Travel NFLD, Day 1 ... 17 Sep 16

The first day was quite windy and cool but the sun was shinning so that was the  compensated for the coolness. The first item on the agenda was to go to the TD Bank so I could withdraw  some cash as I expected that the B and B's would want cash. I whipped out my wallet and no Debit card. I can't even recalled when I used it last but I will check my bank statement later. So we went to the back up system which is Carroll of course, however, she seldom ever uses an ATM and wasn't sure she could remember her pin. Luckily she did!


Next we drove around St. John's to locate a few places to visit and we stopped at the Basilica, thinking some spiritual intervention might help to keep the cool, wet weather at bay.  We  found the fabulous Museum called the Rooms. However, we decided that this would be a good place to spend a few hours some day if it should rain. We then wormed our way around St. John's until we found Signal Hill ( as if we could miss it ). We wanted to drive to the parking area at the top but it was out of bound due to some road construction. However, we did go to the visitors centre which is approximately 1/2 way up. We picked up some maps and ask for direction to Cape Shear Light house. Apparently we got the only person in Nfld who failed giving direction. His direction where to leave St. John's on a certain street, and when you see the "Beaver " on a sign go a "we ways further" and turn left and then follow the Beaver sign.


Yep!! we got lost so we ask a gentleman at a service station and he said it would be best if we followed him to the correct road which we did. After visiting the Light house we continued on with no destination in mind and landed in a quaint little town/hamlet called Petty Harbour. Since it was lunch time we stopped at, what I think is the only eating establishment it the town. However, we were not the first to discover the place because it was fairly full. They even had an up stairs area when the lower was full and they did open while we were there. Being our first day in Nfld we all had Sea food of a sort and chased it with a beer.


After lunch we decided to head for our B and B in Spaniards Bay bearing in mind to stop at many of the small towns along the way. While going thru one town we spotted a Tim's and decided it would be a good place for a "Pit " stop and to pick up a coffee. We pulled into the parking lot and park next to several "Senior " Bikers who were on a Saturday drive and they too stopped for the same reason. When we got out of the car they said "how's you today Bye" and as soon as we answered they knew we were  not  Newfies. We were not sure of the best route to our B and B so we ask them and one guy said follow me and I'll put you on the right road; so we followed him for about 10 KM. He also told us about some towns that we must visit, so he was most helpful.




We checked into our B and B in a town called Spaniards Bay. As usual, all the houses are vintage so the room are upstairs. The rooms are "roomy" in most places and they come with an unsuite, TV and WiFi.  This B and B also had 2 students living there, probably to help cover their expenses during the winter when there are no tourist. The B and B's cost around 100.00 per night and this one was 103.00 with taxes.


Since there are NO restaurant in Spaniards Bay we inquired about a place to eat and we were recommended a newly renovated restaurant about 15 minutes away called the Stone Jug in Carbonier.
This building was once a huge stone house 50' by 100' and has two floors. It was run down for many years and this entrepreneur came into town and spent 1 million dollars renovating it. It is so popular you have to make supper reservation 2 days in advance. We arrived a 6 PM without reservations and were advised to come back at 8:30 and they would try to squeeze us in. We could not wait that long so we went to the only other restaurant in town and it was a "Chinese"  joint. Suffice to say we were there "twice ". First and last.


After the supper fiasco, we headed back to our B and B. I will tell you , it is not easy to find you way around these small towns , in the dark, when it is raining and with very limited street lighting. We tried the GPS but it took us to someone's back yard, so we dispensed with that idea. You can not see any house numbers in the dark even if the had them, which they don't and none of us 4 supposedly intelligent people thought about finding some markers so we could find our way back. Luckily we did recall that our B and B was on the ocean and it did have a sign in the driveway so that got us on the right street/road. Eventually we did find our way back and the B and B left the light on ( much light Super 8 ) .


We plan to return to the Stone Jug tomorrow  for lunch as we have a few places on our agenda to visit in the area with names like cupid and Brigus. We  return home in time to watch the World Hockey game. cheers
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