Page 35 - DreamScapes Magazine | Winter/Spring 2022

Hitting the Road
After being cooped up for so long in our homes, the open road felt freeing.
The ragged coast, full of coves, bays, peninsulas, and arms, means there is no ring road as on some other islands. Instead, the Trans-Canada Highway 1 arcs its way from Port aux Basques all the way to the capital of St. John’s.
Along the way, as we talked about life and family, we drove to the interior around the top end of Grand Lake, motoring past vast forests, and travelling east by places with cool names like Come By Chance, before finally reaching the Avalon Peninsula in the southeast.
Edge of the Americas
When we arrived in the capital of St. John’s, it was late afternoon, so we went straight to the part of town popularized in commercials and postcards. Mom and I fell in love with Jellybean Row with its colourful row houses. We certainly looked the part of gawking tourists with camera (me) and iPhone (Mom) in hand. Walking down to the harbour to watch the sunset, it was obvious to see why people settled here with the city being so well sheltered.
On another morning, albeit cloudy, we made our way to Signal Hill, which afforded a fabulous view of our next stop, Cape Spear. With clouds now lifted at this rocky outcropping the sun shone over the mighty Atlantic Ocean as we continued on our scenic drive to North America’s most easterly point. At Cape Spear, Mom wandered around, sightseeing and reading signs while I chased the light with my camera. Neither of us was in a rush to leave.
Fogo Island
One place I insisted we explore was Fogo Island. I heard about the stark isolation of the Fogo Island Inn and always wanted to see it. For this journey, we took a ferry from the town of Farewell (how fitting) to the town of Seldom, continuing our quest to find the inn that put Fogo Island on the map. It is an incredibly impressive building and I could see how the New- foundland-born architect, Todd Saunders, was influenced by the traditional fishing sheds seen in the neighbouring village of Joe Batt’s Arm, a seaside community hovering on stilts.
INSIDER TIP
Book car rentals, ferry tickets and accom- modation as early as possible. For the ferry, run by Marine Atlantic, opt to reserve a cabin, even for daytime crossings, as you cannot return to your vehicle once the ferry leaves the port. The cabin can be a great place to rest, and to drop off your bags. marineatlantic.ca/sailing-information/schedule
WINTER/SPRING 2022 DREAMSCAPES 35