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.

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...

Happy November Anniversary

Well...our 30th anniversary was 2 months ago now, but I seldom seem to have the extra time to sit down and have a run at composing some blog posts.

Bonavista view

Don't worry, (for the few of you who may still check back now and then) I'm not exiting the blog scene for good, I just need to figure out a way to balance my hobbies a little.  Mostly I write these posts for myself so I can preserve my memories since the days of photo albums are in the past, so I will be continuing.

Our anniversary trip to the Bonavista region was a bit windy, so we took a drive instead of a walk around town and I just had Wayne stop and braved the salt spray to get a few photos.

The light wasn't half bad for that kind of weather, and the clouds lended a certain moodiness that works well.

The shot below taken from the road out to Dungeon Provincial Park was my favorite view of the day.  The road was really washed out with lots of large potholes to dodge so we turned around.  Always save something for the next visit!

Wayne was a fan of the waves.  You won't get those on a calm day!

We stayed in Little Catalina at the Lavenia Rose cottage (Air BNB) and while it was the off season and nothing was really open we were glad that we left home for 2 nights to take some quiet time for ourselves.  Pretty great that the off season price for the 2 bedroom secluded cottage was half the price of nearby Inns during summer!

There was a hiking trail nearby...if you could find it in the overgrown woods.

You know me, always eager for adventure.  And with the water in one direction and the only road in the other direction it was kind of hard to get truly lost even if the markers were knocked over.

I saw British Soldiers on a log, which was a treat since I haven't seen them in quite awhile.

And a surprise platform with a view of Little Catalina harbor was a nice reward at the end.  When I texted the pic to Wayne his response was "Looks cold".

Yeah, but...

A glass of bourbon and a hot bath after an afternoon of hiking in the cold wind was a nice way to end the day!

I'm going to get at least half a dozen blog posts ready and scheduled, time to get caught up!

Sunrise at Ferryland

I'm home in Wisconsin now, but 2 weeks ago I was up before the sun and breaking down my tent at La Manche so I could try to be at the lighthouse in Ferryland for sunrise.

Holy Trinity Cemetery, Ferryland

Before it was settled by Livyers (you know what that means if you've been following along!) it was frequented by the Portuguese, Spanish and French fleets in the 1500's.  The name probably comes from the Portuguese "Farilham" or the French name "Forillon".  The French meaning was "standing out" in this case away from the mainland.

Boats at the Colony of Avalon Visitor Center area

Stopping on the roadside to take pictures as the sky glowed pink and orange proved too tempting, but I made myself be quick so I could get out to the lighthouse and catch some good light there.

I didn't know about the Colony of Avalon until I arrived - the Colony was settled in 1621 by George Calvert who was granted a Royal Charter in 1623 and later became Lord Baltimore.  His family and the 40 colonists who wintered there in 1627 found it not to their liking though and left for the Virginia colony of Jamestown.  Later other colonists were more successful and there is an ongoing 

archaeological dig and visitor center that I am marking down on my list of places to visit with Wayne.  They weren't open at sunrise anyway, I'm sure the staff is thankful for that!

To get to the lighthouse I drove out on to the isthmus on a gravel road to the parking area.  Cars are not allowed beyond that point, and from there it was about a 20 minute walk to the lighthouse itself.

I was a little too early for golden rays to hit the lighthouse itself, and a line of low clouds was soon going to engulf the sun so I got what I could with the camera and then just walked around enjoying the peaceful morning.

Picnics are offered at the lighthouse, with homemade bread and fresh squeezed lemonade.  Visit their website for information and to make reservations.  However, I could absolutely recommend bringing a thermos of tea and a pastry to enjoy while searching the horizon for whales.  And like me you would have it all to yourself!

Ferryland Head Light was built during 1870 and 1871. The round, cylindrical light tower was built of stone and red brick and still retains its original lantern room, fitted with two rows of triangular panes of glass. Adjacent to the tower, a two-storey, pitched-roof dwelling was built for the keeper and his assistant.  But wait, that tower doesn't look like stone, does it?

