Travelling Shells
Posted: March 8, 2014 Filed under: Animal Life, Books, Water | Tags: Atlantic Ocean, beach, Caribbean, coast, collection, coral, New Jersey, ocean, seashells, shell, shells Leave a commentWhen I was a child, I loved collecting seashells along the New Jersey coast. I’d walk the beach, small bucket in hand, and find tiny rainbow coloured clam shells, the occasional little conch, scallop and mussel shells. There was also a round snail-like shell whose name I forget. I had a book, written in 1955, that I’ve kept to this day. I read it many times, pouring over the line drawings and photos.
This love of shells has remained with me throughout my life. They’ve travelled with me to the various apartments I’ve lived in. The majority of shells and bits of coral in the glass jar in this post are ones I found on beaches in the Caribbean during the 1970s and early ’80s when I used to visit relatives there. There’s also the odd shell from other wanderings plus 4 or 5 interspersed that I bought in the ’70s while travelling in Florida.
Further
Posted: January 19, 2014 Filed under: Newfoundland, Water | Tags: Atlantic Ocean, Canada, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, East Coast Trail, fisheries and oceans, libraries, library closures, Newfoundland, ocean, science librarian Leave a commentIn an earlier post I spoke about my concerns that the Canadian government is closing a series of libraries in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Since writing that post, I’ve come upon an article on the subject by John Dupuis, a science librarian at York University in Toronto. He speaks about the issues and questions arising from these closures. Here’s the link to his article: Question! What is really happening at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans libraries?.
And, in keeping with Fisheries and Oceans, here’s a photo of the Atlantic Ocean off Newfoundland from my time there in August.
Atlantic Ocean off the East Coast Trail in Newfoundland, August 2013
English Harbour Encore
Posted: December 17, 2013 Filed under: Mineral World, Newfoundland, Water | Tags: arts, dry stone wall, English Harbour, English Harbour Arts Centre, Newfoundland, ocean Leave a comment
English Harbour Arts Centre, August 2013
Here’s two views of the English Harbour Arts Centre that we visited last August while in Newfoundland. It was wonderful seeing such positive human endeavours in this setting of beauty by the ocean. The stones you see in the foreground are part of a spiral dry stone wall, created during a workshop at the Centre.
English Harbour Arts Centre with dry stone wall, August 2013
English Harbour, Newfoundland
Posted: December 11, 2013 Filed under: Newfoundland, Water | Tags: Bonavista Peninsula, English Harbour, Newfoundland, ocean Leave a comment
Approaching English Harbour , August 2013
English Harbour is a tiny village in Newfoundland on the ocean. It’s on the Bonavista Peninsula not far from the town of Trinity. While driving toward Port Union this past August, I noticed a sign pointing to the English Harbour Arts Centre. I decided to turn off the main road to the village, which we found to be a lovely surprise and yet another very beautiful place. I’ll post some photos later of the Arts Centre itself, either on this blog or my art blog.
English Harbour, Newfoundland, August 2013
Green Point Coastal Trail, Gros Morne National Park
Posted: November 19, 2013 Filed under: Newfoundland, Plant Life, Water | Tags: beach, beauty, coastal trail, Green Point, Gros Morne Park, Gulf of St. Lawrence, hike, nature, Newfoundland, ocean, thunderstorm, tuckamore Leave a comment
Coastal Trail in Gros Morne Park, August 2013
Our first attempt to go on the boat tour of the freshwater fiord in Gros Morne did not go as scheduled because of torrents of rain and lightning. However, once the weather cleared, we went on a hike on the Coastal Trail near Green Point, south of the fiord. This cobbled beach trail is flat and runs right along the coast off the Gulf of St. Lawrence. We saw marshy ponds and passed tuckamore forests. Tuckamore is the Newfoundland word for stunted spruce and balsam fir trees that grow by the coast and in mountainous areas.
Tuckamore along the Coastal Trail, Newfoundland, August 2013
On the Coastal Trail, August 2013
We did not take the full 6 km return hike, because we could see more thunderstorms brewing in the distance and travelling toward us. Since we were on totally open ground, we felt it was safest to turn around. We were among several other hikers, all of us doing the return hike in record time. This trail has stayed with me for its haunting atmosphere. I found it of great beauty.
Thunderstorms approaching–Coastal Trail, August 2013
Newfoundland Places Temporary Moratorium on Fracking
Posted: November 9, 2013 Filed under: Newfoundland, Water | Tags: Canada, coastal trail, environment, fracking, Gros Morne, Gros Morne National Park, Gros Morne Park, health, moratorium, Newfoundland, Newfoundland government, ocean, UNESCO, world heritage site 1 CommentLast summer, before going to Newfoundland, we heard that fracking was being proposed off of Newfoundland’s west coast, near Gros Morne National Park. The photo in this post is from a trail in the park a bit north of the proposed fracking site.
Because of the chemicals, sand and large amounts of water used in fracking, we wondered how residents of Newfoundland felt about this. When we were in the province, we heard opposition to the plan from B & B hosts and people sitting near us in restaurants having lively discussions about the dangers and risks of fracking. While in the Gros Morne area, we also came upon a petition opposing the plan. And I’d already heard that UNESCO had voiced serious concerns because fracking near Gros Morne, a World Heritage Site, could put the site at risk.
