Cape Bonavista!
Wow. What an incredible place, full of history, unique architecture, right on the ocean. I know without a doubt I could spend months in Newfoundland and never run out of places to explore. My friend Cheri is a great tour guide.
Our first stop, after leaving Elliston, was the Cape Bonavista Lighthouse built in 1843. It was a working lighthouse for over a century but is now an interpretive centre, and a museum depicting how light-keepers lived in the 1870 period. The steep red stairs lead to the seal oil fueled catoptric light apparatus that was used in the 1800s. In the 1970s the provincial government declared it an historic site and began restoring it. Cheri and I thoroughly enjoyed each part of our tour through the lighthouse and attached home. Life must have been hard back then but I'm sure the operating lighthouse saved many lives. I'm so glad we stopped in.
The Town of Bonavista
We continued on to the town of Bonavista. Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) first discovered North America in 1497. It is said that this is the place where he first landed and when he saw land he exclaimed “O buono vista!”, which translates to, "Oh Happy Sight." I couldn't agree more as the landscape there is truly impressive. This is how the town of Bonavista came about. It was hard not to smile as we drove around the small town. The community was adorned with brightly coloured houses, unique architecture, large fish drying platforms, and historic sites. It's beautiful. The previous time I was there, we could see monstrous icebergs floating just off the coast but not this time. Perhaps it was too early in the year.
Mockbeggars Plantation
We decided to see if the Mockbeggars Plantation historic site was open - Yay! it was. Although the sign definitely needed painting, the place itself was well worth seeing. It's steeped in history. Before it became the residence of politician and Confederation advocate F. Gordon Bradley, it was a fishing plantation. It was built in 1870 as a family home but since became a Provincial Historic Site in 1990. It was beautifully restored to tell the story of Newfoundland life in the 1930s and 1940s, an exciting time when there was much discussion as to whether Newfoundland would remain an independent nation, or join Canada. I'm very glad they joined.
Now it was time to go back to Cheri's home. My visit with her, Sheldon, and their little girl had passed far too quickly. I knew in order to make it back to Alberta by June 15th I had to push on. Tomorrow would be a 5 hour drive to Cornerbrook and I had booked a ferry ride for the following night. I'm so grateful for my Newfoundland adventures shared with friends. The hospitality I was shown by Dave, Winnie, Shauna and her family, Sue and Ray, Cheri, Sheldon, and Miss M will always be affectionately remembered. What an exceptional start to my Happy Adventures Road Trip!
Bonus: "Polaroid" Prints
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