The day began with a disappointing fog, thick as porridge and I worried about the drive. On the bright side, the road wasn’t as winding as the previous day, but visibility wasn’t good. Soon, a fine drizzle drifted in. Mary and I weren’t in the front seat anymore, but back a couple seats. Yay.
The bus stopped in Whitbourne at Robyn’s Donut Shop for hot coffee and a stretch. It’s similar to Timmy’s in Ontario, but this establishment was takeout only. Two interesting travelers were pushing off as we exited. I wanted to ask about their biking adventures but didn’t want to run after them, nor come across as a stalker.
First English settlement
In 1610 John Guy arrived from England with 39 men and meager supplies. They wintered in Cupids Cove (Plantation) and began building houses. The area was rocky and covered with mulberry, pine, spruce and fir trees. He returned to England the following year and came back with 16 women. Building started in earnest and more settlers followed. He attempted to establish trade with the Beothuks. In 1613 he left again never to return but became a Member of Parliament in his native land.
We moved on to Cupids Legacy Centre, a building chock full of old collections, which took me down memory lane. Here’s a look inside and out.
Some displays inside Legacy Centre:
Offshore Oil Quick Facts:
- Hibernia 315 km from St. John’s
- 200 miles offshore
- 240 feet high / 224 meters
- 33 meters higher than Calgary
- Pumping 120,000 barrels a day
- Cost $6 Billion
- 1985 accord signed. Government wanted full control.
- Why should Newfoundland be treated any different from Alberta?
- Argued until PM Mulroney got in. Gulf oil bowed out.
- Most oil fields have around a 20-year lifespan
- Latest News June 17, 2016
Hebron Facts:
- Hebron Project
- Drilling begun 1981
- 4 major fields: ExonMobil, Suncor, Statoil, Nalcor
- Coming in a year or so (after 2015)
- Contains 1.2 billion barrels of oil
- Good for 20 years or more
- Negotiated better deals than Alberta
- Province gets 1%
- After all costs paid, Newfoundland gets super royalty over the 30% they usually get
- Funds go into general coffers
- Hope a fund is set up for renewable resources
~ * ~
On the Lighter Side:
A young couple who tried to conceive met their old parish priest while walking down the street.
“How’s the family?”
“None. Can’t”
“I’m on my way to Rome. I’ll light a candle for you.”
Five years later, Mary was heavily pregnant when she met the priest again.
“I see it’s all working out for you.”
“Don’t talk, Father. Shortly after you said you were going to Rome and would light a candle, I had twins. After, I had another one. Now again.
“Good. Good. By the way, where is John?”
“He’s gone to Rome to blow out the candle.”
* * *
© 2016 Tess @ How the Cookie Crumbles.
For more related posts, click on Newfoundland / Labrador tab at the top of the page
June 17, 2016 at 8:56 pm
Interesting history of “firsts” and nice to find a doughnut/coffee place in that weather. One of the bikes was carrying a lot of stuff, how’d he manage to ride it? Thanks, Tess. 🙂
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June 18, 2016 at 7:53 pm
Who knew? Not me. That list grabbed me right away because my eyes popped. Really? Amazing.
Thank you for the visit, Paulette. I wished I’d had the opportunity to talk to these ‘young’ people. I don’t know how the fellow got so much on his bike. I would have loved to buy them coffee / breakfast / lunch / anything to talk about their adventure. My mouth waters thinking about it. ❤
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June 17, 2016 at 9:13 pm
How interesting. I rarely think of the first colonists in Canada–and I should. What a fascinating place to visit.
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June 18, 2016 at 7:50 pm
I’m Canadian and I had no clue how interesting Newfoundland is / was / or any way you want to slice it. And the history? Who knew? Not me. Thanks for the visit and for reading, Jacqui. So appreciate it. 😀 ❤
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June 17, 2016 at 9:15 pm
I enjoyed the enlightening history lesson, photos, and the joke and the end.
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June 18, 2016 at 7:48 pm
Thanks for the visit, Russ. I’m pleased you enjoyed the read. The joke was the best, wasn’t it? Our tour guide was full of them. 😀 😀 😀
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June 18, 2016 at 2:28 am
Lovely! Enjoyed the ending chuckle too.
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June 18, 2016 at 7:46 pm
Ha ha. Thanks for the visit, Rosie. I’ve never heard so many entertaining jokes. 🙂 😀
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June 18, 2016 at 2:55 am
So much history here. I love the exhibits of a life style no longer lived.
