Day 8

Another unbelievable day! I can’t imagine how long we would have to stay before we ran out of cool things to do. Our first adventure of the day began at the bottling facility for the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Commission. Grant works there and gave us a “behind the scenes” tour. This is the home of Iceberg Vodka and the line was happily chugging out 80 bottles a minute. The line capacity is 175 bottles per minute but they can’t process that quickly since the cartons are assembled and filled by hand and the three guys at the end of the line can’t work any faster!! They produce and bottle Iceberg products and Dan Aykroyd’s line of Crystal Head vodka. They also bottle Screech (of course) although it’s fermented in Jamaica; London Dock, the Demerara rum, both 70 proof and 100 proof – 57.1 % alcohol (!!!), produced in Guyana; and various other smaller lines for a total of 18 different liquors. A fascinating process…

The guys at the end who pack the boxes by hand!

Since it was a beautiful, warm, sunny day (finally!) we thought we would head down around Cape Spear to take some pictures. When we ventured from the car in Cape Spear, less than 20 minutes away, the most easterly point in North America was cold enough to “freeze the arse off ya”. Being of hardy stock we managed to deal with the cold for about an hour but by the time we got back in the car I couldn’t feel my face and I had an earache in both ears. Now I wouldn’t have traded a minute of it mind you, and plan to go back next week when Cliff and Liz arrive, but cold? Mon-oh-man!

The pictures will speak for themselves so I’ll let them do the talking, other than to say that apart from the couple of pictures with me in them, all other pictures on today’s blog are mine! I was so proud today when David told me I had a very good eye! High praise from the master! For those of you familiar with David’s work … if mine are this good, just imagine what his look like!

The most easterly point in North America.

With nothing more than a desire to be warm we headed back to the city with no particular destination in mind. Following our noses we ended up at Fort Amherst. Throughout history, the city of St. John’s was thought to be an ideal location. The only entrance to St. John’s harbor, affectionately known as The Narrows, is only 91 meters wide. It was, for example, a well protected city during wartime since ships approaching St. John’s harbor were easily seen and dealt with! On one side is Signal Hill (I posted from there a couple of days ago), on the other side is Fort Amherst. And although we visited both official sites, today we were more interested in exploring the communities and the people who cling to the rock on both sides. Once again I will let the pictures (mine – just had to say that again!) speak for themselves but two thoughts struck me as we sat, first on one side, then the other, gazing at the business of everyday life in the Narrows. Anyone who thinks they’re important in any sort of a global sense need to come spend an afternoon. Watching daily life unfold from across the harbor offers a perspective of how “ant like” we are as we scurry across the land – a land that has been here long before and of us and will be here, relatively unchanged, long after we’re gone. A space clearly carved by God’s own hand, breathtaking in its beauty and harsh in it expectation. Watching daily life unfold … it’s no wonder we Newfoundlanders are a hardy lot! My other thought … at least here, seagulls make sense!

The city from The Narrows.

The city with the prominence of the Basilica.

Homes at the Battery from across the harbour at Fort Amherst.

The St. John's Narrows at 91 meters.

A rock in your way when you want to build a house? Simply paint it white and build around it. Heck, even your front door can fit around it!!!!!

Not cheap though. This shed is listed for $300,000! But according to a local, "Das 'cause der cracked."

The colour is outstanding!

How this for a front step? Yup, front stairs for the blue house! Shoveling the step in the winter is quite the task!

Even the roadside walls are a reflection of the creativity and talent of the locals!

Yes, this is the main (only!) road. It is two-lane as well.

Not without turns in the road on the side of a hill!

Yup that is a turn in the two-lane road at the top of that "bit of an incline"!

Look at the distance between the corner of that house and the guardrail on the two-lane road.

This is the entrance to the National Park hiking trail - right over these folks front deck, past their front door. The little sign on the front door says "Private" because ... you know it's had to happen! Only in Newfoundland you say?

Incredible views on this hike.

Some spots are a little tricky! Literally hugging the side of the cliffs.

Friends along the way.

Fort Amherst from the Signal Hill / Battery Trail.

Fort Amherst and Cape Spear in the distance.