We had a swell time at the wedding- a big affair at the Holiday Inn in St. John's. They were married at Corpus Christie RC Church on Waterford Road. A happy affair - everything went well. Both are recent grads in Pharmacy from Memorial University and are off to a great start with a house in St John's and jobs at Lawton Drugs.
Well that was just the start or trimmings if you like. Both Kyle (Winnipeg) and Michelle (Ottawa area) made the trip too. We all flew on the same plane and made a grand holiday of it.
There was the family visit to Placentia to visit Michelle's aunt and uncle. A kitchen party ensued followed by a great brunch the next a.m. at Philip's Cafe. While we didn't get to hike much, we did admire Castle Hill from a distance and read up on the long and sordid history of conflict between the French and English over its heights. We stopped by to visit a life long friend of Marie's in Freshwater her home town on Placentia Bay.
Another great (I mean really great by!) kitchen party ensued back in St John's the next night at Marie's sister's place, the mother of the groom. It pretty well knocked the screech out of us for a few days!
We then spent 3 wonderful nights in Petty Harbour at Caplin Cottage overlooking the harbour. Highlights included a short hike with Kyle along the East Coast Trail, picking some wild blueberries and making jam and the fireworks in the harbour the first night, celebrating local heritage. It only rained one of the three days!
After a trip by car ferry to Bell Island (spotted a whale in the distance) where Marie's mother comes from, we hit the road and did the "Irish Loop" down the east coast of the Avalon all the way around through Trepassey. Highlight was a beautiful hike from Mobile to Tinker point along the waterfront. Stayed a night in the The Wilds Golf Resort which we highly recommend. Spotted a moose on the 3rd tee!
Continuing back North we hit the Baccalieu Trail and stopped at Bay Roberts for a nice hike and lunch. Spent that night over on Trinity Bay in Whiteway after a nice feed of fish and brews and some local after dinner entertainment.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE TRIP: Woody Island Resort in upper Placentia Bay.
Went there for one night. Marie had been there 6 years ago and raved about the experience. We were boated in with 24 strangers and then fed pea soup, toutons (fried dough) and lassie (molasses) for lunch. After a hike and nap in our comfortable main lodge room, we returned for the fab dinner of pan fried cod, fresh bread, potatoes, veg and cottage pudding, all you can eat, YUM! That night we were treated to 3 hrs plus of music with Richard Withrow on guitar, accordion and singing local, country and pop songs by the dozen. Got roped into dancing the Virginia Reel - we were strangers no more. The ugly stick came out for a few rhythmic songs along with a blown up garbage bag, go figure. The mummers soon arrived and I was swept away to the dance floor. The next day after a big breckie, we circled the island by boat and stopped for a "boil-up" lunch of soup, sandwiches and date squares. You get the idea! Finally returning to Garden Cove, we all hugged and said our goodbyes. Our skipper, Gary Pomeroy, one of the co-owners was the most hospitable, caring and gentle soul that I have ever met - and he has been doing this for 25 years on a daily basis!
Up to Gander for short visit with Marie's brother Greg and then back to St John's. We stopped at Bidgoods food store in The Goulds for some yummy cod au gratin. We had time to visit Cape Spear the eastern most point in N. America, on a sunny day. Then Marie's sister Chris and husband Jack hosted us to a wonderful jigs dinner complete with turkey, salt meat, figgy duff, wine and a delicious blueberry cobbler made by brother Rick. Needless to say we were overweight on the flight home!
Things have changed and they haven't. St John's is now an extremely active place with traffic jams, expensive accommodations, pricey rental cars and jammed airport. Out in the bays, things are still quiet - it can be very difficult to find accommodations or a restaurant by just driving around. The Newfoundlanders I met are still good natured and generous people. A bayman told me that things have changed though. Years ago, if you had a flat tire, the first car would stop and the driver would offer you his spare - "here take mine by". Now with all that oil, some changes are inevitably happening, some good, some not so good. But the spirit and traditions live on, particularly at Woody Island.
A smattering of pics:
On Our Way
In Placentia
In Placentia
The Boats on North East Arm
In Freshwater
Family Kitchen Party
Breakfast on George Street
On Their Way
Wedding
Andrew and Samantha
A Beautiful Couple
Wasn't that a party!
Yep!
East Coast Trail
High Above Petty Harbour
The Veiled Virgin, Presentation Sisters Convent
On Signal Hill
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Quidi Vidi
Woody Island Hike
Loving the Island
With Kevin the Dancer
Pan Fried Cod
Friends
What Happens on Woody Island stays on Woody Island!
The Ugly Stick and Garbage Bag Rhythm Section with Richard Withrow
Strangers no More
Getting Ready
Our Boat Awaits Us
We Can't Believe All This is Happening!
Homeward Bound
Burin Waterfall
Cod au Gratin By!
Cape Spear
The Happy Mother
Thanks Andrew and Sam!
And Thanks Woody Island!
