It’s a sunny day so we decide to explore the southern part of Burin Peninsular. We head south and stop in Grand Bank. Here The Rooms Museum based in St. John’s has a museum dedicated to the seamen of Newfoundland. We arrive mid-morning and find the museum does not open until 12:30 on Sundays. Oh well, we continue to the next town, Fortune where one can take a ferry to France. Not to mainland France rather two islands off the coast of Newfoundland, St.-Pierre and Great Miquelon. We do not have our passports so we are unable to travel there. We are in Canada using our Enhanced NY Driver’s Licenses. If we are unable to travel to France we will gaze at it out in the distance. We travel a bit further to Point May but the fog has rolled in and there is no way we are going to see France.
Along the coast we see Northern Gannets feeding just offshore. Wells breaks out his camera with a 600 mm lens and attempts to photograph them diving. Some background information here. On Wells’ Bucket List is to photograph a Northern Gannet in full dive with the bird’s bill just touching the water. Northern Gannets hunt from about 300 feet above the water. When they spot prey they start their vertical dive. At the start the bird extends it’s wings and as it approaches the water it tucks the wings more and more until just above the water they are a vertical arrow heading straight down. They enter the water bill first. The action is a sight to be seen. Photographing this action is difficult. It’s hard tracking these flying birds keeping them in focus. If they are close it’s even tougher. Wells captures three different dives but they are somewhat distant. It’s not a full bucket list capture it is more like a small pail list. No matter what Wells is thrilled.
The fog thickens as we continue counter-clockwise around the peninsular reaching the town of St. Lawrence. In 1942 the people of St. Lawrence saved over 100 lives of US Navy Sailors from two wrecked destroyers near the town. More than 200 lives were lost yet the town members saved many lives. After exploring the town we retrace our steps back to Grand Bank. The fog thickens even more and the views we enjoyed an hour earlier are no longer there. It’s thick fog soup.
We stop for lunch at a small restaurant in Grand Bank. It’s 2 in the afternoon and the place is empty. Should we stay? Why not! Shortly another couple from the west coast of Newfoundland near Stephenville come in, Pam and Harry. We have a nice conversation. As for the meal Wells finally finds Cod Tongues. Cod Tongues are often found on the menu but we always find that they are out of them. This place has Cod Tongues so Wells orders it and gets to enjoy them. Cod Tongues are hard to cook properly. If overcooked they are chewy almost like calamari. The ones cooked properly have more of a consistently of oysters. Wells loves them!
After lunch in Grand Bank we head to the museum which we absolutely enjoy. Afterwards we head back to the campground where we relax then grill some fresh fish. Fish? Good question. Yesterday, we found a man selling seafood out of the back of his truck. He told us he had “fillets.” What is that? We ask. He replied “Fish.” When pressed he explained it was Cod. While exploring the museum it explained that “Cod” is simply referred to as “Fish” so it is now clear.
Seeing North America 