Jeff and Connie’s Newfoundland home is in the Humber River valley. The Humber River is a major salmon river and they are running. Yesterday we went to Big Falls.
Not a high falls but it does create something of a barrier for a salmon. There were several fishermen trying their luck below the falls. Flies and barbless hooks are mandated here.
Of course most of the fish make it past the fishermen but still must get past the falls themselves.
Once past the falls it’s easier going for them
Tom
Having seen icebergs we needed to see a moose.
Fortunately they seem obliging
This one was shy and didn’t want her photo taken
Tom
In the mid 20th century subsistence fishing was a common way of life in Newfoundland. One such family was the Mudge family. Every year from April through the summer they lived at this fishing camp. They caught lobster, salmon and cod. After that way of life ceased to be viable they deeded their property to the Historic Trust.
This building stored boats, lobster traps and nets through the winter. During the season it was there processing plant where they processed their catch even to canning the salmon.
The boats
Lobster traps
The house was tiny by today’s standards. Each bedroom was just large enough for a double bed and small dresser. The kitchen was a wood burning stove and small cupboard; no sink, no refrigerator no counter space.
Tom
We took a sightseeing boat tour out of St. Anthony. Saw a whale and lots of birds and a Caribou but what you want to see on these tours this time of year is icebergs.
These break off glaciers in Greenland and take around two years to drift down to the waters between Labrador and Newfoundland.
As they drift south they begin to break up. You can see the pieces in the water around it. Some people “harvest” the iceberg chunks and melt it down for drinking water and other beverages. This ice is thousands of years old so extremely pure.
When the pieces of ice find their way into the harbors or along the shoreline they’re known as “berger bits”.
Tom
Provincial route 430 is also called “Viking Trail” as at one time there were Viking Settlements in Northern Newfoundland.
Very few remnants of the Vikings remain except for the exploitation of the Viking tradition for the tourists. One of the restaurants where we ate had a reconstructed Viking longhouse where they served “Viking Feasts”.
Perhaps I spoke too soon. There on the horizon, is that a Viking raiding party??
Tom
Jeff and Connie’s home is near the Humber River which empties into Island Bay. Today we drove out the South shore of the bay stopping to take photos as we went.
Jeff says that in the summer the pool below this little falls is a favorite swimming spot for the local teens but the water is too cold this time of year so we had it to ourselves.
At Little Cove this fisherman was returning after putting his catch away.
Bottle Cove
At Little Cove the stack of lobster traps seemed to mimic the shape of the mountain beyond.
Tom
Yesterday we drove out Cape St George. The scenery was gorgeous.
This formation is called “The Boot”…
Fishing boat
“Our Lady of Mercy” Catholic church in Stephanville.
Tom
Though Cape Breton is known for it’s Scottish heritage, the Eastern side of the cape was settled by the French. This lovely old Catholic church was in the town of Cheticamp on the French side.
The real star of Cabot Trail around the top of the Cape is Highlands National Park.
At our last stop I was fortunate enough to catch a nice spray shot.
Tom
There have been fortifications on the hill where the Citadel now stands for 250 years. The present citadel was built in 1856. Costumed docents represent infantrymen of the 78th Highland Regiment and naval gunners who manned the heavy cannon of the fort.
Barracks building
Old gun; modern city.
Officers drill new recruits.
Tom
We spent the morning in Peggy’s Cove, a Nova Scotia Historic Preservation Site. This little fishing village has the appearance of a early 20th century fishing village. The lighthouse at the mouth of the cove is one of the prettiest lighthouses you’ll ever run across.
The town is really picturesque as well.
Nova Scotia, as the name implies, has a strong Scottish heritage. The day we visited coincided with a phalanx of tour busses from a Princess cruise ship docked at Halifax. We believe that was what attracted the piper.
Tom
We got to Nova Scotia relatively early this morning
and stopped to take a photo of Cape D’or lighthouse
When I took this it was cold, windy and hard rain. It took a fair bit of work to make it look like it ought to…
We ended the day in Lunenburg. A small city with a long shipping tradition
Tom
First of all, apologies for not getting started with this a couple of days ago but somehow, days have been hectic and I’ve not gotten to my blog…
Two days ago we were in Vermont seeing the things we expected to see there.
Anyway, late in the afternoon I was trying to get a photo of a little waterfall and there were branches in the way so I needed to get out into the creek a bit. There were nice solid and flat rocks to stand on so no problem, I can do that except on of them was a bot wet. Foot slipped and I ended up in the creek with my camera 8” underwater. Oops! The photo wasn’t even that great…
We dried if off as best we could and it seemed to be working OK except the next morning I had condensation inside the lens so all those pix were bad. By the afternoon it seemed OK again
but most of this trip we’ll be in Newfoundland where there won’t be easy access to camera shops so we detoured through Portland, ME and I picked up a new camera. It’s not a full frame sensor like my D700 but it has some features not on the D700 that I wanted. Today we crossed over into New Brunswick, Canada and I started getting to know it. So far so good.
Today we’ll be in Nova Scotia….
Tom
