Mister and Lady: The Big Adventure Still Going - Sea Day ? and Port 3

We've hit the 10th of the month and have another sea day ahead. Out towel art for today is:

In other excitement -- a whale cruises by.

And that's it for most of the day. I did work on my embroidery for a bit and Kelly and Shonie also worked on things, but . . . the day is a day at sea. What can I say? Mister and I went to the back of the VERY long line to get tender tickets for tomorrow and we had the nicest thing happen. A lady from the front of the line came back and gifted us two tickets with higher numbers. Such a kind thing. A second good thing for today is that it is the Captain's Gala tonight - so a cocktail party to get things started. It's our throw-back day, so things are being done as if it was 1987. Where was I that year? Oh, right - raising kids like a crazy woman. I had all five by then and the ages were 2-11. Yep, just doing Mom stuff. Music tonight is by Alter Idem.

Captain Mark - braving us all and trying to make us smile. It's tough, for sure.

The senior staff.

Since we're dressed nice - it's a second attempt at a picture and tonight we manage to get one I can live with. Mister looks amazing and that makes it all worth it to me.

Here is tonight's wonderful menu. I remember these days! It wasn't just 1987 -- this menu was pretty much how it began with me in 1997 - 10 years later. My next cruise, I will go to the Platinum level. Gotta get one booked.

Of course, the shrimp and lobster take center stage for me.

The parade of baked Alaska --- Mister has his pick already. Such a fun joke between us.

And that's it for today --- I attempted to go to the second Chuck Wagner show, but walked out and went to the casino instead. I'm up a few bucks and trying to get my time in so that I can get offers.

11th - Good Morning! We are tendering in St. Anthony today and our approximate time is 9:30. We have some time to kill so I get the laundry gathered and go run two very expensive loads.

Land ho - see that lighthouse? We read about it and it was supposed to be an easy walk. Now, I'm not so sure.

Back from the laundry and I'm in a robe that I took with me. Yep, even my jammies went into the machine. Why not? I'm trying so hard to watch the dropping of the lifeboats. For the first time, I'll be in a lifeboat as they are our tenders.

It's fun to watch --- they drop them down with a lot of yelling in Italian? Not sure, but funny to listen to. Then they zoom off. My understanding is that they are dropping 4 of them - two from each side.

Glorious, right?

While I go down to switch out laundry, Mister goes up on deck to watch the other side.

For some reason - the fog starts to move in again and now we can't even see the lighthouse.

Mister is wandering.

See where the fog ends? Crazy, right?

Breakfast happens and then down to the atrium to wait for our number to be called. It's early than expected and we are on the tender a little after 9.

The second tender spot -

Nope, don't know these people, but trying to show the inside of the life boat. It holds 120 people. I can't even imagine how miserable that would be -- obviously, better than sinking, but still miserable.

As I'm taking pictures, another tender pulls in --- it is soooooo close to us.

And - away we go.

Our trip in is quite a distance, making the lighthouse even further away. Huh.

Passing a tender on the way back to get more passengers. The whole process went super smooth - gotta say.

We are officially in St. Anthony.

Mister catches me coming back from taking the picture above.

Coal silos that were used to store the coal for the Grenfell (there's that word again) Mission. They once had a tram and tracks that could be used to deliver the coal for use at the hospital and the Grenfell House. Also - a Canadian Mountie.

The Grenfell Center --- okay, it's time to share my research. Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell KCMG (28 February 1865 – 9 October 1940) was a British medical missionary to Newfoundland, who wrote books on his work and other topics. He was born at Parkgate, Cheshire, England, on 28 February 1865, the Son of Rev. Algernon Sidney Grenfell, headmaster of Mostyn House School, and Jane Georgiana Hutchison. Grenfell moved to London in 1882. He then commenced the study of medicine at the London Hospital Medical College (now part of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry) under the tutelage of Sir Frederick Treves. He graduated in 1888. Why is this important --- well -- keep reading.

The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fisherman sent Grenfell to Newfoundland in 1892 to improve the plight of coastal inhabitants and fishermen. That mission began in earnest in 1892 when he recruited two nurses and two doctors for hospitals at Indian Harbour, Labrador and later opened cottage hospitals along the coast of Labrador. The mission expanded greatly from its initial mandate to one of developing schools, an orphanage, cooperatives, industrial work projects, and social work. Although founded to serve the local area, the mission developed to include the aboriginal peoples and settlers along the coasts of Labrador and the eastern side of the Great Northern Peninsula of western Newfoundland. One of the children Grenfell assisted was an Inuit girl, Kirkina, for whom he helped secure artificial limbs and later the Grenfell Mission educated her in nursing and midwifery.

