Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (sad to leave Newfoundland, The Rock)

Our last night on The Rock

July 29th: I know, I've skipped a few days! 

I haven't done a whole lot besides sleep and drive since July 27th. For some reason, my energy level has bottomed out, and I am taking it easy until I feel perkier. Sparky, on the other hand, is bored silly with my lack of enthusiasm for his exploratory walks.

I have now driven over 18,000 kilometers since leaving Penticton on May 1st. The odometer clicked over just as we were coming into Pasenda, Newfoundland, where we stopped in for a cup of tea and a sandwich with Bernadine and Stewart Cochrane. They are new friends with an Isla Mujeres, Mexico connection.

Fishing at Bishop's Falls, NL

Today, we caught the noon ferry from Port Aux Basques and sailed away to more adventures back on the mainland of Canada. 

I really enjoyed the 4 weeks that The Sparkinator and I roamed around Newfoundland. It was everything I thought it would be, and more. Some of my best memories were meeting the locals, chatty, friendly, helpful, and always smiling. I occasionally struggled to understand what they were saying, and I'm sure some of the folks couldn't understand me either. Everyone, young and old, of any gender, has called me honey, my love, sweetie, darling, and my darling. It's startling at first, and then it becomes charmingly normal.

One gentleman in Corner Brook chatted with me for a good five minutes, nicely telling me why I shouldn't drive the wrong way on a one-way street. He sent me on my way with a smile and 'you have a good day now.' spoken rapidly in his Newfie dialect. To be fair, it was only the entrance to the Greenway Hotel, and I thought I could get away with a quick zip into the parking lot, instead of driving around the block. He politely disagreed with my decision!

Codroy Provincial Park, NL

This is a vast province, much larger than I ever imagined, and I didn't even attempt to explore the larger mainland section of Labrador. (The full name of the province is Newfoundland and Labrador.) Sparky and I roamed several of the indented peninsula's exploring tiny hamlets, villages, and towns. We covered over 5000 kilometers in Newfoundland, and we have only explored half of the area. 

It has stunning scenery everywhere you go, but as you have probably gathered from my photos, I am in love with the ocean, boats, and colourful buildings. The mountain ranges, massive forests, tumbling brooks, and numerous lakes are beautiful too, but they just don't catch my eye the way the coastline does.

A man walking his cat, Port Harmon

So, I'll leave this with a few of my favourite photos of Newfoundland. (I have several hundred photos, but they won't all fit in this blog!)

I hope many of you have plans to explore this beautiful, and still wild, part of the world.

Cheers, Lynda and The Sparkinator

Icebergs at Twillingate, NL

Jelly Bean Row St. John's (covers many streets)

Puffins at Cape Bonavista, NL

Colourful boats, Winterton, NL

Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (Quidi Vidi and then southwest to Grand Bank NL)

Quidi Vidi Brewing in Quidi Vidi, NL

July 19th: For the first time in 80 days of traveling, the compass on my car's dashboard pointed west. The Fuzz-butt and I still have more places to explore, but we are now slowly heading back in the direction of Penticton, BC. I plan to arrive home around September 1st.

Leaving our hotel, I took a quick detour toward the nearby village of Quidi Vidi. The locals aren't sure if the unusual name was derived from Portuguese, Spanish, French, or even Latin. No one knows the exact origin. This is where the Quidi Vidi Brewery is located, the makers of Iceberg Lager. "Brewed with pure 20,000-year-old iceberg water harvested straight from our shores." 

Quidi Vidi Newfoundland

The 163-kilometre (100-mile) drive between St. John's and Goobies, near Come-by-Chance, on the Trans Canada Highway is long and not very interesting. 

It's one of the few times that I stayed on the main highway. The sideroads are much more fun, but I had a longer than normal distance to drive, so stayed with easy and boring. 

Grand Bank NL

At Goobies, I turned south and drove another 197 kilometres toward the town of Grand Bank located at the bottom of the Burin Peninsula and on the edge of the famous Grand Banks fishing grounds.

Sparky and I are staying in a cottage on the outskirts of town that is part of a B&B.

