Easter Break Day 4 Part I: Gros Morne Park - Lobster Head Cove, Coastal Trail, Western Brook

On our first day in Gros Morne, we visited three easy flat trails, all quite spectacular. Western Brook was the most majestic, but the other trails also had their charms.

Lobster Head Cove

Lobster Head Cove Lighthouse

(Photo credit: Candide)

Coastal Trail

(Photo credit: Candide)

(Photo credit: Marie-France)

Self-timing group shot de la famille
(Photo credit: Marie-France)

(Photo credit: Marie-France)

Western Brook Trail

That's the fijord in the background.
Too bad the boat tours through the fijord were not running yet in April.

(Photo credit: Candide)

(Photo credit: Marie-France)

(Photo credit: Candide)

Easter Break Day 3: Marble Mountain, Steady Brook Falls, Summerside, Norris Point

Marble Mountain is not far from Corner Brook, and since March 31st was the last day for skiing Marie-France and François, the snow bunnies decided to spend half a day there. I decided to refrain from giving it a try, since I always get butt cramps doing the pizza stop to slow down the descent, and the fact that I'm a hazard to myself and others on the hill.    

Marble Mountain Ski Resort

It was a lovely sunny warm day that last day in March, perfect for being out in the snow.

At the top of Marble Mountain (Photo credit: Marie-France)

From the bottom of the hill, it looks as if the skiers would end up diving into the Trans Canada highway, since the highway runs right at the foot of the mountain. From the top, those who are courageous are rewarded with an incredible view of snowy mountain tops of the Long Range Mountains. 

Steady Brook Falls

While the two snow bunnies were at Marble Mountain, the girls and I took a hike to Steady Brook Falls, a waterfall in Steady Brook, which is the village where Marble Mountain Resort is located.

Lookout at Steady Brook Falls

On the left is "Man in the Mountain" I read the descriptive plaque, but still couldn't spot the "man"

Drive along the Humber River on the Summerside shore

Lookout stops In Gors Morne on the way to Norris Point

At various scenic locations in Gros Morne park you would find these trademark red Muskoka chairs. They make for some really pretty photos.

Moose skull

Entering Norris Point

Looking down into the village

Home cooked meal at our very own cottage

Easter Break Day 2: Twilingate, Springdale, Corner Brook

Even though the first week of April isn't exactly the ideal time of year for traveling Newfoundland, we made out pretty well on our 10 days of Easter Break.

Day 1 was traveling for the girls to Lewisporte. Candide was coming from Bonavista, Andrée-Anne from St John's and the furthest was Marie-France from Fortune, which is almost 450km!

Twilingate: Arctic ice floating into the harbour

Showing the girls around my last town of residence. At Indian River. 

Pulp and paper mill?

Despite all the industrial activity captured in this photo by the harbour, Corner Brook is in fact quite beautiful, just not at this section of the harbour. Sometimes, sacrifices need to be made in order to bring in money. 

Once upon a time, there use to be a train that went around the island, but I think they stopped using it once the roads got paved, and delivering and traveling by truck and car became more economical. Now, the old railway bed has been turned into a ATV/ snowmobile trail, and all around the island, you'll find train engine heads at landmark sites for the railway.

I wish I had taken a photo of Corner Brook at night, because it's quite a pretty sight to see the hill dotted with lights from the homes. 

Newfie food: Seal flipper pie + Turr

I have finally done it. I've eaten seal. Even though I find seals quite adorable and entertaining to watch, my adventurous side could not resist an opportunity that was given to me to taste test it. Thanks Connie and Colleen!

It is like any other meat pie: minced meat and vegetables, covered with a pastry top

 And the verdict? I was forewarn that seal had a strong fishy smell and taste, and that many people can't stand it. I was able to eat it, because it was really in essence a meat pie, but I can't say I would seek it out. I'm usually not picky about fishy smelling foods since I quite adore sushi, including sashimi, the raw fish morcel, and I love Chinese lacquered duck. I was surprised I did not take to a liking of seal. Seal was just a bit too fishy smelling for me, more fishy smelling than raw fish, if that in any way is logically possible.

I also tried roasted "turr" which is the Newfoundland word for the common murre an ocean bird. This bird is hunted and cannot be bought in stores. It is just like eating a chicken, but dark meat, or just like a duck, but leaner, with the only difference being the meat is fishy smelling. The entire time I was eating it, I was really confused, because I was expecting something like a chicken, but kept smelling fish.

Newfie food: Newfoundland goulash

This is the famous Newfoundland goulash: tomato soup, elbow macaroni and ground beef and maybe chopped vegetables. When I first heard that it was common for families to have goulash at least once a week, I was surprised. I thought goulash was Hungarian, but I have not noticed any signs of Hungarian influences anywhere thus far in the province. This reminds me too of the time when I discovered that Donair, a popular middle eastern pita slow-cooked meat, was a popular food item here. Ahh, surprises.

First week back on bike this spring

I can't believe only last week-end I was out on snowmobile, and this week-end, I'm back out on bike. Since we had a high of 20 degrees Celsius on Saturday and sunshine both days of the week-end, I took the opportunity to finally go explore the surrounding villages around me. Saturday I went down and explored Stanhope, Brown's Arm and Porterville and Sunday I went down the other junction and explored Embree and Little Burnt Bay, ranking a leisurely 35ish km per morning.

At the top of the hill entering Brown's Arm

 When my students from Brown's Arm heard I biked through their village, they all wanted to know how I made it out of their village (on bike). I tell them, I am either super strong, or have a really nice bike ;).

Coastal rural living

Despite all my colleagues here in this town telling me that it is too dangerous to bike, I actually find Lewispote quite a good area for biking. I can say, I enjoy biking in the rural, because you can bike long stretches before having to worry about intersections. Plus, since there is less traffic, I basically have the road all to myself most of the time.

Unlike in Springdale, bikes are rare on the road, which I guess is the reason why everyone feels it is not safe for biking. The few bikes that are out roaming around town are usually children on the sidewalk on their trick bikes, and on occasional older adults cruising leisurely for fresh air (also on the sidewalk). That makes me  the only bike out that is actually on the road, daily. The other day, my college was commenting on how I'm making the drivers in my town learn how to drive with me in town.  That is a very precise description of my impact. Daily, I impose on the town my culture of utilitarian biking: I blind them with my fluorescent reflective vest, flash them with my hand signals, headlights and back lights, and demand that they queue patiently behind me as I wait for a clearing in oncoming traffic to make a left turn.

Sunken ship at Embree

Small park on the shore at Little Burnt Bay

I'm starting a collection of photos of knots. Knots were a big part of the fishing culture. Knots from my other posts.

Is this knot obsolete? :p

So smart

No fancy handle? No problem.

When I saw this dog house, I was intrigued by the silver handle on its roof.
It turns out it's a road side garbage storage box. 

The simple octagon boxes in the above photo is the more typical garbage box. Everyone has one in front of their house. The green or tin trash cans with a lid which Grouch from Sesame Street lives in are not practical here due to the high winds.  The people here need something heavy duty which will stay on the ground and prevent crows from picking apart the plastic bags before the dump truck makes its round.