When planning our somewhat impromptu trip back home, we never really made too many concrete plans short of (a) Stop in to see Nan (and maybe the folks) at the cottage, (b) Surprise Steph's parents in Botwood and (c) Max and relax for 5 days. One day, however, we took a little trip to Grand Falls to visit one of my old friends, Kirk Stride. The picture to the left is of him and his little fella, Mason (about 18 months). Kirk and I met back when I first
moved to Point of Bay in 1989. It was always a laugh whenever I was at their house...which was often! Kirk's sister Connie, recently married (congrats!), is also a dear friend of mine and their parents, Ray and Myrtle, were everything I could ask for in a second set of parents. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that 
they had move back to Newfoundland and that I would be meeting Kirk and Mason at their house. Anyway, I just had to grab a picture of them before I left!The weather the next day was less than perfect, but we had talked the day before about wanting to visit the salmon ladder in Grand Falls. Partially pictured to the left, it was built on the Exploits River to allow the salmon to progress upstream past Grand Falls to spawn. It's funny...I had lived in that area for all of high school and had never gone there before.
At the top of the ladder, the salmon take their final leap into a holding tank that runs
adjacent to the Salmonid Interpretation Centre, where they are intermittently allowed upstream via a gate system. The gate is fitted with camera equipment that track the actual salmon numbers every year. Inside the Interpretation Centre, we were able to view the salmon while they awaited they're turn in the holding tank. 
Up until now, the rain had held off pretty good. Of course, once we decided to head outside to see more of the salmon ladder, it had to rain some...so we got a little wet...who cares. I think Ernie probably got the soggiest because he also liked to forage around in the wet grass. This was our last day for "outings" and it was a good one--rain or shine.
adjacent to the Salmonid Interpretation Centre, where they are intermittently allowed upstream via a gate system. The gate is fitted with camera equipment that track the actual salmon numbers every year. Inside the Interpretation Centre, we were able to view the salmon while they awaited they're turn in the holding tank. 
Up until now, the rain had held off pretty good. Of course, once we decided to head outside to see more of the salmon ladder, it had to rain some...so we got a little wet...who cares. I think Ernie probably got the soggiest because he also liked to forage around in the wet grass. This was our last day for "outings" and it was a good one--rain or shine.
The next day, after an awesome pot roast meal, we set out on our way back to the cottage. 
Our ferry crossing was at midnight again and we were meeting Mom, Dad and Nan for a seafood supper before we left. The supper included salmon, codfish and one of my favorites, stuffed squid. We stayed longer than planned, as the boat was delayed 3 hours, but after a treacherous drive in the rain, we made it to the ferry in Port aux Basques and ultimately left port at about 4:45 am - I slept well that night.
Our ferry crossing was at midnight again and we were meeting Mom, Dad and Nan for a seafood supper before we left. The supper included salmon, codfish and one of my favorites, stuffed squid. We stayed longer than planned, as the boat was delayed 3 hours, but after a treacherous drive in the rain, we made it to the ferry in Port aux Basques and ultimately left port at about 4:45 am - I slept well that night.
So we were officially off the island, heading back to Ontario and taking in every Big Stop Irving we could before we were out of New Brunswick (those places have EVERYTHING!).It was a fun trip, but the occasional glance backward to see the signs TO Newfoundland made it a little bittersweet. I don't get home to see family and friends as often as I'd like sometimes and this was just a short little adventure...a short, wonderful adventure.
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