 It's very comfortable, and the owners are great, but the three cans of bug spray at the outside fire pit are probably a clue as to the type of uninvited guests that hang around in the evenings.

Cheers, Lynda and The Sparkinator

At the B&B's firepit

Grand Bank NL

Sharon's Nook Grand Bank NL

A mom duck, wondering why this kid is so big

Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (Cape Spear, on the edge of Canada)

Sparky at Cape Spear, NL

 July 18th: Cape Spear, the eastern edge of Canada, is located just a short drive from St. John's, Newfoundland. Sparky and I visited there, and he posed for a photo! 

Cape Spear, Newfoundland, photo Kevin Williams

Cape Spear looking toward St. John's harbour

Marker for the East Coast Trail

And for my hiking and trekking friends. The East Coast Trail is a wilderness pathway that passes through more than 30 communities in Newfoundland, for a distance of 336 kilometres, or 209 miles. National Geographic named it one of the best adventure destinations in 2012. 

Old-time police car in Black Head, Newfoundland

Then we roamed around the St. John's harbour entrance that was once protected by the now defunct Fort Amherst.

Entrance to St. John's harbour

Houses on the Signal Hill side of the harbour

After dinner, I took the Fuzz-butt for an evening stroll along the summertime-only pedestrian mall located just two blocks from our hotel. The restaurants on Water Street were busy, but I was in bed and asleep far too early to hear the live music playing in various venues on nearby George Street. 

Water Street St John's, NL 

We had an early morning departure because we were travelling from St. John's to the southern tip of the Burin Peninsula, a six-hour drive. 

Cheers, Lynda and Sir Fuzz-butt

 

Goats on the roof!

Goats on Roof - posing for photos. 

"What if we put goats on the roof?" 

It's a simple question that created a hugely popular tourist destination located in the community of Coombs, on Vancouver Island. 

The original Old Country Market was created in the early 1970s by Kristian Graaten and his wife, Solveig, who had emigrated with their children to Vancouver Island from Norway in the 1950s. 

The Old Country Market

The sod roof was inspired by their Norwegian homeland, where farm structures are frequently built directly into the hillside with the roof becoming an extension of the land. 

The complex is an eclectic mixture of shops and eateries, including the original fruit stand, a diverse market, a yummy donut shop, a coffee house, La Taqueria Mexican cantina, the Cuckoo Trattoria Italian restaurant, and an amazing selection of huge garden pots. 

Okanagan fresh fruit

We arrived late on a Thursday afternoon, but couldn't find a parking space within three blocks, so decided to return the next morning at opening time.

On Friday morning, my friends and I freely roamed the original marketplace purchasing olives, artisan cheese, gourmet crackers, their own brand of olive oil, and beautiful Mexican glass tumblers. 

Then we moved on to the fresh produce in the next building and stocked up on Okanagan fruit and local vegetables.

Ninety minutes later as we were leaving the complex was rapidly filling up with locals and tourists coming to experience this unique combination of fun and function.

Mexican glass tumblers

As for the question, “What if we put goats on the roof?” 

According to the company's webpage, it was the weekend of the Coombs Fall Fair, and the grass was getting rather long. Legend has it that, after a few glasses of wine, Larry suggested that they ‘borrow’ some goats to ‘mow’ the grass and perhaps provide some entertainment for passing cars. 

The goats hang out here when not on roof duty

The goats became permanent tenants of the Coombs market that weekend and have been there for more than thirty years. Each spring, a group of goats makes their home on the roof, entertaining both locals and visitors from all over the world. The goats take turns on the rooftop, posing for tourists while other members of the tribe relax in the shady field below the complex. 

Italian restaurant and produce market

The Old Country Market is now owned and operated by Larry and Lene Geekie and their family. ‘Goats on the Roof’ has become one of the top tourist destinations in British Columbia. 

If you are on Vancouver Island, it is worth the time to stop and experience Goats on Roof.

Cheers

Lynda & my travel buddy Sparky

Available at Coles Penticton, Coles Vernon, 

SS Sicamous & Museum, and Ruby Blues Winery