In 1907, Grenfell imported a group of 300 reindeer from Norway to provide food and serve as draft animals in Newfoundland. Unbeknownst to him, some of the animals carried a parasitic roundworm that then spread to native caribou herds. The reindeer herd eventually disappeared; however, the parasite took hold and causes CSE in caribou, a disease well known in reindeer in Scandinavia.

In 1908, Grenfell was on his way with his dogs to a Newfoundland village for a medical emergency when he got caught in "slob", from which he managed to get onto an ice-pan with the dogs. He was forced to sacrifice some of his dogs to make a warm, fur coat for himself. After drifting for several days without food or fresh water, he was rescued by some villagers in the area. Because of this experience he buried the dogs and put up a plaque saying, "Who gave their lives for me."

By 1914 the mission had gained international status. In order to manage its property and affairs, the International Grenfell Association, a non-profit mission society, was founded to support Grenfell's work. The Association operated until 1981, as an NGO. It had responsibility for delivery of healthcare and social services in northern Newfoundland and Labrador. After 1981 a governmental agency, The Grenfell Regional Health Services Board took over the operational responsibility. The International Grenfell Association, having divested itself of all properties and operational responsibility for health and social services, boarding schools and hospitals then became a supporting association making grants and funding scholarships for medical training.

For his years of service on behalf of the people of these communities he was later knighted by the King in 1927. He married Anne Elizabeth Caldwell MacClanahan (died 1938) of Chicago, Illinois, in 1909. They had three children and retired to Vermont after his work in Newfoundland. They were married in 1909 and came to live in the Grenfell House (which they designed together) in St. Anthony, Newfoundland. Anne gave Dr. Grenfell's life comfort and refinement. She became totally involved in his work. She organized his fundraising tours and lectures, edited his books and helped secure scholarships for the children of the area to continue their education. Although Anne was ill towards the end of her life, she kept her pain hidden from her husband and took care of him until she died in 1938. Grenfell died at Kinloch House in Charlotte, Vermont on 9 October 1940. His ashes were brought to St Anthony, where they were placed inside a rock face overlooking the harbour. The hospital here serves as a medical corridor for the area and people come from a long ways to be here.

Okay - now you are up to speed along with me. We walked into town, passing a coffee shop that hadn't opened yet, discovered nothing there really (except the price of gas - remember, this is a liter and that is a little over a quarter of a gallon - do the math and feel lucky) so turned around and went back towards the coffee shop.

When we arrive, Rebel Coffeehouse has opened and we meet Colleen, the owner. She is wearing a yellow sweatshirt and it is the first one I've seen that I would buy. Into the store I go, but they only have them in black and I love the yellow. Drat. The shirt says "SNATNEE", which is how St. Anthony is pronounced by those who live here. She is a wealth of information and is telling us all about the area and the history. Did you know polar bears come through town? Goodness. At any rate, through our discussion, she mentions that she knows a few locals who come down now and then to drive visitors around the town. OMG - she just spoke music to my soul. We rapidly agree and she makes a call. Another couple listened in and jumped on our bandwagon so there will be four in the car. Colleen's sister-in-law, Ruby, arrives and she is a pure delight as well. Some good coffee in our hands and we are soon on our way.

Mister takes the front seat and I'm by the window in the back. It's warm so I put the window down and take pictures rapid fire as we drive. I don't know much about some of these, but they are still cool.

This is fabulous. She gives us a tour of the whole city - both sides of the bay.

Fishing and lobster/crabs is a big part of their industry here.

Check out the crab pots.

We stop at the top of the town to look over and see what is to the west. It's beautiful.

Mister catches us waiting - this is the only "kinda" picture we have of Ruby. What a horrid mistake on our part.

The Grenfell House I mentioned above. Next trip we are going to check out all of this information better ---yes, there will be a next trip. We have always wanted to explore this area and now we want to even more. This house was built by local workmen in 1910 to the design of Dr. Wilfred Grenfell and his fiancée Anne MacClanahan and served first as their residence and later as a staff house and dormitory for the International Grenfell Association. In 1912 minor changes were made to the interior by Mrs. Grenfell.

Never know what you might see in a yard.

We are now driving out to the lighthouse and we pass something we had read about online. Those stairs lead up to what we are told is a magnificent view. Something to think about.

