August 25, 2014 Louisbourg Lighthouse Trail

After touring Fortress of Louisbourg, we checked out the Louisbourg Lighthouse, and ended up doing a short hike along the rocky coast.  What a wonderful walk!  Think:  crashing waves on huge rocky outcrops, smooth gravel trail, sunshine, breeze.   Who could ask for more?

There have been three lighthouses here....

Here is the current, automated lighthouse.  That's Bubba standing there.

Ancient rocks!

Note the words on this bench:  Fort Lauderdale! 

August 25, 2014 Fortress of Louisbourg, Nova Scotia

We toured the Fortress of Louisbourg today, and enjoyed it immensely.  It dates back to 1713, and it has been reconstructed based on the original foundations.  There were "residents" in period costumes everywhere and they were happy to answer my questions.  This day was sunny with a gentle breeze, which made it enjoyable to walk around the town.  They actually fired both a mortar AND a cannon!  (no projectiles were involved, though)  There was so much information here about the fort and the people and the buildings, I wish I could spend days here looking at all of it.....

This guy and I bonded...  two smart-alecs!
(he threatened to put me in jail!)

The Gate.

The guy in the dark brown vest is accused of stealing a bottle of wine
and public drunkenness.  They were marching him down to the main street
to put him in a steel neck ring as his punishment.

Back yards.  Everything was quite authentic.

Blacksmith at work.

Sheep, chickens, and there were a couple of goats, too.

The gardens looked mighty good!

Governor's Quarters and Catholic Church.

He was a nice kid, and was very patient with me.....

Preparing to fire the cannon.

These nice people walked down to watch the cannon being fired.

See?  There were goats!
THE END.

August 24, 2014 Leaving Newfoundland

On our way down the western side of Newfoundland, we snapped a few pictures.  We spent one last night at a campground 20 miles from the ferry landing at Port aux Basques, and left Newfoundland the next morning.  Sad to leave.  Really enjoyed it here.  Wanna go back.

The whole west side of Newfoundland is the Long Range Mountains, and they are spectacular.  When we first arrived and drove up the west side, I kept thinking that they resembled the Smoky Mountains.  How right I was!  Visit the link and read about it.....

Did I mention how bad the roads are in Newfoundland?
These signs mean bumpy road ahead, and trust me:  they ain't kidding!

Lookie here, what do we see?  A MOOSE!

Lovely sunset on our last night on Newfoundland.

Approaching Port aux Basques and the ferry:
The Long Range mountains.

One last ferry picture.....

There were a LOT of jellyfish by the ferry dock!

This guy has a lot of toys!  He's taking them to Nova Scotia.

Good bye, Newfoundland!  It was fantastic getting to know you.

Not a great picture, but here is evidence that we saw whales from the ferry.
We also saw lots of dolphins and white pelicans.

Hello again, Nova Scotia!

August 22, 2014 Western Brook Pond boat tour, Gros Morne National Park

Here we are back in Gros Morne National Park again.  We decided to return to the west side of the island and take the shorter ferry ride back to Nova Scotia, so while over here we wanted to do the boat tour of Western Brook Pond.  Good choice!  There is a short 2 mile hike in to the boat dock which which we enjoyed a lot.  (in spite of the cold wind...)  The two-hour boat tour was amazing, and something I will remember for a long time.  The day was overcast and chilly and threatening rain, but it didn't stop us or the boat tour.  (I had on 4 layers....)  The tour guide had tons of interesting information and explained quite a bit.  Go to the link and read about this amazing place.

Beginning another adventure!

Boat dock with fjord in background.

This fellow was on the path and unafraid of us.....
It's a spruce grouse.

At the boat dock visitor center, the gray jays were fearless and hungry....

August 18, 2014 Signal Hill, St. John's, Newfoundland

Signal Hill rises on a steep headland above the city of St. John's.  There have been forts up here, and it has been used for signaling and defense as long as people have lived here.  It overlooks a protected harbor with a narrow opening to the Atlantic.  The day we came here was rainy and very windy and pretty chilly....  Especially up high!  The Cabot Tower is the main feature left on top of the hill.

The harbor.

Very steep staircase up to top.

Small point of land on other side of harbor entrance.

Cabot Tower.

Trying to stay warm and dry, and failing....

August 17, 2014 Cape Spear, St. John's, Newfoundland

Cape Spear is as far east as you can go in North America.  It is another one of those amazing rocky headlands that jut out into the Atlantic Ocean.  What a dramatic place!  We got lucky and visited here before the rains began.

The old Cape Spear lighthouse was operated by the same family for seven generations!  Talk about dedication!  The family lived in the house up until the 1950's......

The new automated lighthouse.

The old lighthouse, no longer in service

You would not believe the force of the wind up here.....