about ship wrecks and saw houses mostly all made of wood in different shapes and sizes and painted in different colours. There are several small coves all rocky and with vertical cliffs. The waves were crashing on the rocks. We saw fog and cold winds and sunshine and heat. The weather was very variable and localised. Hope you like the photos. Hope they show how natural and wild the landscape is …. 

           Love you all and missing you all xxxxx

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Hi we went out with Ken and Doreen and their daughter Tania and granddaughter Chelsea to see the local landmarks and now perhaps I’d like to live in Newfoundland!

First we drove through the main road and historic part of the city and passed the docks and harbour. Then we went up to where Vinces aunty went after Ken was born, right on a cliff side facing the main harbour at the Battery.

 There was a cannon placed right on the top protecting the town from the French. St Johns is a natural harbour with a deep channel leading into the harbour. The wooden houses are all different colours. 

 We then went up to the Signal Hill and Dead Mans Lake. There was a reconstruction of an English / French battle. When the French surrendered to the British.

 Signal Hill was later an important defence site for St. John and all of North America.

Next to the lighthouse at Cabot Tower, we saw 2 icebergs! They were quite far out to sea so it was hard to tell how big they were. Tania said it was probably huge and that most was under the water out of sight. 

 We could see over to the most easterly point in Canada,  Cape Spear.

 It also has a lighthouse which is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Newfoundland and they took us over to see it. You can walk right around the headlands and watch the waves crashing on the rocks. There is a WW2  era bunkers,tunnels and pill boxes there too.

 Then we went down to Conception Bay near to where we are staying. It is a rocky beach and there are barbecues available to use too. We could see the white church on the hillside.

We are staying in a lovely place with lovely people xxxx

We got delayed by fog as we approached St. John’s. The pilot circled and tried to land twice but then flew us 200 miles to another airport Deer Lake to refuel and wait until the weather cleared in St Johns . We finally landed 3 hours late…never mind we’re here now and it’s lovely to see Doreen and Ken and to stay at their house. Tired so will write more tomorrow xxxxx 

Deer Lake Airport

 This is Ken and Doreen’s house 

    

Last day here and feeling sad as we both love Canada so much. We lightened our loads in our suitcases as much as we could and then checked out of the hotel, said goodbye to Squamish and stopped in at the little cove we found 2 weeks ago. It is a private residential drive but public are allowed to walk along the beach there.  

   It is perfect, lovely views peaceful and loads of birds flowers and butterflies to spot. Furry Creek. Well we were strolling along when I spotted a bird of prey hovering over the water. It was an osprey and it swooped down and caught a fish in its tallons and then flew over our heads onto the hillside trees above the houses. Then another one appeared and both of them flew round the bay hovering and gliding. What an amazing view of nature!  

    We said goodbye to the scene and stopped at the ferry port for lunch at Horse Shoe Bay, wonderful fresh haddock thin fries with skins on and loads of shredded cabbage with dressing on. Very tasty.

  We headed for Stanley Park and found it this time! We did a circular tour round the bay and harbour past the totem poles, the lighthouse, the tea room, the ice cream shop by the famous Lion Bridge, past the hollow tree and out again. 

     Now we are at Vancouver airport drinking white local wine and local pale ale beer  

   and will arrive at 7.30 am their time in St Johns, ready to kiss the cod and drink the rum yuk! 

Will let you know when we arrive at Ken and Doreen Caves house xxxx

July 1st ……..hi everyone and HAPPY CANADA DAY. Another fun day on Mann Tours with a major lost on route! 

 We went into Squamish this morning to watch their Canada Day Parade. Lots of adults and children mostly wearing red and white. We were all given Canadian flags to wave by the Canadian Legion. The march past started with the Canadian Legion supported by a pipe band, then lots of groups marched past.  

   They all went to a park for Canada Day Speeches we escaped that though! 

We headed to Horse Shoe Bay to see what was happening there for Canada Day….. Nothing! So we stopped for coffee and then used the sat nav to direct us to a camera shop. All well and good…. Except it brought us 6 blocks too short. We walked to the shop and Vince treated himself to a new lens a third less price than in UK !

“Now we’ll go to Stanley Park, ” I put Stanley Park into the sat nav pressed find and we set off. We travelled a few miles… “Are you sure we are going the right way? “asked Vince ” yes I loaded Stanley Park into sat nav!” A few more miles and an aeroplane passed at eye level…. “Are you SURE we’re going the right way?” Asked Vince “we seem to be going South” ” yes I’m sure” ……. Several miles later……………”Well we are following signs to the American border and the sat nav says the park is 1314 miles away and the sign says have your passports ready!” ……Whoops I’ll never live that one down will I? 

We decided to head back in the right direction following the marine drive and to cut a long story short we had an interesting afternoon following the coastline as the pictures show.  

   Thousands of people were in the parks and on the beaches all there for Canada Day.

We stopped at Lighthouse Park in North Vancouver. Some trees there were 500 years old.  There were signs there warning of a black bear in the vicinity and to be careful!

 The path was steep and I managed well to walk down and up and climb up some rocks for a view of the lighthouse and the ocean and beach. Big cargo vessels and logging tugs with logs were out at sea. 

  It It was tough walking back and up the hills to the car park but I felt proud of myself. Very hot and red faced. 

One little disappointment is that the fireworks display and fire throwing displays have been cancelled as the fire risk is rated at the highest due to the drought and the high temperatures. In fact there are signs up everywhere banning smoking and fires because of the risk. But what a lovely Canada Day ! 

 

Tomorrow we fly to St Johns over night……… Love you all kisses to Anona Lilyana Louis and Otis xxxx