
A Kitchen Party in the Dark
My first kitchen party (Ceilidh) was held in complete darkenss in a church hall at Baddeck, a small pleasant touristic town. Fiddling, Gaelic songs, ghost stories, family tales and some dancing animated the evening.

My first kitchen party (Ceilidh) was held in complete darkenss in a church hall at Baddeck, a small pleasant touristic town. Fiddling, Gaelic songs, ghost stories, family tales and some dancing animated the evening.

Taking the midnight “Marine Atlantic” to destination Newfoundland, I had a full day waiting for the “naughty, naughty rain” to stop, as the tent tumbled in a cold drier. Stopping for a hearty local dinner at the Cedar House, I got traveling tips across the tables from a fellow sola female traveller.

Gros Morne KOA Campground, Newfoundland, offered a nice, wooden, dry cabin. Despite a rainy start, I succeeded to swim in the beautiful, pristine camp lake, row a kayak over it and even circumnavigate it on the forested Moose Trail.

The Western Gros Morne Coast is rich with living traditions, fishermen folklore, rugged shores and stunning geology. Sally’s Cove is a still-operational, if forlorn, fishermen village. Broom Point has a nostalgic fishery museum. At Green Point geologists find their heaven on earth.

Woody Point offers beautiful views of the Tablelands and Bonne Bay, nice walks along the shore and up on the hill as well as superb native food at the The Old Loft restaurant.

Lobster Cove Lighthouse – life lived on the edge of sea and land, rich in tradition but also in the unexpected. A spirit of generosity and hospitality manifests in a kitchen party thrown by the park authorities. A walk around lighhouse reveals the amazing geology and ecology of the island.

The magic of Berry Head Pond at twilight captured in camera after getting some advice in photography… An easy walk and one of the most beautiful sites in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland.

The Tablelands, Gros Morne – where Earth’s mantle is exposed. Primeval ,lunar landscapes. Plants accumulate toxic metals, mighty trees turn to crawling bushes, predatory plants get nutrients from insects. A highly recommended tour plus independent strolling.

Trout River, Newfoundland. A small quaint town perched between two rivers, a mountain and the sea… What else do we need? A hearty sea foodie meal at the “Seaside Restaurant”, plenty seagulls and geese.

Green Gardens, Newfoundland. Get prepared for a serious up and down, but also for a rewarding experience. Huge steps lead down to mighty cliffs. There is also the option of a longer loop trail continuing along the coast.

Newfoundland folk music at its best: Jim Paine and Fergus O’Byrne singing of sea, land and love, playing a plethora of instruments. Another serendipitious event on my trip: hearing the soulful sailor song on the radio, I detoured my car to this local show at Woody Point. A highlight of my NL visit!

Codroy Estuary Nature Reserve – Leaving Newfoundland in the rain, I stopped en route at this fabulous riparian bird conservacy. I gave the Atlantic a farewell visit and dried my tent in a gazebu downtown Port Aux Bosques, as I was waiting for the Marine Atlantic.

Ingonish National Park and Cape Breton were so marvellous I did not have time to mourn leaving Newfoundland. The highlight was the empowering night walk, “Seeing in the Dark”, where we sharpened hidden survival capacities. There is also a wonderful double beach – lake plus ocean right by the campground.

“The End of Land”, “The Remarkable Place”, as its original indigenous name means, was, indeed, remarkable in its beauty. Middle Head Peninsula was bought for $600 by Henry Corson to nurse his ailing wife to health. Cormorants, Indian Pipe, ducks, whales and sturdy tough vegetation confront the harsh weather. An easy rewarding loop walk.

Choosing not to challenge the coyotes on the coastal road, I drove up Cape Breton’s East Coast – watched the seagulls fly against the picturesque lighthouse at Neil’s Harbor, saw the stunning rocks at Green Point (keeping in mind the rouge waves!!!), and closed the day over drink and music at the Atlantic Restaurant by the Keltic Lodge.

My first kitchen party (Ceilidh) was held in complete darkenss in a church hall at Baddeck, a small pleasant touristic town. Fiddling, Gaelic songs, ghost stories, family tales and some dancing animated the evening.

Taking the midnight “Marine Atlantic” to destination Newfoundland, I had a full day waiting for the “naughty, naughty rain” to stop, as the tent tumbled in a cold drier. Stopping for a hearty local dinner at the Cedar House, I got traveling tips across the tables from a fellow sola female traveller.

Gros Morne KOA Campground, Newfoundland, offered a nice, wooden, dry cabin. Despite a rainy start, I succeeded to swim in the beautiful, pristine camp lake, row a kayak over it and even circumnavigate it on the forested Moose Trail.

The Western Gros Morne Coast is rich with living traditions, fishermen folklore, rugged shores and stunning geology. Sally’s Cove is a still-operational, if forlorn, fishermen village. Broom Point has a nostalgic fishery museum. At Green Point geologists find their heaven on earth.

Woody Point offers beautiful views of the Tablelands and Bonne Bay, nice walks along the shore and up on the hill as well as superb native food at the The Old Loft restaurant.

Lobster Cove Lighthouse – life lived on the edge of sea and land, rich in tradition but also in the unexpected. A spirit of generosity and hospitality manifests in a kitchen party thrown by the park authorities. A walk around lighhouse reveals the amazing geology and ecology of the island.

The magic of Berry Head Pond at twilight captured in camera after getting some advice in photography… An easy walk and one of the most beautiful sites in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland.

The Tablelands, Gros Morne – where Earth’s mantle is exposed. Primeval ,lunar landscapes. Plants accumulate toxic metals, mighty trees turn to crawling bushes, predatory plants get nutrients from insects. A highly recommended tour plus independent strolling.

Trout River, Newfoundland. A small quaint town perched between two rivers, a mountain and the sea… What else do we need? A hearty sea foodie meal at the “Seaside Restaurant”, plenty seagulls and geese.

Green Gardens, Newfoundland. Get prepared for a serious up and down, but also for a rewarding experience. Huge steps lead down to mighty cliffs. There is also the option of a longer loop trail continuing along the coast.

Newfoundland folk music at its best: Jim Paine and Fergus O’Byrne singing of sea, land and love, playing a plethora of instruments. Another serendipitious event on my trip: hearing the soulful sailor song on the radio, I detoured my car to this local show at Woody Point. A highlight of my NL visit!

Codroy Estuary Nature Reserve – Leaving Newfoundland in the rain, I stopped en route at this fabulous riparian bird conservacy. I gave the Atlantic a farewell visit and dried my tent in a gazebu downtown Port Aux Bosques, as I was waiting for the Marine Atlantic.

Ingonish National Park and Cape Breton were so marvellous I did not have time to mourn leaving Newfoundland. The highlight was the empowering night walk, “Seeing in the Dark”, where we sharpened hidden survival capacities. There is also a wonderful double beach – lake plus ocean right by the campground.

“The End of Land”, “The Remarkable Place”, as its original indigenous name means, was, indeed, remarkable in its beauty. Middle Head Peninsula was bought for $600 by Henry Corson to nurse his ailing wife to health. Cormorants, Indian Pipe, ducks, whales and sturdy tough vegetation confront the harsh weather. An easy rewarding loop walk.

Choosing not to challenge the coyotes on the coastal road, I drove up Cape Breton’s East Coast – watched the seagulls fly against the picturesque lighthouse at Neil’s Harbor, saw the stunning rocks at Green Point (keeping in mind the rouge waves!!!), and closed the day over drink and music at the Atlantic Restaurant by the Keltic Lodge.