Greenspond Hiking Trail
It’s Troutin’ Season
A little tidbit of information about “troutin'” (fishing for trout) in the ponds (lakes) of The Shore (the loop of pavement that takes you from the Trans Canada Highway at Gander up the north side of Bonavista Bay and back to the TCH at Gander Bay)
When Duke and I were living in Halifax (for my BFA NSCAD’98), he went fishing a couple of times with the locals. He learned that most Canadians do not have free access to the ponds or lakes to fish your supper, as land is mostly privately owned and one needs permission to cross the land. So I’d like to pass on some information to anyone who finds themselves in Newfoundland during this trouting season: Go to any pond on the side of a road and cast your hook- in season, of course! #TheShore is full of great fishing holes, and we have the lovely IBEC to give you the scoop on where and when you can fish for your supper.
/**/Excursions: Deadman’s Bay
Templeman
Excursions
I’ve been taking Sundays off. It’s laundry day! But it’s also excursion day, reading and drinking coffee day, and playing with family day.
Yesterday, Duke and I took Jack for a walk at a new trail (to us) at Indian Bay Park.
One of my goals for 2021 is to hit more trails that I have not yet experienced. ✅
I didn’t know that there was a trail at Indian Bay Park until last week, when my friends at IBEC posted some photos from the trail. I asked how to yet there, and the directions worked!
What are your favourite trails in Newfoundland? Where should I try next?
Throw Back Thursday
Excursions
A 15 minute drive north from Norton’s Cove brings us to Windmill Bight, a municipal park at Lumsden. We like to visit in the winter months when the park is closed.
We park at the turn-off on the highway, and walk past the camping area, over a bridge and brook, past a play-ground and camper overflow area, and the freshwater lagoon area to get to the ocean side beach. Most of the walk is sheltered by fir and spruce trees.
When we get to the beach, the wind off the ocean is damp and cold, so we only stay long enough to fill our lungs and take in the views; And of course play fetch with Jack who can find a stick wherever we go.
Then we make our way back to the truck again. Oftentimes we meet another who enjoys quiet winter walks, and we did today, but not always. We are very lucky to be living in such a beautiful place with so much space available to be explored!
Merry Makers Market
Hello from the beautiful Quidi Vidi Plantation in St. John’s! My table is all set up and I’m ready to meet you at this weekend’s Merry Makers Market: 10am – 4pm Saturday & Sunday.
Excursions
Duke and I felt the need for a little getaway after such a busy summer and increasingly busy fall- so we took a leisurely 9+ hour drive to Griquet last week, to hang out with some of my distant (family tree-wise, not a description of their character!) cousins and their two Newfoundland dogs.
The drive itself is quite a thrill- although long, it has some amazing views through Gros Morne and along the northern coast. I’ve never done the drive on a ‘nice day’, and as long as I’m only sitting in the passenger seat, I don’t think I want to. I love the ruggedness of the northern part of this island. By comparison, it makes Norton’s Cove look downright tropical!
My Griquet friends are related to me through my paternal grandmother, Lillian, who started her life out there before moving to Pound Cove as a new bride way back when. I am very thankful for making the connections with my cousins, who I met through work at trade shows! The Dark Tickle Crowd are my cousins, and I love what they’re doing in nan’s hometown. I encourage everyone to visit them- they have a wealth of local knowledge and make wonderful products that they put a lot of effort and thought into. And if you don’t fancy driving all day, they have a great online shop too!
Excursions
Last week, my family took a little road trip to go put our sailboat, Virtue, on the hard for the winter. While waiting for the travelift to hoist our boat, Jack and I went exploring.
We walked in search of the Ken Diamond Memorial Park which was advertised at the Glovertown Marina’s rest area. Easy enough to find, I am very impressed with the work that has gone into the Diamond Trail, the Marina, and most of Glovertown! The park has lots of resting areas, including a gazebo where some folks were having a picnic whilst Jack and I walked around the trail and then hung out at the dog park for a while. The fall colours in the trees and wetlands are gorgeous right now, and I’d highly recommend this new-to-me trail.
