Brigus Lighthouse Trail

Brigus Lighthouse Trail is another great hiking trail that I recently explored.  The small town of Brigus is loaded with quaint character and is one of the few towns on the Avalon Peninsula to have retained so many historic buildings. 

 

I'll be back again another time to delve more into its stories and architectural charms, maybe after a little snowfall just before Christmas?  Or stroll its winding lanes in the summer when the lupine is in bloom?

Rock walls were plentiful in Brigus

When I arrived at the end of Battery Road the parking area for the trail was closed off so I drove back down the hill and parked in a public lot near Harbour Pond.  It was only a 5 minute walk back up to the trailhead, a nice warm-up for the 5km jaunt out to the lighthouse.

The trail is steep in spots, but easily managed.  Bring a hiking stick to make those hills easier, and wear supportive footwear not sneakers or sandals!

It was a lovely day for December, and I plugged along without overheating or tiring too easily.  Sweeping views of Brigus Bay and Conception Bay were plentiful, but next time I'd like to hike it earlier in the morning to be able to photograph the town.

See the lighthouse on the other side of the valley?

A view of the lighthouse encouraged me to keep going down into a deep valley.  Watch your step and take your time, the grade was steep and momentum could easily result in a nasty fall.

I made it to the final hill before the lighthouse but the temps were dropping and the wind was picking up so I smartly decided that at about 4km I had gone far enough and should leave the full hike for another day.

Climbing back out of the valley was strenuous, but I kept myself preoccupied by looking for smooth pieces of shale to pocket for painting projects.

Brigus has a few trails on the other side of town, and shops and museums to explore. Maybe I'll have a buddy with me next time and we can make a whole day of it!

A quick shout-out to Skipper Bill for his comments on my Fox Harbour post.  Thanks for the tips!  Here's his YouTube video showing the artillery batteries at the end of the hike that I hope to get to next time.

Fox Harbour Findings

 One of the hikes I've been wanting to do for years is to go out from Fox Harbour and across the Isaacs which are connected by a narrow rocky beach of ocean deposits.  At the end lies the remains of artillery batteries that guarded the harbour during World War II, part of the land leased to the old Argentia U.S. Naval Base.

A short while back a contributor to the Facebook group Hiking in Newfoundland and Labrador accomplished this hike and inspired me to get out there at last.  Watch her video through the link provided!

I parked at the end of Green Road in Fox Harbour and scooted around the edge of a homeowner's property to the quad trail which led to the beach.  Wear supportive hiking shoes and absolutely bring a hiking stick.  That stick kept me moving smoothly along the beaches where I had to balance when I had to walk along the larger rocks.

For the most part the beaches were easily traversed, but this patch of deep seaweed proved to be treacherous and down and I went like a kid on a slip and slide.  Of course I landed on an outcrop of rock, but luckily the injury didn't prevent me from continuing onward.

The views were breathtaking, and I got some lovely photographs even though it was midday.  

The stretch of beach that connects the Isaacs to Fox Harbour was enchanting and I spent a good 15 minutes mesmerized by the ocean before resuming the hike.  

I battled inwardly with the need to hustle since I had gotten a late start and the need to be in the moment and appreciate the gift of a warm and sunny December afternoon.

If I'm not mistaken, that is Fox Island in the distance . Our friend and my brother in law load his sheep up in a boat and sail them out there and return for them in the spring!

As I finally moved along I came upon old lobster traps tangled in the beach grass and other washed up debris.  Each section of beach had something new to see, and I collected scallop shells, coral, sea glass and even a few pieces of driftwood on my way back.

Once across the strip of beach I tried a few times to locate the trail across the Isaacs in the woods.  And I'm pretty sure I did...it was just very much quicker and easier to stay on the beach.

When I was almost out of time and actually closer to my end destination than I had hoped I tried to get in the woods and on the path again.  This entailed scrabbling about 15 feet upward by clinging onto and weaving in and out of alder bushes, but I made it!

For some reason the phone's face id wouldn't recognize me and unlock the screen.

Success! The trail appeared...for about 2 minutes.

The blowdowns were so thick I couldn't find a way around.  On a return visit I needed that cousin of mine who also wants to explore this area so he could wield a chainsaw and we could get somewhere.

My heart broke a little as I looked up, but just a little as I hadn't expected to make it all the way to the end where the American bunkers from the 1940's were located.

As I had circled the beach so too had this fishing boat circled the harbour and the gulls had circled the boat hoping for morsels of leftovers.

On the return trip I stuck to the beach and kept a quick pace.  But I made sure to look back over my shoulder occasionally toward Argentia where I knew the light was always good for sunset.

A silhouette of the Isaacs against the sky with Argentia glowing orange in the distance was more than I could have hoped for on a day that wasn't even forecasted to be as warm and sunny as it had turned out to be. I'll be back again in late spring properly prepared for a long day of happy adventures!

The entire hike took me 4 hours, would have been 3 hours without the multiple failed attempts to get into the woods.  I would advise 8 hours at least to do it properly and bring a first aid kit and other supplies for changing weather conditions and nutritional needs.

A Little More Bonavista

 It seems like a long time ago already. How is it possible that we were in Bonavista only 3 weeks ago?

Cape Bonavista Lighthouse

We timed the trip to coincide with some sunny weather, and the weatherman didn't disappoint us.

Dungeon Provincial Park

You never know what you might see in Newfoundland, but I'm always surprised when I see a horse.

Out past Bonavista lies the tiny village of Spillars Cove and at the end of the road you can access the 6km Klondike Trail.