We are at Fishing Point Municipal Park. Time for some wandering and pictures.

In this area humpbacks and small whales called minkes are often see feeding off the shore.

LOVE this picture - in two perspectives.

What does he see? His pictures have the white balance off --- sorry to say, but . . .I'll share anyway.

Now, I'm off to see the lighthouse he captured here.

Ahhhhh - so cute. This is Fox Point Lighthouse (Fishing Point). In 1912, a light was established at the south entrance of St. Anthony Harbour, replacing the original harbour light placed there in 1906. The white occulting light was installed in a cast-iron light tower. It exhibited 67 feet above sea level and was visible for 10 miles. A fog alarm was installed at the site in 1936, housed in a flat-roofed, wooden building. The light tower and the fog alarm building were painted with red and white vertical stripes. W. Patey was the first keeper. Joseph Boyd was keeper in 1938. In 1952 a new fog alarm was installed, and in 1955 provision was made for a new landing, storehouse, and outdoor toilet. A bungalow was constructed in the same year. Because the lighthouse was only a 20-minute walk from St. Anthony (I think they are crazy with that), the keepers' children were able to attend school and the families could participate in social functions in the town. In 1960 the iron tower was replaced with a combines light tower and fog alarm building, a new aluminum lantern was installed, and the acetylene gas light was converted to station-generated electricity. A second dwelling was constructed in the early 1960s. The lightkeepers at the time were W. and B.S. Pynn. Commercial power was brought to the station in 1970. The site was de-staffed in July 1992, but was re-staffed in July 2002.

This area is the Iceberg Alley Trail ---- it follows along the tip of St. Anthony's Fishing Point Park (Atlantic Ocean), and is an excellent place to view icebergs. I'm so sad that we are off by a few weeks of seeing that. The pristine waters of St. Anthony are famous for their bounty of icebergs that have originated from glaciers off West Greenland and only appear in Newfoundland after two years of travel carried south by the Labrador Current. They are most abundant from April to July.

More on the icebergs (some is redundant, but still good) - they come, but don't stay long, and many of them die here. Ninety percent of the icebergs that reach this shore began their journey more than a year ago, calving off one of Greenland's iceberg-producing glaciers. They flow slowly down the cold Labrador Current and along the coast of Newfoundland. This route is called Iceberg Alley for good reason, as many of them get trapped in the bays, coves and bights along the way. Many of the icebergs run aground and melt. The freshwater that flows into the ocean as an iceberg melts is some of the purest water in the world, and froze over 15,000 years ago. Icebergs look serene, but fisherman give them a wide berth. They can roll and split without warning, flooding a boat within seconds and tipping its crew into the icy waters. Icebergs also wreck havoc with fishing nets and buoys, to say nothing of oilrigs. When icebergs approach the oil drilling operations off Newfoundland, they are lassoed and towed safely out of range. I'd love to watch that sometime and now we have our dates for when to return.

Now, a quick trip to the other side to see what's there. The car is about ready to go so I'm a moving unit.

Mister catches me on the move.

I can see that hike a bit better from here too. Shall we?

Time to go --- people are waiting.

Next up is a stop at a souvenir shop. This is not my usual way to travel, but, I was outvoted. I do, however, need to use the restroom and so am happy for that opportunity. In the women's room:

Definite food for thought.

There is also a small museum in this shop so I take a peek around. Ooooooh, a sewing machine.

Tons more information on icebergs.

And a Polar Bear. Hmmmm. The male polar bear on display came from Hopedale, Labrador. It was approximately seven hundred pounds and about four years old. Polar bears are common on the coast of Labrador and St. Anthony area during April and May. They arrive from Labrador to St. Anthony by swimming and using the pack ice to travel. This is approximately 25 miles. Sometimes they climb on the ice further up the Labrador coast and then they could travel over a hundred miles on the pack ice. If the ice is no longer present when they decide to go back they will swim the complete distance back to the Labrador coast and then travel back up to Northern Labrador. During this time of year they are following the Harp seal migration which provides an abundant food source. Polar bears have come ashore on Fishing Point on several occasions and have been spotted killing seals nearby. They have on occasion strolled through town. When it appears they are staying too long and may pose a danger to local residents, wildlife officials will use a combination of methods to scare them away or tranquilize them so that they can be transported via helicopter to the ice fields or nearby islands to be released.

Lots more info -

The view from the back porch of the shop.

Mister has located some jewelry inside that I might be interested in. Let's check it out.

