The water on our return, wasn’t as glass smooth as the day before. It simmered and bubbled like a pot of soup left on the stove on medium instead of low. Progress wasn’t as choppy as I expected though. We chose a central location on the ferry, but the engine vibration penetrated through the floor, into my feet and to the top of my head. Not an experience I wanted to endure, we moved to the same area as the previous day and sat at the same streaked windows. The rounded metal frames and nails / screws fastening it in place were corroded and unappealing, but efficient. The St. Lawrence Seaway, as all bodies of water, is not kind to boats on the water nor houses within spitting distance. Wood doesn’t have the strength or guts to stand up to the water’s abuse, which creeps into metal and stone as well as skin and bones like a live thing reminding you it has been here since the beginning of time and will continue after you are gone.
Back in Newfoundland again, our next stop: Broom Point where three Mudge brothers, their wives, and children fished from 1941 to 1975.
Shaun, our driver, backed and backed into the Point forever. He had no alternative as there was no place to turn that huge bus around for our return. The road narrowed. As I watched, a deep drop over the edge drifted into view. I grabbed Mary and yanked her over to the window. Shaun made a correction. Gears grated. I held my breath. Mary and I stared at each other our last prayer on our lips. What a way to find out we had an excellent driver!
Barricades blocked vehicular travel from proceeding further. We walked a long way to the Point around puddles and wet gravel road. An ancient outhouse grinned as we passed. The wicked wind off the water, should have toppled it, if not this day, then long ago. I wish I’d taken a picture. I imagined bugs, spiders, and webs. Mary and another woman decided they couldn’t wait. No, I didn’t ask my sister how it was inside.
Seagulls screamed and the wind blew tantrums. Francis raised his voice and described how these traps work. Lobsters get in fine. Once inside, they end up in one of several narrow compartments and can’t figure out how to get out.
He had brought his iPad (the big one) and offered to take a group picture. Not satisfied with one, he took several and offered to email the best one to each of us, no charge.
All pictured out and tired of the punishing wind, we were again on our way. An Irving gas station stop offered snacks and use of the facilities. Everything from hot pizza, blocks of cheese, candy, knives, tools, hammers, a multitude of snacks, and a cooler full of beer were available among too many products to mention.
For a fee, we could have purchased tickets for an evening’s entertainment at the hotel bar, but we opted not to go. We decided on a movie and cracked open a bottle of wine. Mary ordered a pizza and salad at the front desk. The taste was a little different from the kind in Ontario but it did the job. We polished off the bottle, I crawled into bed, but Mary continued reading.
Three things I might mention about the room. The beds were lovely. There was no chain on the door, though it had a deadlock. The bathroom sported a tiny facet on a standard sink, the spout almost too short to be useful.
Giggle for today
My wife is such a grand cook. I bet she could fry a fart and make gravy.
* * *
© 2015 Tess @ How the Cookie Crumbles. All Rights Reserved.
For more related posts, click on Newfoundland / Labrador tab at the top of the page
Next on March 11th – Rosehips and the Good Ship
March 4, 2016 at 5:39 pm
Windy, but still beautiful. Tess, the pizza, movie, and wine sound pretty good to me. Surely better than the bar. Love traveling with you. ❤ 🙂 Mega hugs.
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March 5, 2016 at 10:56 am
Thanks for the visit, Teagan. Yeah. I was plum tuckered out at the end of the day. Always lovely to have your along. ❤ ❤ ❤
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March 4, 2016 at 5:39 pm
Great writing. The group picture is very nice and the one of you even better!! I was interested in the Mudge brothers. My daughter lives on the west coast of Canada on Mudge Island. I wonder if there is a connection. Oh and what tasted different, the pizza or the wine?
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March 5, 2016 at 11:07 am
The Mudge brothers I heard about are from Broom Point. I was disappointed there wasn’t much more about them. Yes, there’s some genealogy and one of the first pictures at the link shows a large family. After they sold the land in 1971, they might all have moved to different places but I have no clue.
