We started with a loop north of St John's, including a stop at the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in the town of Flatrock (which has a bunch of almost flat rock sloping into the ocean). The winds were picking up, but we bravely soldiered southward to get a hot meal of chowder and a moose meat sandwich at the unfortunately-named Chafe's Restaurant in Petty Harbour.
Next, we drove to Cape Spear, a lighthouse and WWII military installation at the most easterly point in North America. At this point, we were walking at about a 70-degree angle because of the ferocious winds (50 km/h gusting to 80, according to B's trusty weather app), which also blew saltwater spray and bits of snow (yep) into our faces at stinging speeds.
We made an impulse stop (at B's urging) on the way home to investigate the Memorial University Ocean Sciences Centre ("it's never a bad idea to check out a research station" is B's maxim). It turned out to be a remarkable building — a collection of wooden structures with big porthole windows, connected by glass-covered skyways — nestled in a narrow bay surrounded by the highest cliffs we've seen this whole trip.
Also, they had a grumpy rescue seal named Tyler.
 |
| at the edge of the continent - I could barely hold the phone |
 |
| more tyler in this video |
 |
| (not our picture) (not our weather) |
Dad and I stopped at that Ocean Sciences Centre on the same kind of day. No Tyler though. I think you two made his day!
ReplyDelete