Category: Daily Blog

My life as Happy Innkeeper around the bay is a big change for me, and, as last weekend made clear, a happy one. The Berry and I are so grateful for this new career that lets us meet and interact with guests on a personal level, helping to share our love for this province and often learning something ourselves in the process.

This was certainly the case last weekend, when we had the pleasure of welcoming Les and Gwen Nicolls to The Puffin. Les has Parkinson’s disease combined with CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy), a rare disorder of the peripheral nerves characterized by gradually increasing weakness of the legs and, to a lesser extent, the arms – this rare combination is attacking his body. But Les is a super man, Gwen is a saint, and they are facing the disease as one – always with smiles, as they push their wheelchair up a mountain that no one wants to climb.

This was Les and Gwen’s third trip to Newfoundland, and we wanted to take them out to Shag Rock on our boat. But there was lots working against us – a forecast calling for high winds for the balance of their stay, Les in a wheelchair, and me still an amateur boater.

Then Alf Harnum, 45 year veteran of the high seas and my guardian angel, showed up. I told him what we were hoping to do, and he dropped what he was doing and volunteered to captain the A Wake at Last. Thank God for that.

We went to Shag Rock and around Whiteway Bay in the hands of an expert. Les tapped and clapped to the Newfoundland music with a smile on his face the whole time. He and Gwen were one; his happiness flowed through her as well. Alf captained in style and we hardly got a drop of water on us despite all the waves all around us.

CIDP and Parkinson’s is a terrible affliction, but Les and Gwen are champions. They have made our commitment to Ocean Delight one of gratitude to be able to meet such heroes. They truly love Newfoundland and we love them. We now have a connection that will not be broken.

Please say a prayer for Les and Gwen on their journey.

I’m starting to really like my humans here. They’re starting to get me. I don’t quite understand them yet, but I do most of their bidding. And I like to tease them. Yes, I love to retrieve sticks and balls from the ocean (I can’t help it, I’m wired that way), but I drop them just far enough from shore that they can’t get them. They beg (pleasant change)! I just smile!

And now they take me to Murphy’s Beach (imagine!) and I swim in the salt water in front of my cabin. And then, instead of hosing me down, they take me to Jimmie Rowe’s Walking Trail here in the Wonderful World of Whiteway, and I swim in the fresh water. Maybe I should start calling myself a ‘Newfoundland’ dog – I certainly am glad I live here!

 

This past Canada Day weekend we had the pleasure of taking two guests out for a spin, and learned a bit about roots in the process.

Meet Gary Haines (of Bell Island), and his wife Wendy (of Cambridge, ON), who celebrated 32 years of marriage and 38 years together with a week at the Osprey. Gary like so many of us is a transplanted Newfoundlander – at 12, his family relocated to Cambridge after the mine closed down. Over the years so many on this island had to leave to find work – we hope that is changing!

We took Gary and Wendy out for a spin to Shag Rock to cap off their stay. They loved their time staying with us on the Atlantic coast, their last words to me being, “we’ll be back.” And we look forward to having this wonderful blend of Newfoundland and Ontario back. It was nice to see how 38 years melts the mainland and the Rock together as one, how we are similar and how we are unique, and how important our roots are.

June 30th marked the 45th anniversary of my big sister, Eileen, and her wonderful husband, Bob. Her daughter Lisa (and a guy couldn’t ask for a better niece!) helped us arrange a special getaway weekend at our 4 and 1/2 star Heart’s Delight cottages. They took time out of their relaxing ocean-front to join us for a barbecue and we got the shot you see above, with Joe Friday, Eileen, me and Lisa. It’s always great when family comes for a visit.

And what a place this is for anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, or to just get away. We had a mother last week who just needed a bit of peace and quiet. Then we had a lawyer who had to write a factum and needed solitude to think and write. We’ve had a couple come back for their fourth time and they wanted “their” cottage – and that makes sense, as all our spots are very personal and let people put their signature on them.

We had a German couple here last week who had been camping all over the island and wanted to celebrate the last two nights of their trip somewhere special. We were honoured that they chose us, even more so that they loved the place and left all their camping gear (too much to take home) for future guests.

I guess wonderful places bring wonderful people and you can get no better place than the Wonderful World of Whiteway!

I’m starting to see why Jerry and The Berry are so happy out here in their Wonderful World of Whiteway. There is lots to love. Especially for a water dog, who was born to be the in the water – living right on the Atlantic Ocean helps out with that.

Then there are all the nice visitors who seem to come in a steady succession. They all love to pet me (and I don’t stop them). People from St. John’s, Buchans, Toronto, Vancouver, Ireland, Germany, America, Cambridge …….. they never seem to stop coming, and I never want it to end! All the attention puts a spring in my step, which I think makes the humans want to pet me even more.

But best of all is little Devon, a gorgeous golden retriever who lives up the road. Her owner is Albert Legge, and since he is a dog trainer I might have to start acting up a bit so that Jerry and The Berry have to take me there for lessons. I’d like the female company.

And by the way, there’s also an older golden Lab who lives next door – but don’t tell my humans, please, I don’t think they know she is there!

The Spirit of Canada Day is alive and well in our adopted hometown, with everyone coming out for the annual parade. And the most beautiful part was that I knew just about everyone in it. Everywhere there were big smiles for Canada and our community. Awesome!

The we spent the a lot of time on the bay yesterday, skipping back and forth to Shag Rock as we counted our blessings to live in this great country.I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend.