Check-out this morning from the Sheraton St. John’s… it turned out to be a great location for us and we made great use of the space. Absolutely loved the views! We navigated out the north end of the city and were moving down the highway westward, leaving the cityscape in the rear view mirror. We opted to make some distance, then head for the coast taking rural roads and checking out some of the many communities along the way!
While we’re on the road we often get caught up on the latest in HGTV programming… it’s our “guilty pleasure” I guess! It just so happens that NFLD has a show, Rock Solid Builds, that’s filmed in the town of Brigus, just an hour outside the city. It was our first stop of the day. The trip in was classic NFLD, although the community itself looks as though it may have been pulled out of coastal Maine. We had a peaceful drive about town, not a thing open at 9:00 AM 😂. We did, however, manage a photo bomb at the show’s Woodshop just outside Brigus. Beautiful country!
Coffee, bathroom, and a google search led us to our next stop, the Madrock Cafe out past Bay Roberts. This tiny shop touted some of the best “toutons” in NFLD! Decorated like “Nanny’s Kitchen” we arrived to a full house on a rainy Tuesday morning, but only had to wait 5 minutes or so for a table. We had one of the specials which we split (a lot of food) that included fish cakes, baked beans, toutons and coffee! Down home food, friendly service and a visiting your neighbour atmosphere! Nice pick Ms Lumsden!
Trip Lexicon: Toutons; Pronunced like “pout-ins” (also known as flacoon, bangbelly and damper devil), a deep-fried puck of leavened dough
With Rainfall Warnings ⚠️ in effect, we made our way back to the TransCanada toward our next activity, a potential hike 🥾 in Terra Nova National Park. By the time we hit the turn-off for Ochre Hill Trail we were on dry pavement, having driven through what would be the bulk of rain for the day. This trail, estimated at 5kms and rated as moderate, was a real surprise. Love National Park trails…marked clearly, well maintained and usually with interesting interpretative information. This sneaky little trail skirts a low, flat area that surrounds a “pond”, winds through several marshland / bog areas, then “💥” you’re standing at a huge look-off where you can see for days. Really an easy walk that we were glad to have completed.
Good highways through to Gander where we wasted no time getting out and about! First stop, curiously, Gander International Airport. Holy history here… exponential growth of an empty field to one of the busiest during WWII, celebrity visits by some of the greatest (Ali, Castro, Sinatra), Cold War Era espionage & defections and, of course, we’re talking the story of Come From Away and 9/11! Presented with 50’s design sense, the space was forever interesting in all corners… Along the way I sort of forgot it was not a museum but a working airport! Great Janie find!
To piggyback the aviation theme, our next (and last) visit for the day was the North Atlantic Aviation Museum. Gotta admit, the authentic “Canso Waterbomber” was the deepest hook! Another history filled space that delves into the impact flight has had in the Gander area, and the role this community has played in its development. Artefacts, informative displays, simulators, even apparel are found in the exhibits. Cheeky little “hangar” to take some time and learn how a community’s location and destiny wrapped around events that changed the world. This was on my list in 2013… landed 🛬 it this time around.
Check-in, supper, and an evening walk rounded out the last hours of Day 5… a turn around day as when we gently make our way home.