| Newfoundland 2005 |
| As I sat enjoying myself, I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye. It disappeared into the crevices and I shrugged it off. About 5 minutes later, same thing happened and I began to pay more attention to the rocks. I was far enough away that I couldn�t quite tell what it was. But it was bigger than a rat and smaller than a fox, low to the ground. It was catching what might have been caplin at the water's edge and bringing them back to a den farther inshore. I asked several people and showed them the photo when I got it downloaded. The conclusion was it was either a mink or a pine marten, both common in the area.
As I sat observing the critter, a hiker came out of the brush near the rocks and said "Hello!" His name was Daniel Cruz and it was not the first time he had hiked the East Coast Trail. He was wearing shorts and a long sleeve shirt, with a big hiker's backpack. He stopped to take a swig of water and told me that he'd been hiking for four hours and his goal was to be halfway between Cape Spear and Petty Harbour by nightfall. He carried a tent and sleeping bag and camping stove and was ready for anything. Quite the happy camper as he waved goodbye and went towards Cape Spear. I could hear the fog horn at Cape Spear and saw the first tendrils of fog that had scaled the hill by the lighthouse. Time to go before I get enveloped too. I got back to Jim's and the tide of bad news had begun to turn. Things were falling into place and everything was looking brighter, except for the fact that I kept getting kicked off of MSN Messenger every 5 minutes. Kind of hard to chat and catch up with your friends when that is happening. But I did get to chat with Vic about his brother and grandfather and it put my mind more at ease. After the sun set, we took off for the supermarket and then grilled up some yummies, eating supper at 11 PM before we went out to Erin's to hear the Panting Brothers - my first time seeing them together. Sean, Dave and Geoff Panting were very good! There were a lot of people there at midnight when we arrived. Emma and Melissa had been there earlier but had gone to see a friend at the Fat Cat. Ang was still there, though. And we saw Graham Dilabaugh, too. I enjoyed listening to the Panting Brothers' sets. I was amazed to notice how different they all were. Dave did most of the singing with Geoff and Sean taking turns for a couple songs each. Geoff played both accordion and keyboards. Sean played guitar and Dave had all three of his instruments there and traded off according to songs. Geoff's accordion is so big, he can't sit up straight and play it; he has to lean back! As the night got later, Larry Foley arrived and Mike Hanrahan. Greg Walsh and Mike Walsh sauntered in also. We were still chuckling about the photo shoot for the calendar when Graham Wells walked in. Sheilagh, the photgrapher for the naked calendar, had said she hadn't been able to get in touch with Graham for a photo shoot and had asked Lillian to tell him if she saw him first. Well, the way Lillian told him the story, I think I would have run, runaway if I were him. She called him over and said, "Hey Graham! We had a fun afternoon at our house! Sheilagh did Jim in the tub this afternoon and she wants to do you too! She said to call her, that she was interested in doing you." Well, Jim and I just about fell off our bar stools laughing! Poor Lillian hadn't realized how that sounded and by the look on his face, Graham wasn't quite sure how to take this announcement that Sheilagh wanted to "do" him. I think it took a few minutes for everyone to stop laughing when we finally got it all explained. It was a moment for someone's memoirs, that's for sure. We left at closing time for home and all were lucky to have the day end. At least it ended on a high note! Saturday, July 9th Yummies in the AM - a good Newfoundland breakfast, and then listening to Johnny Cash's last album. I had never heard it and found it quite touching and very telling about his last days. His version of Bridge Over Troubled Waters especially got to me. I was missing Vic more than I had realized and that song holds special memories with us. For my 18th birthday, Vic camped out in line before it was fashionable and got two front row center tickets to see Simon and Garfunkel. That was thrilling enough. But the most defining moment of that evening was Art Garfunkel, sitting on a stool, right in front of me, singing Bridge Over Troubled Waters. It was the first time any of us in the Civic Center had heard the song. Just a piano accompaniment and Art in the spotlight on a pitch-dark stage. His clear tenor voice floated out over the 15,000 assembled people and held us all spellbound. When the last vestiges of the song had floated over their heads, the multitude sat stunned. Imagine a huge auditorium packed to the gills, in complete