Month: August 2020

Exploring Rencontre East

FeaturedExploring Rencontre East

Rencontre East is located in Fortune Bay on the South Coast of Newfoundland and is accessible by ferry……. just foot traffic, no vehicles. The trip is approximately 1 hr 45 mins one way and offers amazing views of the coast. We also saw many different seabirds, whales and several schools of dolphins.

Views from the Terra Nova.
……and they really do!

The current population of this most interesting place is 120 with 22 school children. One student graduated this year and won a prestigious scholarship!

Welcoming committee.
Just in case you doubt that they don’t…….they thought they would say it again.

This is a community that is surviving and appears to be doing well because of aquaculture, people who come to explore in the summer (there are three B & Bs here owned by the same couple who offer a variety of outdoor adventures), and because some work away ….weeks on/weeks off. There are two general stores, a post office and a small health clinic which I find impressive …..many of these small communities are not as fortunate.

As we began our walk, another welcoming committee greeted us.
A community garden and greenhouses.
Painted coal buckets, humour and Rod Stewart’s boat??
We had our picnic lunch (no restaurant, so we packed our own) overlooking this beautiful cove. This grey house with blue trim is one of the B & Bs. Chart House, Rencontre East located in its very own little cove.

https://southcoastvacation.ca

…and of course we did the trail around the pond, unfortunately we didn’t get to do the trail to the lake. A return visit with a longer stay is on my bucket list….have to stay at the Chart House and do some more exploring.

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Go….explore Newfoundland and Labrador.

The most lonely places are the most lovely.

In Praise of Walking Thomas A. Clark

Gun Hill Trail, Trinity NL

FeaturedGun Hill Trail, Trinity NL

Having done a portion of the Gun Hill Trail previously, we opted to do the Lower Gun Hill Trail. This trail goes through the woods around the base of the hill and also leads to the ocean and back to beautiful Trinity. An easy trail with a little incline.

The trail begins behind the Royal Bank and finishes behind Rising Tide Theater. At the beginning of the trail is this beautiful heritage home and gardens.

Beginning of trail

Foxgloves and beauty everywhere.
Along Gun Hill Trail

The trail passes an old graveyard………………..

…..and so I went exploring.

After doing some research, I found the answers.

http://www.newfoundlandshipwrecks.com

Lion  

Vessel RegistryOwner
Registration No.
Official No.
Vessel Name
Place Constructed
Year Constructed
No. of Decks
No. of Masts
Type of Vessel

Length (ft)
Width (ft)
Depth (ft)
Gross Tonnage
Net Tonnage
Year Registered
Official Closure Year
Place of Closure
Actual Closure Date


Walter Grieve & Co
S866106
052320
Lion
Greenspond, Bonavista Bay
1866
2
2
Steam/Sail

140
28
16
393
292
1866
1882
Trinity Bay, NL
1882		The S.S. Lion was another vessel whose loss at sea had a devastating impact on Trinity and the surrounding small communities as they lost some of their most prominent citizens when this vessel went down in the Baccalieu Tickle on January 6, 1882. Included amongst them was The LionCaptain Patrick Fowlow of the nearby community of Trinity East, a well skilled Captain, Rev. Hugh Foster and his wife who were coming to take up duties in the Parish of Trinity, as well as Charles Power, a well established merchant. The images and documents that you will see and read concerning the mysterious loss of this vessel will make you wonder about what actually happened on that fateful night, what happened to the wreckage and the bodies of those on board, as only that of Mrs. Cross was found floating onshore. Listen to Mrs. Florence Barbour give an account of her grandmother’s sixth sense prediction about the Lion being lost and see if you can figure out what happened to the Lion that night.  
Images   AudioDocuments
Click the link above and discover more information on the SS Lion


Loving my Columbia hiking boots from Blue Ridge. Check out the store with the link below.
http://www.theoutdoorsupplystore.com

Go, explore our beautiful province.

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.

Country Living

photos C & L Fudge

Chamber Cove Trail…..learning about one of the worst disasters in United States Naval history.

FeaturedChamber Cove Trail…..learning about one of the worst disasters in United States Naval history.

This is a short trail, approximately 4 km return. After walking the dirt path/road that leads to the Cove, the scenery is spectacular.

On February 18, 1942 an horrific naval disaster occurred on

Newfoundland’s south coast.


https://www.mun.ca/mha/polluxtruxtun/index.php

Click the link above and read this horrific and heroic story.

The Truxtun was trapped in Chamber Cove and the Pollux about one and a half miles west at Lawn Point. The Truxtun was carrying 156 men and the Pollux 233. For hours, these men fought to survive in the driving sleet, howling wind, and bitter cold of the North Atlantic.

The Story – Dead Reckoning: The Pollux-Truxtun Disaster

This trail should be on everyone’s bucket list. This disaster has been documented many times and I am sure almost everyone knows of Lanier W. Phillips. Seeing the actual sight on a warm summer’s day with calm seas, it is still difficult to comprehend how 186 (203 died) men were saved. A terrible storm, giant waves, a gruesome death but bravery and compassion were also evident on that terrible night.

Standing Into Danger by Cassie Brown tells the story of the shipwrecks and the rescue and is available on Amazon.

Go, explore and learn about the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.