Lovely weather and a most enjoyable day today. We decided to go to Corner Brook, where we would complete our coast to coast journey.
Not long after we set out we came to roadworks and a queue of traffic that stretched at least a kilometre in either direction. They had cut a huge chunk out of the road at least 3 metres deep, which had to be refilled. Each direction took turns to go through the one lane that was left. There were more roadworks and a similar chunk cut out further on. Fortunately we’re on holidays and not in a hurry, but we did decide not to go beyond Corner Brook in case we were seriously held up on the way home.
The closer we got to our destination the more spectacular the scenery and Lorraine took some great photos which she has shared with me. It was quite mountainous with deep, lake-filled valleys and a ski run off to our left. The rocky mountain-sides were awesome. Over a huge hill where it looked like the road would send us sailing into the sky and then down to the town of Corner Brook, nestled in the Bay of Islands. It is the largest town on the west coast.
Our lovely GPS took us up another large hill to the Captain Cook Memorial, which has a brilliant view over the bay and a lot of information about Cook’s time in Newfoundland, charting and surveying the coast over a period of about 5 years.
I had done a little research and after all our cafe failures we found a great one today on the edge of the harbour, with tables and chairs on a deck overlooking the water. It was actually warm enough to sit outside too. We had a long and interesting chat with an ex Canadian Army soldier who explained a lot about Newfoundland’s role in the world wars. It did not become a part of Canada till 1949, so well after the war.
Before we headed home we made a little stop at Walmart to satisfy Lorraine’s need for the Fruit of the Loom. Then it was back onto the Trans Canada Highway and through that gorgeous scenery. We were really lucky with the roadworks as there were way fewer cars on the road at that time of day and we made good time.
This evening we dined at “Off the Hook”, the place to go for fresh fish. I had the scallop meal and Lorraine had cod bites. Dessert was a soft serve cone at the local ice cream shop, which was doing a roaring trade on this summery evening.
Neither of us are hungry now!
Glad you had some good weather to enjoy the scenery - looks great.Must have been great not having so much slow time on the way home.
ReplyDeleteA very decent traffic hold-up, but as we have complained about the road conditions, I suppose we should be grateful that they are doing somethingš¤£ Interesting how the topography has changed from when you first arrived on the east coast; but still no notable agriculture. I didn’t know the Cook had such roots in this isolated spot… very isolated in the 1700’s. Hooray for some slightly more efficient eateries.
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