The pizza tasted different than Ontario’s. Even as different restaurants have signature recipes, it might have been the dough. Long ago, a friend and I were in Goderich, Ontario and the pizza we ordered had sweet dough. Not my cup of tea. 😀
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March 10, 2016 at 1:29 pm
Thanks for the answers. Mudge Island on the west coast was named a long time ago. I believe it is named after an officer on Captain Vancouver’s ship. So I guess it is just a coincidence. The pizza here in Spain is so good. It is made with a home made thin crust like the Italians make it.
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March 10, 2016 at 1:54 pm
I love thin crust. I had a couple Italian teenagers stay with me years ago (I hosted ESL students). They made pizza so different from what we see here. One they made had sliced cooked potatoes for topping. Can’t remember if there was cheese, but definitely no tomato sauce. It was good–but different and unexpected.
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March 4, 2016 at 5:48 pm
I’m with you. A bottle of wine and room service beats any local entertainment. I can second your thoughts regarding the effects of the sea on things within spitting distance. Beautiful photos.
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March 5, 2016 at 11:11 am
I learned about water effect when I visited Halifax, Nova Scotia in the late 80s, and I grew up near a water, though not an ocean with salt water. As well I learned from you posts about the corrosion to doors and hardware etc.
Thanks for enjoying the pictures. Happy for your visit, John. Thank you.
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March 5, 2016 at 6:00 pm
Always a good time at your place.
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March 4, 2016 at 6:01 pm
Great photos. I am not a traveler but do enjoy the travels of others.
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March 12, 2016 at 6:32 pm
Thank you. Welcome to come along, Patricia. Glad to see you join in.
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March 4, 2016 at 6:06 pm
Looks like a cool place to visit, but I sure wouldn’t want to be the bus driver!
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March 12, 2016 at 6:33 pm
I know what you mean. I get road hypnosis. There’s not much traffic to keep a driver alert.
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March 4, 2016 at 6:13 pm
Looks like ya’ll had fun together. Very nicely written. Also nice to see that wide open space. Good ole nature. 🙂
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March 12, 2016 at 6:34 pm
The fresh air alone was worth the trip. I cannot complain about anything. 😀
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March 4, 2016 at 6:16 pm
So descriptive, I feel like I’m right there with you.
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March 12, 2016 at 6:35 pm
You’re sweet, Sharon. Glad to see you come along. Wonderful to see you. Thanks. 😀
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March 4, 2016 at 6:49 pm
Haha good giggle
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March 12, 2016 at 6:37 pm
I’m pleased you had a good giggle. Nice to see you. Thanks for the visit. 😀
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March 4, 2016 at 8:42 pm
Brrrrrr. Looks cold! And Tessaroo cutiepoo….love that pic. Hey, can I use a couple of these pics and some of the narrative for a haibun prompt? Giving you full credit, a link to you, and a little info. It would be in about 4 weeks….the shore is so rocky….but I really like the looks of it. These jokes just kill me….
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March 12, 2016 at 6:38 pm
You’re welcome and thanks for asking.
I love the rugged shoreline. Some of the rocks were huge. You wouldn’t want to fall over the edge. 😀
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March 4, 2016 at 11:19 pm
That was some windy day. But you look spry and mawvellous darling. I’d opt for the wine and movie after that day. Wonderful pics as always! 🙂 ❤
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March 12, 2016 at 6:50 pm
Yup. I was worn out after that wind.
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March 5, 2016 at 4:33 am
Great pictures, it looks a tad windy there but lovely. I would have picked the wine also I know I would have wanted to rest my tootsies and snuggle up tight 🙂
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March 12, 2016 at 6:51 pm
Thanks for the visit. Indeed. We’re all in agreement. After that wind-blown day, we made the right choice. 😀 😀
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March 5, 2016 at 5:09 am
The bus driver must have nerves of steel! Hate those long drops from the roadside. Good call staying in with a bottle of wine 😀
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March 12, 2016 at 6:52 pm
I can even begin to guess. I’m just glad it wasn’t a mountain road we were backing up. Can you imagine the drop? This one could had toppled us and I would have been on the bottom. Yikes.
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March 13, 2016 at 3:22 am
Too scary for words!
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March 5, 2016 at 5:12 am
Just love that descriptive opening paragraph!
