The Move ~ Western to Central Region!

Monday, July 22

Aspen Brook was our 1st cache in Newfoundland,
Aspen is our grand-daughter's name...Good Omen!

Early this morning the sun rose to the east and we had a different view of “The Arches”. Last night was the best of the two views. This marks the end of our travels to the northwest of Newfoundland. Next we move to the north central region. Eventually we will go to the south and finally to the St Johns area for the most easterly portion of the Island. “Ah”, yes George, if your reading this blog, we intend on trying to go to St Pierre and Little Miquelon Island. For those of you who don’t know…these two islands are a territory of France. We do have our passports for entry. What we are trying to do is find a couple of geocaches on the islands in order to claim another country souvenir. I am also looking to get my picture taken with a “Gendarme” hopefully…not in custody, but as a tourist.


Viking Trail...On the road again!

The day was spent traveling over to the central region. We stopped to look at a 1919 shipwreck along the coast. The SS Ethie was her name. She ran aground during a storm. The 92 people on board made it to shore. This included one baby who they put into a mail bag while the rescue was taking place. All that remains of the ship are the metal parts. It was a sailing ship, but also had an engine.
This land is full of nearly unbelievable stories of disasters and rescues. I have to recount one that I heard from the Sharecroppers Trio the other evening. It goes like this…back in the early days of this land came a missionary priest. He saw that the people were in need of health care badly. He returned to Scotland and studied to become a doctor. Returning to Newfoundland he was instrumental in building hospitals, a hospital ship that went from port to port taking care of the fisherman. He was very well noted in these parts.
On a winter day he was to travel across the frozen bay to tend to a sick person on the other side. His dog sled team started across and as luck would have it, the wind shifted and the ice broke up. He was able to get on to a sheet of ice along with three of his dogs. The dogs got too close to him and the sheet of ice flipped over. He and his dogs swam to another sheet. By now it was getting dark and he was soaked. He said a prayer for his three dogs before had to kill them to survive. He skinned them and made a covering for himself. He survived the night. In the morning he de-boned the dogs and tied their legs end for end to make a staff (using sinew). He waved a flag for five hours until finally being spotted and rescued. I recount this story because it sounds nearly unbelievable, but I’m told it’s a true story. The people in this land had it very rough.
This afternoon we pulled into Notre Dame Provincial Park near Norris Arm. All Provincial Parks here charge $9.75 with the senior discount. The park has over ninety sites. Laundromat and shower room included. It is good to take a break and rest. Tomorrow we will visit Twillingate (to the north) as they are having a fishing festival all week.
That is what we did and saw!