From the website: As had been the case at Cape St. Mary’s, the brick tower at Ferryland continued to be a vexatious matter for the inspector. In 1881, Inspector Nevill noted, “Every year new cracks show themselves in the bricks of the light tower, and seem of quite a mysterious character. If these were extensive settlements in the work, or failure of the foundations, or rupture of the work laterally by frost, they could be understood, but none of these are apparent and still the bricks break across - a brick here and a brick there and they have to be cut out and replaced by sound ones to keep out the weather.”  An iron casing was finally applied to the tower in 1892 and has served to protect the structure ever since. This bright red covering certainly lived up to Nevill’s prediction that it would “make the building practically indestructible.”

Walking a mile in and then a mile out means I had my walk for the day but back at the Colony of Avalon parking area I had to stop and look around a little.

I took the picture below because I'd never seen a sea wall constructed in that way. It was constructed using rocks salvaged from the archaeological site, how cool is that?

Here's a short panaramic video standing on the headland behind the lighthouse. Don't worry, many more Newfoundland posts to follow even though I'm back home in Wisconsin!

View From Southport Light

Cream City brick on the original tower and Keeper's house - addition done in red brick at later date

The quick background information goes like this: In 1837 the Pike Creek settlement, where Kenosha now lies, became Southport. The area was the southern most port in the Wisconsin territory on Lake Michigan and in that year, 61 steamboats and 80 schooners called on the village. A lighthouse was needed in order for these ships to find the village at night. The first was an oak stump cut ten feet off the ground with a wooden platform, lined with rock, built on top. On this, a fire was lit each night during the shipping season. Can you imagine sailing into harbor by the light of a fire?

The Southport Light is currently not in use, but was built in 1866 and was in use until 1906.  I've been there before but the other day I finally splurged and paid to go up in the tower which is about 55 feet tall and situated on a hill about 19 feet higher than lake level overlooking Lake Michigan.

This is how I take a "work break" during my day

In the days before electricity the Fresnel lenses were turned by a weight driven "clockwork" gearbox.  If you are mechanically inclined go to this link to learn everything you ever wanted to know on the subject. My mind started spinning, I'll have to wait for Wayne to explain it to me since I'm more creatively inclined.

Wall channel for weight and pulley system next to porthole

If you want to see one in action the Keeper told me the one at Split Rock in Minnesota still operates.  Funny because we were at Split Rock 3 years ago this month (click my link to see the beautiful photos I took!) and skipped the tour because the price was "too high". They must have lowered it because an internet search says it is only $5 each admission which I would not hesitate to pay.  Maybe we were under the impression that admission stickers for the adjacent State Park were mandatory.

Porthole view of Harbor Park and Southport Marina where I walk every time I come to town

Free parking is available at Split Rock during the summer (May 15 through October 31) when the visitor center is open. During the winter (November 1 through May 14) and when the visitor center is not open, a state park vehicle permit is required for parking. I guess we will have to go back!  I know I wanted more time to tackle the Superior Hiking Trail there.

Simmons Island Light looks tiny from Southport Light!

In addition to the Marina and the lighthouses you can visit the Civil War Museum, or choose from a variety of events from Art Fairs to Car Shows and the Taste of Wisconsin at the end of July.  Every Wednesday there is a free classical music concert at the Sesquicentennial Bandshell and of course brew pubs and burger joints are easy to find when you're ready to eat!

Birdhouses and blooms out behind the Light

If you want to visit, Southport Light Station Museum is open Thursday through Sunday from May until the end of October.  Admission to the museum in the lightkeeper's home is free and it is $10 to climb the light tower, children ages 8-12 are $5 and younger children I assume are free.  Just down the street is one of our old Kenosha favorites, The Boat House Pub, if you're thirsty stop in for one of their 19 different types of Long Island Tea concoctions like I used to do...20 years ago!