Author: oceandelight

Posted on

Let the Eagle Soar

Unlike yesterday’s April Fool’s post, I promise that these were all taken in Whiteway recently. But not by me – by our new friend, Albert Legge. Albert is an avid photographer, and his pictures blow me away, so much so that this isn’t the first time I’ve begged to use them in my blog; he really showcases the natural beauty of the Wonderful World of Whiteway!

This beautiful guy (or girl? I can’t tell!) is one of the many creatures that show up on our shores – and as the weather gets warmer I can’t wait for more visitors. Maybe we should have named one of our cottages The Eagle?

Posted on

April Whale’s Day

Whiteway is certainly an amazing place. Yesterday I was raving about the pack of 20 dolphins I sighted from my kitchen window. But today brought something much sadder to us – in the middle of the night, a humongous humpback whale had beached itself no more than 150 feet from our house.

Very upset, we tried contacting local authorities, but it was early Sunday morning and we could only get hold of the local volunteer fire department and some local fishermen who rose to the occasion. Dozens of us were out throwing buckets of water on the poor animal, trying to keep it hydrated.

Thankfully, when the tide came in, and with the help of some tugboats, we were able to get the creature back out into the water. We were so grateful to have avoided such a catastrophe, and we’ll never forget the day this magnificent fish (ok, mammal) showed up on our shores.

Posted on

Church Sunday: St. George’s Heritage Church

Continuing my Sunday Series highlighting churches throughout the island, here’s St. George’s Anglican church, a provincial heritage structure open for viewing that hosts concerts showcasing great Newfoundland talent, like Ron Hynes and The Morgan Brothers. This June, the church will host the final performance of the John Cossar and Jim Dorie Ballads and Barnacles Tour.

St. George’s is in sweet Brigus, a little community on the Baccalieu Trail and about an hour drive from our cottages. I have brought many a picnic there. Visitors to Newfoundland (and Newfoundlanders alike) who are here in August should definitely check out their Blueberry Festival – I know my Berry (Laurelyn) and I will try to.

Posted on

Trinity Dolphins

Forget the Miami Dolphins, here are the Trinity Dolphins. I loved being in Gros Morne, but was so happy to get back home to the Wonderful World of Whiteway. Yesterday morning proved the saying ‘there’s no place like home’: when I got up and had my coffee, looking at Shag Rock (my new muse), I saw a pod of about 20 dolphins herding fish. It was amazing, and it is only March – this is going to be a great whale-watching season!

I wish I had a better camera – maybe I’ll have to invest in one before summer. If you want an idea of what such a pod is like up-close, I highly recommend you check out this video of dolphins in Trinity Bay – it’s awesome.

Posted on

Best Fish & Chips on the Island

Yesterday, elated from my Gros Morne Institute for Sustainable Tourism seminar and driving back home to the east coast, I made an awesome discovery: the best fish and chips I have ever had. That’s saying a lot coming from a Newfoundlander with decades worth of fish and chips under my belt – because I’d say we rival England for the superiority of this classic.

I wouldn’t be a (now semi-) townie if I didn’t have a soft spot in my heart for Ches’s, and Dicks’s on Bell Island (see below) is a fine contender, but I tell you I have discovered a gem. I’ve driven by the Badger Diner countless times and passed on by – a mistake I won’t be making again! The owner, Lil, told me they’ve been there 29 years. Truly divine, truly the best kept secret in Newfoundland, and there’s nothing like finding a new favourite.

Posted on

Edgie

I am now an official ‘Edgie’ – meaning I have completed the Gros Morne Institute for Sustainable Tourism‘s Edge of the Wedge Course. This was truly the best and most enlightening course I’ve ever taken – it was all about how to enhance the experience of our guests and our community in the process. We’re new to the tourism industry; I came to this with an empty tool box and am leaving with a full one.

We wrapped up last night with a performance by Anchors Aweigh (quite literally one of the best Newfoundland bands I’ve ever heard), and a kitchen party that lasted til 4Am – how ‘Newfoundland’ is that? (Although in full disclosure, I only last til 2:30, since I have a long drive ahead of me today, back to the east coast – can’t wait to put what I’ve learned into practice).

