Dildos, Flying Boats and Capelins

Dildos, Flying Boats, and Capelins What do they all have in common? They are found in Newfoundland. Got your attention eh???? August 5-8 we stayed in Grandfalls Windsor at a city campground called Sanger Campground. We were there about 5 days and have started to make friends with other traveling RV's as we see them again at a different camp site. We traveled to Botwood and visited the Air Museum. In 1936 Charles Lindbergh flew to Newfoundland to look for refueling sites for a new commercial trans Atlantic air service for BOAC ( British) and PAN AM ( American). Since the world hadn't built airports yet the aircraft were super flying boats. The were very large amphibious aircraft and Botwood (next to Gander) was chosen as the refueling site for Newfoundland. In 1937 the first test flight of these aircraft was flown from New York to London being refueled in Montreal, Botwood, and Ireland. These were very large planes and provided passenger service for about 7 years on the Tran-Atlantic Route while Gander Airport was being built. Fascinating story and have included a link for more information along with their festival site.We then drove up to Fortune Harbour and looked and the remote fishing areas. August 9-11 we have been in Twillingate. This so far is the highlight of our Newfoundland trip and left a little bit of our heart here when we departed today. The community is a small rural area that has changed their economy from fishing to tourism. We went to dinner theater called " All around the Circle " put on in a town community center. There were about 7 members in the cast who took tickets, made dinner, and did the show. It was sold out and hilarious. These were all amateur actors who got together for some Newfie music,comedy and food. They have created a very popular event that is usually sold out every night. We met some new friends at out dinner table and will keep in touch as we travel Newfoundland. Last night we went to a Musical called Smallwood which was written and produced locally. Wonderful music that told the story of Joey Smallwood and Canada's entry into Confederation. The actors were local high school and University Students. WOW.. It was great. Yesterday we went down to Dildo Run Provincial Park. No idea how they named it??? On our way back we stopped of at Pike's Arm and walked up to an observation area called Bridges Lookout. What a spectacular View. We went Whale watching and saw some Humpback Whales who are quite close to shore eating the Capelins which are like small herring. No Icebergs as they have all melted buy late July. Lots of Cod dinners and many more stories. It is time to move on and will be traveling about 3 hours to East Port which is just above Tera Nova Park.

Botwood and Twillingate Pictures

Cheers Ron & Gail