and utter silence. Then, everyone on their feet, cheering, crying, hugging each other, in celebration for the gift of song he had just bestowed upon us. What a night! I can close my eyes and still be right there, holding Vic's hand. Shortly after Johnny's version had ended and I had explained all of the above to Jim, Vic called on the phone. It was the perfect time for me to hear his voice! Nice to know we still have a connection 2500 miles apart. We finalized plans for my return trip and just enjoyed talking to each other. I was sad to be leaving Newfoundland in a couple days, but oh so happy to be going home to Vic. Next time, he's gotta come, I miss him too much! After that, Jim and I went to pick up some stuff at the Arts and Culture Centre. When we got back, I sat outside at the patio table and worked on my puzzle book. Rose and Steve came over and we chatted. It's Steve's birthday tomorrow and he was getting ready to go out on the town. It's so refreshing to be able to enjoy a conversation with a 21-year-old! Rose brought photos of her home town over to show me. She grew up in Harbour Mille and goes back once or twice a year to be with the family. The photos were beautiful and I heard some family stories to go with them. Harbour Mille is on the Burin Peninsula. It's about a two-three hour drive from here. She ended up giving me a bunch of photos so I could take them back and remember her. How could I forget her? She's a fixture to me now, a friend in St. John's! Rose went in to have supper and I was trying to enjoy the day in the back yard. The invasion of the span worms would prevent this, however, and I finally gave up and decided to visit Cape Spear before our supper. I hadn't been there this trip and I was leaving in a few days. I saw the fog offshore, creeping towards the Cape but decided to go anyway. As I passed Blackhead, the fog patches began to grow more frequent and it got decidedly cooler. I had to roll up the windows to keep warm! When I arrived, there were people coming down from the lighthouses in droves, leaving before the fog rolled in. I like fog, so it didn't bother me any. I stopped at the gift shop and bought some little things and talked to Stephanie behind the counter. This was her second year here and she was loving it. She had also been to Ireland working at a bookstore in the winter, earning money. But she said her place was at Cape Spear from May to October. It was Stephanie that helped me decide it was either a mink or pine marten that I had seen yesterday at Blackhead. The tour guide had just headed up to get her all weather gear when I exited the gift shop. I decided not to climb the many steps to the top of the lighthouse, but instead to go around the back side and photograph the lighthouse from the sea. Flat Stanley got photographed trying to climb them though he thought better of it and joined me down by the actual Cape. Flat Stanley and I walked down the trail to the edge of the Cape and watched for whales. I saw one, but the guide said a bunch had been out in the morning, playing around with the dolphins. Stanley enjoyed checking out the flowers growing up on the cape and even the historical remains of a battery from World War 2. The fog began to blow in and quickly covered up the lighthouse. There was no mistaking the fog horn though! It sounded every 50 seconds for 7 seconds. I know - I'm a nerd - I timed it! I love lighthouses, fogged in or not, so that didn't deter me from taking photos. We spent a weekend in a lighthouse fogged in last summer at Cape Race. What an adventure! Cape Spear was the site of a US Army base in World War 2. There are vestiges of the base still present - a battery on the sea side of the lighthouse. The came the fog and I was able to capture a couple photos. One day I am going to be brave enough to walk on that lower path under the lighthouse. Stanley and I noticed this sign that said DO NOT PROCEED BEYOND THIS POINT and an ominously placed life ring on the cliff near the lighthouse. I spotted the well-worn path beyond the warning sign. We all listen so well! Don't we? Stanley took his stint as a lifeguard for those braving the cliff face. When I walked back past the actual Cape to the parking lot, I noticed these trees, windblown in one direction. No doubt which way the prevailing wind comes from, is there? After I past Blackhead, I turned around and caught sight of the wall of fog blowing rapidly towards me and hightailed it back to St. John's. Despite the rain, I kept my windows down - the combined scent of the pine trees and the sea fog filled my nostrils and was intoxicating. I pulled over and sniffed the air greedily. I wanted to etch it into my olfactory memory. The fog hadn't reached Shea Heights when I got there so I pulled over at the scenic look-off to snap some shots of the neighborhood I have called home for the past two weeks |