nf20052g

Newfoundland 2005

Sunday, July 3rd

Grabbed my coffee at Tim�s and went to Signal Hill. Does this surprise you? I just sipped my coffee and sat on Signal Hill a bit. Then went home and Lillian and I went to the supermarket on one of the streets which changes names. I am getting used to a Newfoundland breakfast. I never could imagine how anyone could eat fried bologna and beans for breakfast with their eggs. I don�t have a problem with envisioning it now, as I am currently a proponent of a good Newfoundland breakfast.

It�s very humid and Jim calls it �mauzy,� a Newfoundland term for what we�d say was muggy - warm and humid, air not moving much. We were as lazy as the weather and just hung around home relaxing. Vic sent Jim an email to the ROAR (Republic of Avalon Radio) website, complaining that he hasn�t heard a new podcast for 2 weeks and we laughed. I think Jim�s had a bit to do for the last two weeks, don�t you think? Jim got such a kick out of Vic�s complaint, he included it in the next podcast! I wrote up a summary from the last few days in my notebook and edited some photos. Peeled some potatoes. Lillian made a lovely roast with garlic-mashed potatoes, carrots and spinach for supper.

After it was digested, we headed off for Erin�s Pub. There was no one there when we walked in! Lillian stayed home because she had work tomorrow � back to the old grind. Poor Lillian! Jim and I get to relax again tomorrow and she has to go to work. Shortly after we arrived, Jim from South Carolina walked in and joined us. I had met Jim at Wayne and Sheila�s on Canada Day, I remembered, as he sat down next to me. Erin�s closes early on Sundays � midnight � so we three went down the street to Bridie Malloy�s for the last pint of the evening. As quiet as it was on Water Street, George Street was LOUD! King of the Road was blasting out of Konfusion, down the street and a crowd was singing along as Jim stood outside smoking his cigarette. Con O�Brien and Graham Wells were inside Bridie�s entertaining. I�d rather hear them. At 1 AM we went for our sausage dogs on George Street and went home to sleep.

Monday, July 4th - Independence Day

I woke early at 9:30 and wore red, white and blue today to celebrate 4th of July. Lillian had already gone to work. Made myself some coffee and took off for Signal Hill. Hard to realize our Irish friends are gone. It feels a bit empty. I was missing seeing them, talking to them, picking them up on the street when they were lost, delivering them from rehearsal. It was hard to be so busy for a week and then - BAM! - nothing. Can't imagine how Jim and Lillian must feel 'cause they've been dealing with the details far longer than I have.

As I drove down Water Street to go to Signal Hill, I noticed something very weird. I stopped the car to take a shot, thankful I had my camera with me. Look at the fog coming in the Narrows!

I drove excitedly to Signal Hill, anxious to see what it looked like from above.
Here's the entrance to the Narrows from above. Notice the little tree on the right.

That's Cape Spear all the way in the background.
Doesn't it look like I'm taking the photo from an airplane?

In about 15 minutes, the tree looked like this!

I was surprised at the number of people who were on top of Signal Hill. A news van pulled up and broadcasted from the spot, commenting on the fog. I asked Stephen, the park ranger about it and he said he's worked here two years and had never seen the fog like this. Everyone on the Hill was commenting about how beautiful it was even though you couldn't even see the sea below. The fingers of fog extended into all the little nooks and crannies along the coast, poking into the Narrows, slipping into downtown.

More fog photos and a trip to Bell Island