Last Days in Terra Nova

This is the only picture I have from Friday. These are the stairs down to the southwestern side of the campground trail. Rain was ending at nine or so, then it was going to get hot (up to 82 degrees F). So as soon as it stopped raining I took Matey here. I wanted him to have a good walk before the heat, but he was reluctant to take the trail. I had to repeatedly urge him down until we were on the path below and walking towards Big Brook, which you can see in the distance. It began to mist, which didn’t worry me. When we were just about half way on the trail the mist turned to rain. Bud called to ask if we needed to be picked up. He came, but the closest he could get with the truck was about 80% through the hike. I was literally soaked to the skin. Only my feet were dry because my hiking boots are water resistant. I think Matey knew.

I put on dry clothes and the day became a work day, even though the rain stopped in an hour or so. I did the laundry in the morning. I had mentioned the night before that we might try to clean the coils on our main air conditioner. That meant me going up on the roof. Dennis asked if I wanted help. I told him if he really wanted to I would gladly accept his help, but not to change his plans on my account.

He came and we did it. Bud was ground crew. It was a bit more involved than Bud had described from the YouTube video he’d watched. I was glad Dennis was there to help us decide what to do. The four screws you needed to remove became about fourteen. The foam cleaner did its thing, it didn’t look too bad to start and we’re not sure how much it improved the efficiency, but the coils are clean.

In the evening I took leftover shrimp and grits that Bud had made for our dinner to let the Newfoundlanders try a bit of southern cooking. We had a great time chatting. This morning they left, but Florence and I exchanged cell phone numbers and they said the next time we’re in Newfoundland we need to visit them at home. Hope we do someday.

Today Bud took Matey and me to the government wharf for our morning walk. We finished the Coastal Trail walking the section from there back to the campground. This part of the trail was far less used.

Where light got in it was almost overgrown. It was still easy to follow and the steps and boardwalks were there where you needed them.

And of course it was beautiful.

It had views of the sound…

and a section of beach that had the famous National Park Red Adirondack Chairs.

It was cool and still and gorgeous.

I know I’ve posted at least a hundred pictures of beautiful Newfoundland trails. I am still amazed by them. Sometimes I feel like I’m walking in the Shire from Tolkien’s books.

For people here walking is a part of life and they have and share their trails everywhere. It’s definitely my kind of place.

Unfortunately by the time Matey and I got back to the campground Dennis and Florence and Maxine and Barry were gone. I do hope we get to see them again someday.

This afternoon we took a drive to Dover. They had a short trail to this overlook. It was only 0.4 mile but since Matey had walked almost two miles this morning and it was again over 80 degrees we put together the stroller for him. We took him up the boardwalk and a few flights of steps.

When we got to the final flight we decided to park the stroller and let Matey walk.

There were wonderful views…

in all directions.

But the thing we came to see is this. The notch you see in the hills across town is a fault. This fault developed some 410 million years ago when tectonic plates from two continents came together. The land on the left of the notch was from the ancient continent of Gondwana (Africa and Europe). To the right of the notch is land that came from volcanic eruptions in an ancient ocean and became the edge of North America. The eastern part of Newfoundland is land that broke off what is now Europe and Africa. The western peninsula is part of ancient Laurentia, which forms the core of North America. And central Newfoundland is from the volcanoes in the ancient ocean.

We drove into town and the street through the notch was Fault Drive.

Again, Newfoundland is a geological wonder.

Our final stop in the area was back in the park at Ochre Hill.

There’s an old fire tower here that you can climb nearly to the top.

All of Terra Nova is laid out in front of you.

The body of water in the upper right is Newman Sound; the campground is there.

Not a good place if you don’t like heights.

But a fitting end to a wonderful week.