And your funny section has me giggling.
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June 18, 2016 at 7:45 pm
Wonderful to see you come along for this tour, Sharon. I had no idea Newfoundland would be so interesting.
Our tour guide, Francis is 5th generation Irish in Newfoundland and full to bursting with hilarious jokes. ❤ 😀 😀
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June 18, 2016 at 4:17 am
Perhaps the young couple were going on the Wetlands Conservation Trail in Whitbourne, Tess? Can’t read what it says on the first bike ” We need a ride Fortune”? And I wonder who the first English child was to be born in Canada – must be a story there!! And someone has a fascinating family history. Jx
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June 18, 2016 at 7:43 pm
JOhn Guy and his wife had a son, in 1613, March 27, had a boy, the first child in the FIRST English settlement:
“There was some good news, however, with the first child born on March 27. A son to Nicholas Guy and his wife, the boy became the first English child born in Canada.”
Reference: 9th paragraph
http://www.cupids400.com/english/about/history.php
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June 18, 2016 at 4:25 am
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
It is Saturday morning and my scheduled stop on the road with Tess Karlinski as she tours Newfoundland – today the first English settlement.. interesting facts about the area and a little maths for you.. John Guy arrived with 39 men and meagre supplies in 1610 – the following year he returned to England and bought just 16 women back with him – with 39 men in the colony I would think that was when the fight started! Great post as always.. head over and read for yourselves.
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June 18, 2016 at 7:28 pm
The list of first grabbed my attention right away and I was surprised there were so many. Who knew?
Our tour guide was full of jokes. None of them dull. Some hard to understand till the light went on. I keep wondering how he knew which candle to blow out? Maybe all of them? 😀 😀 😀 Catholics (I guess that’s Irish Catholics too) weren’t allowed birth control, except for rhythm–I think.
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June 19, 2016 at 3:21 am
Yes Tess. this is why the Irish love music! fascinating stuff.. xx
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June 18, 2016 at 7:29 pm
Go figure a man like John Guy, who later enjoyed life as a Member of Parliament back in England a few years later, didn’t have more luck with math. 😀 😀 Made me wonder…
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June 19, 2016 at 3:20 am
I don’t know about that Tess.. I think it probably makes him very qualified judging by the present day politicians who think 2+ 2 = 5.. Very interesting post.. xoxo
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June 18, 2016 at 4:33 am
Loved the list of firsts. And I laughed out loud when I got to the joke. I’d have made John go blow out the candle too 😀 😀
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June 18, 2016 at 7:26 pm
The list of first grabbed my attention right away and I was surprised there were so many. Who knew?
Our tour guide was full of jokes. None of them dull. Some hard to understand till the light went on. I keep wondering how he knew which candle to blow out? Maybe all of them? 😀 😀 😀 Catholics (I guess that’s Irish Catholics too) weren’t allowed birth control, except for rhythm–I think.
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June 19, 2016 at 3:48 am
I think he probably blew them all out to be on the safe side 😀 😀
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June 18, 2016 at 8:16 am
So many things here I didn’t know. But the antiques in that legacy center…so many are familiar. Thanks, Tess. 💖
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June 18, 2016 at 7:21 pm
Hi Van. Glad you enjoyed the antiques. Boy, did they bring back memories! I had no idea when my sister and I chose to go to Newfoundland, we’d get so much out of the trip. Who knew? Nice to have you along. 🙂 ❤
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June 18, 2016 at 8:20 am
Tess, you make every road trip so interesting. Sorry about the fog… I enjoyed the antiques. Too bad you didn’t get a chance to meet those very interesting looking cyclists. 😀 Have a satisfying Saturday. Mega hugs.
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June 18, 2016 at 7:19 pm
Glad you’re enjoying the tour, Teagan. I’m still excited about this trip even second time around posting it. This particular day I took 151 pictures, but I feel there are a lot I took that seem to be missing. 😉
Have a wonderful rest of the weekend as well. ❤
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June 18, 2016 at 8:50 am
This was a very interesting stop. Love museums like this. Some interesting facts.
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June 18, 2016 at 7:17 pm
Thank you, Darlene. They had so many old things to see. I’m positive I took more pictures but somehow they didn’t take. That one day alone I took 151 pictures. Yeah. Surprised me too. 🙂
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June 23, 2016 at 4:47 pm
I always think I took way more pictures than I actually did. It is great that with digital cameras we can take as many pictures as we wish. I remember being so careful not to use up all the film before.
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June 18, 2016 at 9:53 am
No Timmie’s? Lol that was an interesting fact. The old photos were awesome to see, And I’m ashamed to say that I wasn’t aware there was oil on the East coast. Thanks for the lessons Tess. ❤
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June 18, 2016 at 7:14 pm
They DO have a Tim Horton’s in St. John’s. My sister and I had lunch there. Instead of those soft whole wheat buns we have for chicken salad or egg salad sandwich, they serve on a Croissant I was hungry so I asked for a bun. They only had white and the crust hurt my mouth. Not too fresh either. Maybe it was just an off day.
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June 19, 2016 at 12:04 pm
Lol Tess. Sharing that publicly and spread around may get your some freebies? LOL xo
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June 18, 2016 at 7:15 pm
Wait a minute. I believe we also saw a Timmy’s in Corner Brook…
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June 19, 2016 at 12:04 pm
Now that’s better. I find it hard to believe there wouldn’t be one, considering they’re now crowding the U.S. lol. 🙂
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June 18, 2016 at 9:57 am
What a fun time, interesting facts and great joke! Another one of your travels, I see I have much to catch up on.
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June 18, 2016 at 5:43 pm
Thanks for the visit, Val. This trip was truly enjoyable. Our tour guide was full of hilarious jokes. 😀 😀
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June 18, 2016 at 10:49 am
Your posts are always so enlightening, Tess. Lots of firsts in Cupids. Thanks for the laugh too 😀
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June 18, 2016 at 5:38 pm
Thanks so much for the visit, D.W. I was quite taken with the list of firsts too. 🙂
The jokes kept us in stitches–perfect for dull, rainy days.
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June 18, 2016 at 11:59 am
Thank goodness everybody didn’t throw away all of their old rubbish or there would be no exhibits for reconstruction museums.
I have just been to Baltimore in Ireland where they like to tell you that English settlers in Maryland named the modern city there!
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June 18, 2016 at 5:32 pm
Ha ha. Another way to look at it, with no evidence how would anyone know who, if anyone, had been there before.
It always amazes me how deep some of these excavations go.
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June 18, 2016 at 12:28 pm
Interesting post – and I loved the joke.
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June 18, 2016 at 5:28 pm
Thank you, Mary, for both the visit and for reading.
Our guide was full of jokes. What can you expect? He’s 5th generation Irish in Newfoundland. 😀 😀
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June 18, 2016 at 1:21 pm
What an interesting historic site. I was wondering where John Guy came from got my answer, Bristol again!
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June 18, 2016 at 5:21 pm
I know. I’m surprised how interesting Newfoundland is and so many English people traveled there. 🙂
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June 18, 2016 at 1:53 pm
Love the firsts, the pictures and the joke!
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June 18, 2016 at 5:27 pm
Thank you, Len. I do too. Glad someone thought to put this list together as there are quite a few firsts.
Our tour guide told the funniest jokes. Kept us in stitches. Had to keep up cheered up I suppose because of the gloomy weather. 😀
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June 18, 2016 at 5:27 pm
Looks like a great trip!
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June 18, 2016 at 2:45 pm
I’m always interested in the history of places. Enjoyed all the photos Tess!
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June 18, 2016 at 5:20 pm
Thank you for the visit, Laura. Pleased you enjoyed the pictures too. I find as I mature, I am more interested in the history of places than ever. 😀
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June 18, 2016 at 10:31 pm
Tess I can not imagine riding a bike like that! Wow the things you see when you travel. Such interesting history. Too bad about the weather. Ugh to that!
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June 20, 2016 at 10:01 am
Amazing isn’t it. I sooooooo wish I had chased them down to curb my curiosity. You said it about the weather. Francis tried his best to keep us cheered with toolbox of jokes. ❤ 😎
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June 20, 2016 at 10:09 am
That would have been me Tess doing the chasing and Dave shaking his head behind me. 🙂
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June 18, 2016 at 11:23 pm
Oh I wish you asked the bikers! Can’t quite make out the sign on the one bike, but can see the engagement notice on the other one.