Coastal Trail, Gros Morne Park, Newfoundland, August 2013
Then, earlier this week I was glad to hear that the Newfoundland government had placed a moratorium on fracking in the province until it was satisfied that it would be safe for the environment and the health of people. The government plans to hold a review and consult with residents. This sounds like a good first step. I’ll be following this in the news to see further developments.
Skerwink Trail, Newfoundland
Posted: October 27, 2013 Filed under: Mineral World, Newfoundland, Plant Life, Uncategorized, Water | Tags: beauty, Canada, cliffs, hiking, nature, Newfoundland, ocean, Skerwink, Skerwink Trail, Trail 4 Comments
At the start of the Skerwink Trail in Newfoundland, August 2013
Another very beautiful and dramatic trail in Newfoundland is the Skerwink Trail. Skerwink is a local name for a Shearwater, a type of bird that lives in open sea–a pelagic seabird. The 5.3 km trail is near the town of Trinity. We hiked the trail in August, often near the edge of cliffs overlooking the ocean. We took our time walking, stopping to photograph the land and sea, and to catch our breath as we climbed ever higher.
The trail is maintained wonderfully well with many stairs to help you in the ascent. I was exhausted at the end of the trail, but did not regret taking it.
Skerwink Trail along the Atlantic Ocean, August 2013
A view from the Skerwink Trail, August 2013
On the Skerwink Trail, August 2013
Climbing the Skerwink Trail, August, 2013
East Coast Trail, Pouch Cove, Newfoundland
Posted: October 14, 2013 Filed under: Mineral World, Newfoundland, Water | Tags: beauty, Canada, coast, East Coast Trail, hiking, nature, Newfoundland, ocean, Pouch Cove, Rocks, Trail Leave a comment
East Coast Trail, Newfoundland, with Pouch Cove in the distance, August 2013
On this Canadian Thanksgiving, here’s photos from our hike on the East Coast Trail in Newfoundland last August. Finding this trail was something we were certainly thankful for. On our last day in Newfoundland, we travelled to Pouch Cove–pronounced Pooch Cove–to go to an artists’ studio tour. We arrived a bit early for the tour and drove around the town. When I saw a sign saying “parking for trail” I pulled over and we got out. There was no sign of a trail, but luckily several hikers got out of another car and we got directions from them.
East Coast Trail, Newfoundland, August 2013
Down the road a short way, we came to a sign for the East Coast Trail that we hadn’t realized you could get to from here. This trail runs 265 km along the Avalon Peninsula. My husband had read that it was very beautiful. And here, we had happily come upon the northern most entry point without planning to do so.
East Coast Trail, Newfoundland, August 2013
We hiked for around two hours, seeing vast views of the coast with cliffs and rugged rocky outcrops, some encrusted with lichens of different colours. A terrific way to end our trip.
On the East Coast Trail, Newfoundland, August 2013
Rocks on the East Coast Trail near Pouch Cove, Newfoundland, August 2013
Twillingate, Newfoundland
Posted: September 29, 2013 Filed under: Mineral World, Newfoundland, Water | Tags: Atlantic Ocean, beauty, Canada, nature photography, Newfoundland, ocean, rock, Twillingate 2 Comments
View from the trail by the lighthouse in Twillingate, August 2013
I’m not following a chronological order in writing about my travels in Newfoundland. So, today I’ll take you to the town of Twillingate which we spent an afternoon in this past August. It’s on the edge of the Atlantic and has breathtaking views near the lighthouse.
From the Twillingate Trail, August 2013
We arrived at the lighthouse in late afternoon and saw that there were trails leading down along the coast. We only went a short way a short way along the trails because of the hour. Even so, we looked out over a sweep of hills, rock and ocean that were of extreme beauty. Here’s a few photos of my favourite view.
A closer view of the land from the lighthouse trail in Twillingate, August, 2013
Bay Roberts Trail, Day 2
Posted: September 19, 2013 Filed under: Mineral World, Newfoundland, Water | Tags: Bay Roberts Heritage Trail, beauty, Mad Rock, nature, Newfoundland, ocean, rock, Rocks, whales Leave a comment
Bay Roberts Heritage Trail, Newfoundland, August 2013
We returned to the Bay Roberts Heritage Trail/Mad Rock Trail in Newfoundland, Canada the next day, this time driving to the ocean and starting there. The name Mad Rocks comes from the rocks offshore that have been particularly treacherous for ships. Again, the beauty was intense. We stopped for long stretches and sat on the rocks taking in the ocean and fresh air.
Bay Roberts Heritage Trail, Aug. 2013
We had no expectation of seeing whales in August, but we were fortunate to look out over the water and see many minutes of a whale surfacing and submerging as it travelled alongside the rocks. This was a terrific experience even though I cannot identify the whale(s) we saw that day.
Narrow Rock off of Bay Roberts Heritage Trail, Aug. 2013
Bay Roberts Heritage Trail, August 2013
of humans and nature 
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