I left Wayne in the car and walked 10 minutes past stunning coastal scenery, the highlight of the trail as most of it crosses an inland route to Elliston. 

I even sat down for a few minutes to enjoy the sounds of the ocean.

I wanted to keep going all the way to Elliston, but the Klondike Trail is just another reason to come back to Bonavista again.

I'm hoping the next visit will be in the summer so I can see whales and icebergs, and visit the Mockbeggar Plantation and the Ryan Premises which are always closed when we go in the fall.

While Wayne cooked his breakfast the next morning, I took a final stroll down Rolling Cove Road.

The sun was gone, the day was gray and windy, but any day you can taste the salt on your lips and hear the sound of the waves crashing on the beach is a good one.

Besides a gray day is a good reason to try a little black and white photography, right? Not bad for an iphone!

The weather has been cool but comfortable lately - I'll be posting a few hikes I've been able to enjoy over the past few weeks very soon!

Staycation Newfoundland - Scenic Green Bay

 Newfoundland is still only allowing visitors from the Atlantic Provinces to maintain our non-existent (only cases in months have been from returning travelers in self-isolation) Covid-19 status.  Newfies are all on-board with this policy, and have also embraced the province's Staycation suggestion.  Newfoundlanders are exploring their own province like never before, and I figured I better get in on that before summer was over.

My first stop was the Appleton Peace Park which has a steel beam from the Twin Towers.  Appleton is a small town outside Gander, where 38 planes carrying 6,700 passengers were forced to land when the Twin Towers were hit. The generousity of Newfoundlanders is legendary, but you'll have to "come from away" another year due to the pandemic I'm afraid.

Then it was on to Springdale in scenic Green Bay, just 7miles off the TCH and home to Glassy Beach.  The tiny cove was the site of a former landfill and many shards of now smoothed glass.  Much less than in previous years though as many visitors take bags full home with them.  I left what I found for others to enjoy.

It was getting dark and I was without a place to put my tent.  Glassy Beach was too small and eventually I found myself at the trailhead for Indian River Walking Trail.  I set up in the dark and the rain, and woke to a beautiful morning!

The trail system starts with a boardwalk along the saltwater marsh and continues along the river.

I saw a few ducks and few crows, but luck wasn't with me to see any more birds than that.

The trail was 40 minutes roundtrip and completely flat, an easy walk with lovely views.

Appleton yesterday, Green Bay this morning, you'd almost think I was in Wisconsin. I wanted to show Newfoundland that my heart is with Kenosha and the troubles happening there as I roam the Green Bay area today.  Kenosha I love you, everyone be safe!

King's Cove Lighthouse

I had thought about staying right out on the Skerwink Trail in my tent back in June (and next time I will!) but after I mentioned it to a fellow hiker I realized it might be safer not to advertise I was alone in such an accessible spot.

So off I went to King's Cove to have a new adventure before the day was done.  After a rough ride on a long gravel road I finally reconnected with pavement and arrived at the small town of just under 100 residents.

I parked at St. James church and began my trek out to the lighthouse with all my gear in tow.  Past the meadow and up the hill through the clouds of black flies waiting for me in the trees I went, sweat pouring off me and my arms quivering from the extra load in my arms and on my back.

While having a rest and letting the sweat dry I heard motorized bikes approaching.  Two local gentlemen accompanied me the rest of the way to the light, happily helping me with my gear and showing me around.

Even though it was solid rock at the light itself that is where I decided to pitch my tent to escape the flies.  The wind wasn't bad at all for being exposed to the water, and I thanked my new friends for their help and settled in for the night.

I'd been advised to make the short walk out to Fish Point for the view before sunset, and not only got a view of some fantastic rock formations but also a great view back to my tent.  As I've mentioned the black flies were numerous so I didn't hike the loop and will have to do that if I ever return.  Black fly season is short but miserable as they are tiny and their bite is painful.  Bug repellent doesn't do much to keep them away either so avoidance or bug net clothing is the best way to go.

King’s Cove received their lighthouse in 1893 and the cast-iron tower was erected on Western Point.  Designed and manufactured in the Chance Brothers factory in Birmingham, England, the separate sections for the tower were shipped to Newfoundland and assembled at King's Cove using overlapping riveted joints, common to 1800's ship building and boiler making technology.

With all the lighthouses I'd been to over the years, how had it never occurred to me to spend the night?  To be fair back in the States just pitching your tent any old where is not really as commonplace as it is in Newfoundland.  Here anything is fair game as long as there isn't a sign posted saying otherwise.

I was really glad I made the trek out once sunset finally arrived. Don't believe that is what it looked like? Here's the 17 second video shot from inside my tent panning from the sunset and then up to the lighthouse above me.

I was drifting off to sleep when I thought I saw a flash of light.  It was a bit windy but storms weren't in the forecast.  Then I saw it again.  And again. Umm, yeah, a LIGHThouse.

Once I realized what it was I discovered it was easy to ignore and drifted right off to sleep.  Thank goodness there wasn't a foghorn sounding!  Why don't people sleep overnight at lighthouse sites?  Maybe all the LIGHT?

The morning was beautiful but the flies were out again so I had to pack up quickly.  A word about the tent pictured here.  I bought it at Canadian Tire and the material makes a very loud plastic rattling sound even in very light wind that has woken me frequently every time I've slept in it so I am now back to my old tent.  Not all waterproof tents use the same material, just a tip for anyone who might be in the market for a new tent!

More adventures on the way...