Monday - August 20, 2007

Today is our granddaughter Cara’s birthday - happy birthday sweetie.

We woke up to rain this morning, and not just a drizzle but a real down pouring which didn’t want to stop. About 10 we decided it was too wet and miserable to try to hook up and move so went and paid for another day and then about noon it started to clear off – figures!
We went back to Durrell and did the museum there which was very interesting. There was a polar bear that wandered into town in 2002 and the RCMP ended up having to shoot it so it is now stuffed and on display in the museum, what a magnificent animal. They had a really interesting video on polar bears that we enjoyed and learned quite a bit about them. The museum is the old armory building and is situated on top of the highest hill in the area, what a wonderful view there was, we wonder if the people who live here appreciate the scenery. We then stopped at the library and thought for a change we would go inside to use the internet, oops, today they are closed so back to the truck to do the e-mail and the blog.

We then drove to Kettle Harbour, came back and got a few groceries then drove out to Long Point Lighthouse, we were hoping to see whales or dolphins but no such luck. Today was still quite windy and cool, the temperature didn’t get over 12 so it was very cool out at the lighthouse, even with my jacket on I was cold.

Once we decided to stay here for the day I put some chilli in the slow cooker so when we got home I just had to do some garlic bread and dinner was ready. After dinner we walked down to the harbour, but with a T-shirt, a sweatshirt and my jacket I was still cold, sure do hope it warms up again!!

A few more observations:

- there are obviously no animal control by-laws – there are dogs wandering all over the place, including the roads – I imagine the road kill here must be something else!!

- the aluminum siding and windows people must be rolling in money, it is amazing how many houses have been redone and they look so good – obviously a good business to be in

- a lot of the houses have very colourful window and door trim as well as the railings on verandas and patios – very pretty

- most of the net lofts are painted ochre so they really stand out

- every single town, village or settlement has a post office – they may not have anything else in the way of amenities but they have a post office

- people stop on the road wherever they feel like to get out and pick berries etc., and because there is very little shoulder on the side of the road the cars are stopped mainly on the road, and heaven forbid they use their hazard signals, makes for interesting driving!!

- try to buy a Newfie brand beer in Newfoundland – the main beers in the stores are Molsons’s and Coors

We are now hoping for a decent day tomorrow, or at least for it to be dry in the morning so John can get us hooked up without getting soaked.