The Viking Run, Day 17 - St. John's, Newfoundland

 

Welcome to Newfoundland

It's kind of hard to believe I'm actually here. Newfoundland is like another planet. It looks so unlike anywhere else. Rocks, lakes, rivers, ocean all coming together and the views are expansive. 

Immediately after getting off the ferry in Argentia I stopped for some fuel and decided to try a scenic route to St. John's versus straight up the highway. About thirty minutes down the road the blacktop gave way and I would find myself on gravel, loose gravel, for about twenty miles, only seeing two other vehicles the whole time. It was third gear at best but not often. About fifteen miles in the road narrowed to a one lane bridge spanning two small waterfalls. Another five miles and I was back on tarmac. A twisty, hilly, freshly paved two lane that I would have all to myself for the next twenty miles. It made the slow going gravel worth all the while. 

I would eventually start working my way up to St. John's. About ten miles from the city a thick fog rolled in dropping visibility to maybe fifty yards on the highway. It would only be for a few miles but I don't think I've ever seen a fog so dense. 

My first stop in S. John's was at the Toy Box, the local BMW dealer. I had called prior to leaving Florida and made arrangements for some basic service, check the chain and look over the bike. They allowed me the use of their watewr hose and some cleaning items do I gave the bike a quick wash, got all of the dirst and dust off it from the 20 miles of previous gravel. Once clean I turned the keys over and caught a cab to town and my hotel. 

I spent the day walking around town. And all the way up Signal Hill for the tremendous view of St' John and the Atlantic Ocean. It was incredibly windy up there, but it was nice after hiking up that rock pile. After a while I began the much easier walk down. It was time for lunch so I went to a recommended spot for a traditional Newfoundland meal, Touton. 

Touton (too-ton) is a bread like pancake. I had mine Newfoundland style with steak. Well...that is to say Newfoundland steak, which is actually thick cut fried bologna, baked beans, a fried egg and bacon on top. They serve it with a side of molasses. It was delicious. 

There are at least two parks I came across in town dedicated to the islands famous four legged inhabitants. The Newfoundland dog, which my grandmother loved and the Labrador Retriever. They have bronze statues of each in both parks. It was nice to see Whiskey, our Lab back home, honored in such a way.

Tomorrow morning I'll go pick up the bike and head off to Gander, most famously known for how the town of less than 10,000 people took in 38 aircraft at their small airport and housed and fed over 6600 passengers and crew when their planes were diverted there on the day of the 9/11 attacks on the WTC.