#110 Jun 2015 Puffins!

When we returned to our RV parked in Rocky Harbour we found that the fridge had failed to stay cold. Before we left for St. Anthony we knew there would be a power interruption. The fridge should automatically switch to propane when there is no power available then return to power when it comes back. Something didn’t happen correctly and we had a fridge full of warm food.

When we leave the RV plugged in we assume all will be well, especially the fridge. That was a learning experience we have kept in mind since then. Now when we leave the RV overnight we have as little food in it as possible.

After we re-stocked the fridge we took a long look at the points of interest we expected to see in Newfoundland.

This map provides some insight into the size of Newfoundland and the few roads available.

There are only two ferries to Newfoundland. We were there in June and took the year round 6-hour ferry to Channel-Port aux Basques.

In July and August the 12-hour ferry runs to St. John’s on the southeast corner of the map. That would allow a circular trip but was not an option in June.

We realized our only choice was the same ferry as we arrived on from Nova Scotia. That meant we would retrace our trip from St. John’s to Channel-Port aux Basques, a distance of 900 km. That is the Trans Canada Highway winding through the centre of Newfoundland.

We had spent nearly 2 weeks 

from Channel-Port aux Basques (southwest corner of the map)

to Rocky Harbour (midway on the west coast)

to St. Anthony and L’Anse Meadows (the northern tip)

to Labrador

and back to Rocky Harbour.

We had to choose our next explorations leaving time to return to the ferry within the three weeks we had allotted in Newfoundland.

Puffins were a must see for me. That meant our next destination would be Bonavista Peninsula, midway on the eastern side of the map.

We headed out with our “trusty” GPS. Occasionally it is not so trusty and takes us unexpected places. This time the directions took us to a local farmyard where a surprised family watched our arrival. As we approached the house we knew we were not at an RV park but couldn’t change course in the middle of a narrow road. Some phone calls cleared up the directions but Ralph had to unhitch the car since there was very limited room to turn around. Fortunately it was late afternoon with lots of daylight left and we did find our intended park.

In the small community of Elliston this Sealer’s Memorial poignantly depicts the dangerous reality of life at sea.

In the evening, puffins come in from the water to their summer homes atop steep seaside cliffs.

They spend most of their lives at sea and look awkward on land.

They nest in protected holes hidden in the grass.

These small, comical birds bring a smile to everyone as they go about their evening business.

It was a special treat to see the puffins in their natural habitat. The steep cliffs keep them protected from predators and intruders, such as humans. A camera zoom lens or binoculars are necessary to view them.

Elliston is the root cellar capital of the world. Hundreds of these man-made, frost-free food preservers – many still in use – recall the ingenuity of the pioneers.

A beautiful ending to a magical visit with one of nature's clowns.