St. Anthony, Newfoundland - July 10 - 11, 2015

St. Anthony, Newfoundland - July 10 - 11, 2015

July 10, 2015



Elva, Phoebe, Bev & Mona

Today we headed to St. Anthony, Newfoundland.   The highlight of the trip came before St. Anthony, however.  We stopped in Green Island Brook, Newfoundland.  This is the home of Elva Caddy.  Her home is just two houses from the road we travelled.  We pulled up the motorhome out front and were greeted by Elva and two sisters-in-law, Mona and Phoebe. 

Elva, Phoebe, Stan & Mona

Mona couldn’t stay long, because she had an appointment, Phoebe got her car out and the four of us went on a tour of their village.  What a cool place.  We were able to see Elva’s Mom’s home, though it is vacant now but still standing. 





Phoebe, Cyril & Elva

We also got to go to the grave of Orval, Veronica’s Dad.  In the cemetery, there were many of the family buried – Phoebe’s husband (Elva’s Brother) was there too.  There were flowers on all of the graves as there is going to be a ceremony on Sunday.  Elva’s cousin, Cyril Hughes, was there maintaining the cemetery.  It is all about family in Green Island Brook. 




 

Many of the people in Green Island Brook are older.  Elva told us that there are only two children in the town that are transported to the area school.  Once they graduate, there probably won’t be any more, since most of the children go off to University and don’t come back, but rather stay in that area to work.

In true Newfoundland tradition, Elva had a wonderful spread all prepared for us.  They had also dinner made at Mona’s, if we would have been able to stay.   Unfortunately, we needed to get to the RV Park in St. Anthony.  Bummer.  They are all such great cooks, and we didn’t get nearly enough time to visit.   Elva was going to be leaving for Deer Lake in the afternoon, as she was flying to Manitoba, to visit Mark (Veronica’s brother), Jody and the girls, then on to Washington to visit Veronica, Darin, Katie & Cameron.

We arrived at the RV Park – a little late but we were forgiven.  Here we really understand the meaning of remote.   We have NO cell service, Wifi at the office only, and that is not strong, no TV and Sirius radio is intermittent.  OH MY.  Now that we have complained - onto the good part.  The area is beautiful, and we always have plenty to do.

In the evening we went into St. Anthony for the Viking Feast.  It is a Viking Dinner Theater.  We were greeted by the Viking’s in full dress.  The Captain, Thor, was seated in his chair in the center of the sod hut where we ate.  There we dirt floors and a series of long tables for the guests that had the appetizer on it – dried fish about the size of smelt and cod tongue. 

We had a wonderful dinner buffet they included, Jiggs Dinner (a boiled dinner of vegetables – potatoes, turnip, carrots, cabbage and corned beef or a similar meat), roast beef, rice with seafood, salmon and moose stew.  Dessert was a pancake with fruit and whipped cream – don’t remember what it is called.

After dinner was finished, they held “court”.   This included Jim Lund aka Fred I bringing a case before the court against Bill Hale aka Fred II, for being the last rig out of all of the sites, because he is polishing his wheels.  Donna Hale aka Frederica was called as a witness.   The sentence for Fred II was to clean the wheels of all the other rigs on the trip.  The voting of the council “all the rest of us” was by pounding on the table to vote yes.    Fun was had by all.

 

 

July 11, 2015

This morning it is 47 degrees and windy.  Hard to believe it is mid-July.  At least it is not raining.  We can wear coats and gloves to keep warm.

Today was a day of visiting Viking Village Historic Sites.  First we went to L’Anse Aux Meadows.  There we were able to see the likeness of a Viking Settlement, including the boat the Snorry.  This is a boat that was built in 1998.  It is a replica of the one that was sailed by Leif Erickson.   They sailed for 87 days in open sea.  They used a sail as well as oars to move the boat along.  

We also got to see the replica of their living quarters and cooking facilities.  The buildings were all sod buildings. 

From there we went to lunch at the Norseman Café.  It was a nice lunch of Fish Chowder and a shrimp wrap.  We also had a berry shortcake dessert.  We have never had this many desserts.  Not complaining mind you.

After lunch we continued to the Norstead Village & Viking Port of Trade.  This included another village similar to that of L’Anse Aux Meadows.   We then were left to go on our own for the remainder of the day.  We opted to go back to St. Anthony and drive around to see the town. 

Then, we went back to the coach for some rest and relaxation.  A bit later we got a wonderful surprise.  We heard a knock at the door of the RV.  Who should be there but Mona & Phoebe Hughes (Veronica’s two aunts).  They came to bring us some homemade jam (Partridgeberry, Apple Bake, and Rhubarb) that Elva had made and had forgotten to give us.  In addition, Mona included a fresh loaf of bread.   Since Elva had flown out this morning to Mark & Jody, they brought it to us.  In turn, Elva took leftovers to Mona’s daughter in Deer Lake when she when down there.  That just shows what a wonderful family they have. 

We got to do more visiting.  It was great to get to know them better.  We sure hope they can come to the Seattle area to visit some time.  

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