back from "the rock"

Well, we've finally returned from our vacation back home (Newfoundland--"The Rock"). Technically I've been home for about 3 days but I needed a good chunk of time to both sort through all my photos and just plain crash! A 36-hr drive each way can really do a number on you. Even my dog Ernie, who probably slept about 30 of 36 hours, STILL isn't completely back to chipper self.

I thought I'd toss in a few different pictures from the trip--maybe I'll do this for the next few posts (way too many pictures!). The first shot here is one of many 5 am shots I took during our crossing on the MV Caribou (the ferry) from North Sydney, Nova Scotia to Port aux Basques, Newfoundland. That brings me to the next picture.

Channel Port aux Basques is one of two Newfoundland ports you can access via the ferrys from North Sydney (the other is Argentia, on the Avalon peninsula). It's a very typical (almost stereotypical) small Newfoundland community, carved out along a rocky shoreline and full of character.

After a 3-hour ferry delay due to high winds, we finally landed on the island at about 9 am and headed out across the highway through the high mountain tablelands of the west coast. After about 5 hours we arrived at our first stop--my Nan's place in Hall's Bay. It's a pleasantly secluded cottage on private family land and it's right on the water. I took advantage of this and did some scavenging along the beach, where I found many fossils like the one shown in this third picture.

Our plan was to stay at the cottage with Nan for a night and then head out to Botwood to surprise Steph's parents. I received an early surprise, however, as my parents were able to meet us at the cottage that night--a treat indeed. They live in Port Hope Simpson Labrador and up until the day before were not sure if they would be on the island during my visit. Here's a picture I snapped of them before I left the cottage. I really don't get to see them that often, living about 3000 km apart, so I take every photo opportunity afforded to me.

I guess before I end this posting, I'll toss in one more picture of my Uncle Leslie dismantling an old dock of his, which had suffered heavily at the hands of sea ice over the winter. He's actually my great-uncle (Nan's brother-in-law) and he's definitely one-of-a-kind!

In my next post, I'll continue our trip to Botwood in our attempt to surprise Steph's folks. But for now...much awaited sleep...precious sleep.