The Kindness of New Friends

Sorry it's been a while. It's been harder to get internet connection than we were anticipating. We've heard so much about the beauty of Newfoundland and the amazing hospitality and friendliness. It hasn't been exaggerated.

We've been rendered speechless by the beauty here ~ sheer cliffs falling right to the water's edge, lighthouses holding onto the cliffside by their paint chips, fog laying over the land like a lover's caress. The warmth of the Newfoundland people hasn't been exaggerated either! We've been given filleted mackerel by the fisherman on the docks at Port-Aux-Basques, fielded curious questions from a group of youngsters at Codroy who greeted us as we tied up, been given keys to cars in Corner Brook and told to do what we needed to do. I'm currently sitting in a new friends house in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. Gavin and Val of Waterdog have kindly lent us their internet connection and car and they're not the first do so. Many thanks also to Marina & Norris of Prijon for just dropping off their van for us to use for grocery runs. Both couples are cruisers who were treated kindly in the States. It's a pay it forward system. So if you're cruising through the Chesapeake, let us know and we'll do our bit to pay it forward.

Not much time as we're heading out today. Aiming for Woods Island tonight. It's the site of one of the outport communities that has been relocated. Home to around 1100 people at the turn of the century it now has great hiking trails and interesting places to explore and a very secure anchorage. Then we're on to Bonne Bay and Gros Morne for more hiking.

One of the quests on this trip was to figure out the proper pronunciation. Newfoundland rhymes with understand - New fund LAND.

Will write more when we get a connection. Fair winds!