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March 12, 2016 at 6:53 pm
Thanks, Andrew. Sometimes I might get carried away but I’m glad you enjoyed. 🙂
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March 5, 2016 at 6:38 am
Sounded like you had a great time! 🙂
Lovely article,
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March 12, 2016 at 6:54 pm
Thanks so much for the visit. It WAS a great time. Glad you came along. 🙂
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March 5, 2016 at 7:10 am
I love your photos of the shoreline. I stand corrected on my thoughts of the east coast of North America. I though from Florida to the northern territories of Canada, the Atlantic was relatively calm unless there was an actual storm. I had it in my head that only the Pacific coast was turbulent even on tranquil days.
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March 12, 2016 at 6:55 pm
In Atlantic Canada, there’s always something brewing in the ocean. 😀
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March 5, 2016 at 7:52 am
You looked cold! Great pictures, though you really should have gotten some of the inside of the outhouse. Haven’t visited one in a while.
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March 12, 2016 at 6:56 pm
I know, right. I should have been curious about the outhouse but spiders and cobwebs and bugs–nope not going there. 🙂
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March 5, 2016 at 8:14 am
I’m a bit of a control freak with driving, most people make me anxious when they’re behind the wheel!
This is fabulous descriptive writing Tess, I felt like I was there and wasn’t totally sure I wanted to be 🙂 🙂 🙂
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March 12, 2016 at 6:58 pm
Glad I’m not the only one. I have to be in control of the wheel otherwise I use my brake foot and make gurgling noises in my throat which make the driver nervous and they always YELL at me. Say I’m making them nervous.
Thanks for coming along, Gilly. 😀
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March 5, 2016 at 10:18 am
Hanging out with the nature can be exhausting. There’s something about wind and sun that saps my energy. I too would have chosen the movie.
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March 12, 2016 at 6:59 pm
All that fresh air did me in. Yes, I agree with you. Have a terrific sleep though. 🙂
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March 5, 2016 at 10:36 am
Great photos. Thanks for sharing your journey.
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March 5, 2016 at 10:51 am
Thank YOU for reading.. All that wind and fresh air tuckered me out that day. 😀
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March 5, 2016 at 10:58 am
You’re welcome.
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March 5, 2016 at 12:47 pm
Love the group photo. The background is impressive. 🙂 That faucet looks rather inadequate.
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March 5, 2016 at 12:55 pm
Thank you. I was super pleased with the group photo. The background was a fabulous idea.
The faucet really WAS inadequate. 😀 😀
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March 5, 2016 at 10:03 pm
A lovely share of your trip. I agree, not the best way to find out you had a terrific driver. After that, I wouldn’t have needed the facilities at the gas station stopt.
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March 12, 2016 at 7:00 pm
You bet. Having bypassed the rundown outhouse, I couldn’t wait. The backing up along the edge made it worse. You’re right. Ha Ha Ha.
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March 6, 2016 at 8:32 am
Thank you for sharing your trip with us Tess ❤️
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March 6, 2016 at 8:45 am
Nice to see you. How are you doing? ❤
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March 6, 2016 at 8:50 am
Hi Tess, Im doing ok thank you, how have you been? 💜
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March 12, 2016 at 7:01 pm
Thank you for coming along, Michelle. Wonderful to see you. 🙂
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March 6, 2016 at 8:53 am
Not much new,Michelle. Life rolls on.
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March 6, 2016 at 7:58 pm
It’s a very nice photo of you Tess, but you do look rather cold!
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March 6, 2016 at 8:02 pm
At least my nose wasn’t running like a kid’s. That wind was good for anything. Yes. my bones complained from the cold. 😀
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March 6, 2016 at 8:10 pm
hahaha! I get a running nose too. I don’t dare go anywhere without tissues.
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March 6, 2016 at 8:04 pm
Wasn’t good for anything. WASN’T…
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March 6, 2016 at 9:30 pm
I’m glad I’ve never had an emergency near a grinning outhouse.
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March 12, 2016 at 7:02 pm
Ha ha ha. Same here.