And by the way, here’s my new band, The Tuckamore or Less, on our first performance! Big thanks to GMIST for such an awesome couple of days!

Posted on

Hooking Rugs (Molly) Made Easy

And the learning continues in Gros Morne thanks to the Gros Morne Institute for Sustainable Tourism and, today, Molly Made Fibre Art Studio. Molly Made is a great, local business success story, and if you’re in Woody Point or the Gros Morne area, you can for free go to the studio and learn how to hook rugs, and take a kit home (and you can also order the kits online if you’re interested).

Local experience can enhance a tourists’ stay, so yesterday, as you can see, we ‘experienced’ hooking rugs, a Newfoundland tradition. Great in concept, and everyone in the class with a greater attention span than me really learned something! It was really fun, and followed by soup and sandwiches (moose and chicken and pea) provided by the Anglican Church vestry.

If you’re in Woody Point or the Gros Morne area, I highly recommend Molly Made – so you can learn to hook rugs, too!

Posted on

An Epiphany a Day

I’m on the west coast for the next few days attending a course given by the Gros Morne Institute for Sustainable Tourism. Today was the first full day of activities and already I’ve been blow away – so many epiphanies in so little time! I’m learning how to give guests an experience, not just a room. It is not just about taking business and commodification but about creating value and helping our guests to feel part of something – ‘Ah Ha’ moments all around.

Being an entrepreneur by nature, my mind was opened today to the many, many ways we can incorporate the wonder of the people we have met and the places we have been on the Baccalieu Trail to give our guests special memories they can carry with them always and share with their friends – and we’ll find ourselves and our community enriched in the process. A win-win if ever there was one!

I can’t wait for the next two days and what they will deliver. Then it is back to WWW (the Wonderful World of Whiteway) to put together a plan of implementation.

Bringing out our inner children, playing with sea creatures at the marine centre. This is a sea mouse.

Shed party (a Newfoundland tradition) with Daniel Payne, a real treat. This guy is an awesome entertainer – please check him out!

Locals cook us moose stew and seafood chowder ….. and a most wonderful dinner with the chef incorporating us into the meal!

And all the while surrounded by such lovely vistas. What a spot!

Posted on

On the Road Again

As I mentioned a few days ago, yesterday I hit the road, heading to Gros Morne for a four-day course given by the Gros Morne Institute for Sustainable Tourism.  This was my first road trip in awhile. My last one was a doozy – driving with the Berry (Laurelyn) south to Florida, west to California, up the coast to British Columbia, then back across the country. So comparatively, yesterday’s trip was a piece of cake, and travellers to Newfoundland should know that while the threat of moose is to be taken seriously, driving our stretch of the TCH is pretty easy and offers some great views.

I love being on the road, with my thoughts running as varied as the scenery. Driving along, sipping coffee, listening to music and sometimes just the sounds of the road – what a great way to spend the day! And since I am now a bonafied blogger, I took some shots along the way. I’m always excited when the mountains first start to peak up when driving west in Newfoundland.

My chariot awaits!

If you’ve done any driving in Newfoundland, chances are you’re familiar with this big guy!

Long way to go!

Where it all began (my birthplace).

See? Wide open road – I told you it’s a great place to drive!

And there’s that view.

Welcome to Gros Morne (and yes, I did pull over to take all these pics!).

662km later, I reach my destination. Looking forward to an informative few days with a great group of people!

Posted on

Church Sunday: Two Greats in Placentia

Placentia, a little town less than a two-hour drive from our cottages, makes a great day trip for its beautiful scenery and great archaeological history, including the Castle Hill National Historic Site. And since today is Sunday, and my new mission is to highlight Newfoundland churches in my Sunday posts, here are two great ones.

The first is St. Luke’s Catholic Church, whose construction began in 1886. There is currently a campaign to determine the fate of this great building, so please check out their Facebook page. Here are some shots I took a few years ago (that’s my daughter, Emily, in the second pic – she’s a great day trip partner!):

The Anglican church in Placentia, St. Luke’s,  also has its fair share of history. Turns out on my last trip I only got a shot of the graveyard out back – but going through these old pictures makes me think a little trip down ‘south’ might be in the cards this summer!

Verified by MonsterInsights