Touring Newfoundland: Part III

In the morning, we went to Cape Spear, the easternmost point of North America. In order to get there, we had to cross to the Southside of St John's, where the shipyards are, and ascend a hill in the dense fog. We passed the small community of Blackhead, with its one-room schoolhouse, and reached the head of the cape. In addition to the fog, there was a lot of wind. Mom took a picture of me, but then the camera gave out.

Next we went back through St John's up to Cabot Tower on the northern heights of St John's harbor. Here Marconi recieved the first transatlantic wireless message.The fog was so dense that Mom remained in the car while I looked over the site.

After we had descended gingerly and slowly, mowing down no hikers, we headed out of town past a grim industrial "park" called Logy Bay. We soon reached the more scenic outport of Outer Cove, which contended in the St John's Regatta with the men of Bay Bulls. The scenery held up through Middle Cove, and Torbay was also attractive. The outport of Flat Rock had a shrine modeled on Lourdes, a memento of John Paul II's visit to Newfoundland.

We went through at Pouch (pron. 'pooch') Bay. We didn't go berry-picking in Biscayan Cove, although it is known for that.

Evidence of building was rife throughout the ridge between Pouch Cove and Bauline, which lies on Conception Bay, down a steep and winding track, studded with pines.

We lunched at Portugal Cove, looking out at the ferry to Bell Island and the island itself. Bell Island features the longest submarine (=underwater) mines which extend for miles under the ocean. There are also some German subs sunk in WWII.

The drive from Portugal Cove to Holyrood was almost entirely suburban, but Mom did notice the lumpy misshapen bulk of the Butter Pot. Holyrood, at the head of Conception Bay, provided slightly askew of straight view of the bay. We did not return via the TransCanada Highway. but took the road to Witless Bay and Bay Bulls. The route was littered with RV parks and repurposed schoolbuses and more (fishing?) huts.