Thanks for dropping by, Mike. Good to see you. 🙂
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March 7, 2016 at 3:42 am
Back for a second look, as I often do, Tess. The landscape is a bit severe but the clouds are lush and so gorgeous.
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March 12, 2016 at 7:03 pm
Good to see there is still unspoiled land around, without the stink of manufacturing.
Come by anytime you wish. 😀
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March 7, 2016 at 11:05 am
I can feel the wind in your face, Tess. It sounds like a tiring day. I think I would have opted for an early night in too… Thanks for taking us on the trip!
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March 7, 2016 at 8:24 pm
Yes, so true, Olga. The wind and the fresh air, and the wind… yes, did I mention wind? As baffling as it sounds, yes, I was to pooped for anything by the time we arrived at the hotel. 😀 😀
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March 7, 2016 at 1:25 pm
Your travel energy is boundless, Tess! Love going on new trips with you to places I’ll probably never see! This one in colder, windy weather still has it’s beauty! Have a happy week! 💛 Elizabeth
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March 7, 2016 at 1:53 pm
Ha. Yes, we kept going till we arrived at the hotel and pooped out.
The weather did me in. Even free tickets for the entertainment wouldn’t have enticed me this night.
Wonderful to see you, Christine. Thank your for the visit and for taking the time to comment. ❤ 🙂
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March 7, 2016 at 6:39 pm
Seriously are you cold or is my computer on the blink? And you could be onto something with bloffer sauce – had me giggling at the idea. I wonder if anyone has researched service and gas stations to try and discern a national characteristic from the range of items on sale? For me the knives stood out; never happen here, beyond something plastic that doesn’t actually cut anything.
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March 7, 2016 at 8:22 pm
C.o.l.d.and windblown. Ugh. Yes. Your computer is fine. It is not gasping it’s last.
These service stations were amazing. Do you need a skidoo? A BBQ? No guns though. Not all gas stations had all the same products as the last one, but the variety was stupefying. We even came across a book bargain bin. How’s that for everything?
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March 8, 2016 at 6:49 am
Great picture of you on the rock at the end there!
It looks like a place that would be great to sit alone and write, I can imagine it creating an uncluttered mind where inspiration could thrive!
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March 8, 2016 at 10:28 pm
The rocks and land is powerful here. Had the wind been less,as well as all those people–I enjoy quiet and the sound of the water– I would have enjoyed a good sit.
My sister managed to capture a side of me I don’t know. 😀 😀 😀 Thanks for visiting, Vanessa. Wonderful to see you. ❤ ❤
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March 9, 2016 at 6:36 am
Nice pics, Tess…the beaches look like our West Wales beaches too! Beautiful.
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March 9, 2016 at 7:34 am
Nice to see you, Lisa. Thanks for the visit. This is just a fishing area where three families fished for a living. Not what we call a beach. The coastline is raw but I love it. 🙂
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March 10, 2016 at 12:44 pm
Yikes…that was one scary moment on that bus…I would have been saying my last prayer too 😮 Love the way you polished off the bottle of wine…now that’s a good sign of a good holiday, and like you, I would have definitely skipped the hotel entertainment! Interesting lobster info, I’ve always wondered how they get trapped in those baskets, and now I know thanks to you! Isn’t travel wonderful? Lovely photo of you Tess… ❤ ❤ ❤
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March 10, 2016 at 12:49 pm
Thank YOU, Sherri. I often wondered if the lobsters piled up one on top of another, but that would cause fights and damage. Ha ha. All that wind and ocean air did me in. I was glad to veg–with wine and a movie. It had been a while since I watched one. A real treat and then I needed my beauty sleep. ❤ ❤ ❤
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March 10, 2016 at 3:28 pm
Late getting here, Tess. Not been around but great to get back to read this and the lovely photos
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March 10, 2016 at 4:13 pm
Nice to see you anytime you can or want to pop in. Hope you haven’t had the dreaded flu I’ve been hearing around here. 🙂 ❤ ❤
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March 12, 2016 at 12:55 pm
Great post. Thanks for sharing your trip. 🙂
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March 12, 2016 at 6:31 pm
Thanks so much for reading and coming along. 😀
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