It is Jordan's Labradorite and is Newfoundland's and Labrador's Official Provincial Mineral. Labradorite is mined in Labrador, as well as a few other places around the world. It was first named by Moravian missionaries when they discovered it after moving to Northern Labrador in the mid 1700s. According to ancient Inuit legend the Northern Lights were trapped in the rocks along the Labrador coast. It is told that a wandering Inuit warrior found them and was able to free most of them with a mighty blow of his spear. Some of the lights are still trapped in the stone, so thus today we have the beautiful mineral known as Labradorite.

There are many legends about the stone: 1) Labradorite strengthens and stimulates psychic abilities 2) The mineral helps to remove negativity from people 3) It provides relief from stress in all of its many forms 4) It is used to stimulate the imagination and develop new ideas. Wear this stone when you are feeling down, anxious or have low energy. It is useful for those with arthritic disorders. Wear to bed or put it under your pillow and have nice dreams. Why not? Some definitely came home with me.

As we leave the shop, Mister settles up with Ruby and we ask to be dropped at the stairs. Yep, we're gonna do it. She looks at us and says, "Really?" Since our mind is made up, she drops us and says she'll be back in 1 1/2 hours to pick us up. This lady is really a true gem.

So, here we go. This is called Daredevil Trail for those who think that is important. The elevation we will climb is 550 feet in 476 steps. Breathe deep, Lady --- you've got this.

Just come along --- enjoy with me.

Check out the bark on this tree. Yes, I'm stopping to catch my breath now and then.

Mister is following my progress as well. Of course, he's ahead.

Step 100. Is that all? Also, a peek back at the ship.

Ooooooh - no, I'm not to the top. Down there by the cemetery is the parking lot we were dropped in and have to get back to.

Keeping watch.

Not as far to go -- step 400 has been achieved.

Goodness, we're getting up there.

The last passageway.

I DID IT!!! Not too shabby for 65.

Hey Mister - take a picture with me. This is the top of Fishing Point Head.

Now, take those pictures we came up here to get.

This is the cove I checked out earlier while at the lighthouse.

See the lighthouse down there?

As I'm checking out the pole, someone comes from another direction and encourages me to walk another 3 minutes for views of the whole harbor and town.

Oh my ----- WORTH IT ALL

It took us about 20 minutes to climb up and we spend about another 20 minutes enjoying the view, but the descent needs to start so that we don't keep Ruby waiting. Down is faster, but harder on the knees and ankles.

Yep - we were up there. Love that Mister is game for these adventures.

Ruby picks us up -- has cold water for us and starts back into town.

She drops us at the pub, as requested and we say our good-byes. What an amazing woman. Now, for a well-deserved beer. When we arrive at Ragna Rock Brewery, the line out the door is crazy long and I don't understand. Finally, I go inside and spot Colleen, who tells me to just come in and go to the other side of the bar. Done.

Wonderful music is being played and we find a couple of seats.

Yellow sweatshirt --- that is Colleen.

Tablemate, Linda, gets up to work the stick while they play and I grab a pic or two for them.

Kelly and Shonie arrive and we find spots for them to join us. Our little party is just beginning.

We make it to the same table and Ruby stops by --- I hook her up with Linda and her husband, Doug, and they are off on a grand tour of the town. They still have a couple of hours before we have to board the ship and we are literally steps away from the tenders.

Somehow, Shonie makes a deal to play the stick in exchange for the yellow sweatshirt. OMG!

So much crazy fun. Time to dance.

Before we have to leave -- time with the musicians. They were soooooo good.

They are telling us all about the town and the heritage. I SOOOOO want to come back here.

That's it --- time to go, but there is a line and who wants to stand in lines when we can shop a bit. Into the Grenfell Center for a looksee ----- oooh quilts -

And fabric.

Kelly and I hunt for a bit and see someone in the back with puffins fabric. Two more cuts please.

My treasure - next time --- whales, icebergs, polar bears and puffins are on the agenda.

Fun on the way to the tender. Looking good Shonie.

This day has been the BEST!!! I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend time in a port. Onto the tenders we go.

And just like that --- back on deck and watching them finish up with tenders.

Soon, all lifeboats are re-loaded and we are on our way once again.

Oh my - the beauty of nature today has been tops. Perfect end. Enjoy this stream of beauty.

Back in the room --- today's fun.

After some food, I go to the last production number - Epic Rock. This was the BEST of the three and fitting for the BEST day of the trip. One happy girl tonight.