Foggy Morning on the Northwest Road

Putting a face on my past

Our local newspaper sometimes carries photos of "Five Generations" – a baby in the arms of a young mother along with three other remarkably young-looking adult women who are the baby's grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother.

Recently I received four unexpected photos by email. I'm now able to look into the face of my paternal great-great grandmother. What a gap in time between the five generations of this family (although, granted, I'm no babe in arms)!

This pretty young woman is my grandfather's sister, Clara. The story that comes from her direct descendants is that, after bearing several children, she died at the age of 31. Because her husband remarried after her death, an indignant niece ripped him out of their wedding photograph – leaving the unfortunate Clara with three hands.

Lawrencetown Beach

Another fine November day took us to Nova Scotia's famous Lawrencetown Beach.

The ocean was very calm, probably to the disappointment of several folks with wet suits and water boards who were doubtless hoping for a little more excitement. We'd never seen the gear being used by the couple below but a little googling informs us these are stand-up paddle boarders. It certainly looked like fun!

Stinking Garlic Festival

On a fine November Sunday, we headed to Watershed Farm in Baker Settlement for the 1st Annual Stinking Rose Garlic Festival. A group of garlic enthusiasts assembled in the beautiful blue-roofed barn to hear about garlic varieties and cultivation and to prepare baskets of fine bulbs for planting

Against a stunning sky, a willing group hoed and planted.

Muddy footwear was abandoned at the door as we enjoyed our reward – a delicious, garlic-laced lunch.

One of my favourite things was watching these little girls experience the pleasures of mud.

Another day to say how lucky we are to live on Nova Scotia's South Shore!

Gros Morne

From the Change Islands, we were off to Gros Morne. We'd heard repeatedly about the glories of this part of Newfoundland, and we weren't to be disappointed!

The "big, isolated hill" which gives its name to the area looms over Rocky Harbour, the bustling coastal town which was our base for the week.

Gros Morne is also the name of the outstanding national park that encompasses 1800 square kilometres of such scenic beauty and geological complexity that it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. The park offers a wide range of interpretive experiences that really should not be missed. Weather permitting.

Our first attempt was an investigation of life in a tide pool. Sixty-kilometre winds had whipped up lashing waves and the platform we were to have explored was lost below angry waters.

The interpreter made a valiant attempt to give us the introductory talk at the water's edge.

Our second session was on the geology of Green Point a day later. Note the interpreter's dress and be reminded that this is an August day. (She had also been wearing a jacket but had generously loaned it to an underdressed participant.) This delightful young woman began her talk by explaining that if we were a group of geologists, she would have to be urging us to calm down since Green Point marks the division between the Cambrian and Ordovician periods and is considered one of geology's Top Ten.

In this photo, she is using sponges to represent the layers of shale and limestone that were upturned a bezillion years ago. (I stand to be corrected on that number.) An explanation right at my level of understanding!

Who knew that rocks could be so interesting? Ah. . .the geologist, represented here along with a scientist from another discipline.

These wonderful characters are housed in the Visitors Centre in Woody Point. This place has to be one of the best uses of taxpayers' money ever.

The centre also has a fine art gallery which included this painting of the tablelands. Below is my photograph of the same area. The painting is closer to reality - at least when the sun shines.

10 seagulls sitting on a roof. One flew away and then there were 9. Hey, I think I've got the makings of a kids' book here!

 Norris Point photo ops.

Drive-In Gospel Service. Definitely a first for me. (Parked in Rocky Harbour.)

Change Islands

Newfoundland's Change Islands are located about 100 km north of Gander, on a line drawn roughly east from the better-known Twillingate, and are reached by a 20-minute ferry ride from Farewell. The islands have an interesting history tied to fishing but, like so many other beautiful but isolated communities, the Change Islands have increasingly-fewer year-round inhabitants. Houses are passing into the hands of come-from-aways who appreciate the character of the islands just as they are changing it.
We were fortunate to stay with Edith B., a genuine islander, who gave us much insight into the local life and history.

Edith's house, where six kids were raised under six-foot ceilings.

Four workshop participants shared the house with Edith for a week. We were a bit unnerved by the sign posted in the shared bathroom.

But dodgy plumbing was no match for the joys of the islands.

Like the views from Edith's front windows. . .

. . . the blueberries that were underfoot almost everywhere we walked. . .

. . . the groaning boards prepared by wonderful Edith three times a day. . .

. . . the photo ops at every turn.

(This is a root cellar. Several are still in use on the island, bomb shelter-like structures, insulated with precious island soil.)

Thanks to professional photographer Andrew Danson for giving a few enthusiastic amateurs a chance to shoot the lights out.

Beginning the story

Inspired by Sara H.'s wonderful blog, I'm going to try my hand at sharing some thoughts and photos, mostly for family and friends.

In August I attended a 5-day photography workshop on the Change Islands, Newfoundland, allowing me to finally bond with my Canon S5 IS. (This workshop will be repeated next summer and possibly this winter. For more information:  http://www.cicaworkshops.com/workshops.html)

The camera bonding began on the Sydney to Port Aux Basques ferry. The shapes and shadows onboard seemed to lend themselves to black and white photography.

It was also fun to play with the colour settings on the Canon.

About 6 hours from the mainland,

our first distant sighting of Newfoundland.

And a closer look at the rugged coastline at Port Aux Basques.