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June 20, 2016 at 9:59 am
Me too. It’s been driving me crazy ever since. Next time, I won’t care about the consequences. I can’t guess what that one sign means either. Grrr. 😀 ❤
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June 19, 2016 at 10:59 am
My wife and I love traveling and enjoying the history of those places we are lucky enough to visit. I enjoyed your post. Stop by if you get a chance.
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June 19, 2016 at 11:02 am
Thank you so much for the visit. I’m pleased you enjoyed the read. 🙂
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June 19, 2016 at 11:02 am
Love the theme of your blog. Nicest one I’ve seen. Interesting posts. 🙂
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June 19, 2016 at 11:06 am
Thanks for stopping by. I am sort of winging this blog with a combination of photography, travel, fiction writing, and now I have even tried my had a poetry. Life can be very interesting when you take new paths.
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June 19, 2016 at 10:19 pm
You had me laughing out loud!
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June 20, 2016 at 9:57 am
Thank you, Linda. Laughing out loud is the best kind. ❤ ❤ ❤
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June 20, 2016 at 7:14 am
I love the history!!! How exciting to be digging up more of the story. 🙂
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June 20, 2016 at 9:56 am
Indeed. Me too. Never before had I wondered why archeologists always have to d.i.g. down. Interesting, isn’t it?
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June 22, 2016 at 5:44 am
VERY!!!! So far, my favorite spot on this trip.
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June 20, 2016 at 7:51 am
Love the joke and the historical note (and the museum looks indeed like a trip down memory lane). I love the idea of the just married couple in their bike honeymoon. Thanks, Tess!
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June 20, 2016 at 9:49 am
Glad you liked the joke. We were rolling in the aisles of the bus when the tour guide told it. I so wish I had cast all cares to the wind and run after this couple to talk with them. Next time, I’ll take the chance and not worry about consequences first. 🙂 ❤
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June 20, 2016 at 10:03 am
That’s a lot of ‘firsts’, Tess, this was a fascinating post, as always, made me want to go. Made me smile, laugh and smile some more. 🙂
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June 20, 2016 at 10:30 am
I learned so many fascinating things on this trip. Only in Canada. Why do we need exotic places far, far away when we have all this fascinating stuff going on in our own backyard. Glad you enjoyed the read, Donna. Hope this week is kind to you. ❤ ❤ ❤
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June 20, 2016 at 1:58 pm
Such interesting facts about Newfoundland! Thanks for sharing.
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June 21, 2016 at 10:23 am
Thank YOU for reading, Cynthia. I’m getting as much or more out of this trip writing about it in my blog. 🙂
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June 21, 2016 at 10:26 am
I can see that. How terrific.
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June 20, 2016 at 4:13 pm
Cupids? Great name for a town. And all that old home stuff; like my gran’s!
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June 21, 2016 at 10:25 am
That’s the name they use now. It has also been known as Coopers, Copers Cove, Cupers Cove, and Cuperts.
Seems no one could make up their mind.
That old stuff I lived with. 🙂
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June 20, 2016 at 4:21 pm
Colonists in Canada is not a topic I know much about, though I’ve visited a view colonial sites in America. It’s always great to come away with more background knowledge. I’ve only been to Canada a few times, which is a shame because I grew up not too far from the British Columbia border.
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June 21, 2016 at 10:34 am
I have lived in Canada most of my life and until this visit to our east coast, I wasn’t much interested in that area. I had no idea what I’ve been missing. Hope to get to Canada again if you really want to.
Thank you for the visit and for adding to the conversation. 🙂
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June 20, 2016 at 9:53 pm
I have been to Canada quite often on business. I find the area that I visit ( Cambridge) very good to be around. I would love to visit the more remote parts.
Tim
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June 21, 2016 at 10:22 am
I sometimes think the Canadian North (Ontario) is pretty remote. Beautiful country. Lots of lakes and good fishing. Can you tell I lived there? Maybe that’s why I enjoyed the east coast so much. Water, rocks, fishing and miles and miles of nothing on the highway.
Thanks for the visit. Hope you get to see more of Canada. 😀 😀
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June 21, 2016 at 3:58 am
Brilliant! The candle joke is classicly wonderful. The post too, recently returned from Vancouver Island I am still enjoying the photos of the tressle and the logging museum.
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June 21, 2016 at 10:32 am
Thank you for the visit. Our tour guide was 5th generation Irish in Newfoundland. That man was full of side-busting jokes. I try to remember them, but most times cannot well. 😀
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