Triton, Newfoundland

We spent four lovely days at Triton. We came into town in a driving rain and the place we wanted to park was a big mud puddle. So we asked the local Salvation Army Church if we could park in their parking lot. Howard Bridger, the second in command, said sure and did we luck out! Not only did we have a great place to park , we made some great friends while we were there.

The first day we drove around the fishing communities and had lunch at Fudges (seafood combo). We tried cod tongues again and they were better here. On Sunday we went to the church services at the Salvation Army. Unlike the US, the Canada SA has very active churchs.

We went on a very tough hike called the Maple Ridge Coastal Trail. This trail has over 3000 steps one way. Dean, Ron and I made it to the top and we were rewarded with great views of Triton harbor. Bernita went halfway and enjoyed talking with some of the locals around the mussel farms. The straight line buoys are the mussel farms.

Lots and lots of steps but the views were fantastic.

We were going to leave on Monday but Howard said that he would take us out for a boat ride if we stayed another day. Ron, Dean, Howard, a local fisherman (Lawrence), and I went for two hours in the Triton Harbor. It was a beautiful day. That afternoon Lawrence came back with canned moose, another man brought marinated mussels, and Howard brought us canned beets. What a lovely community.

Ron, Dean, Howard and Lawrence and Howard's boat

Rocky Harbor and Gros Morne Nat Pk

Rain, rain, go away!! But it keeps coming. We have had two sunny days out of the last 7. When it is sunny it is beautiful and when it is raining it is beautiful but cold and dreary.

We stayed at Cow Head one night and then ventured south to Rocky Harbor. We found a great boondocking spot right by the water. It was raining when we got there but we went to the Lobster Cove Lighthouse and Norris Point. Norris Point was this little fishing village surrounded by mountains and water. It was beautiful even on a rainy day. All these little towns are bordered by Gros Morne National Park.

Wednesday night we caught the local entertainment – Anchors Away – a band that played at the Ocean View Hotel in Rocky Harbor. The 5 musicians played a mixture of Newfoundland music, Irish music, and rock and roll to a sold out crowd. We enjoyed the evening very much.

On Thursday, our one sunny day, we drove to Trout River (another little fishing village). On the was, we spent some time in Gros Morne National Park – doing a waterfall hike, visiting the discovery center, and doing another hike at the Tablelands (area with little vegetation that is like the earth’s mantle).

When we got home we went to the Town Hall and had a Jiggs dinner, sponsored by a local church. A Jiggs dinner is like a St. Patrick feast – boiled cabbage, carrots, potatoes, turnips, and salt pork. They also serve a variety of puddings with sauces (kind of like bread pudding) with the meal. And there was a huge table of desserts. It was the best $12 we have spent for a meal.

That night we had a beautiful sunset. We need to take advantage of the sun cause it does not shine often enough for us Arizonians.