We motored across Bonavista bay to Barrows harbor on Monday and tucked into a tiny beautiful spot called smoky hole. Our Newfoundland friends know places we would never find. We anchored in about 30 feet of water and tied up with Moya, the commodore of the Royal Newfoundland yacht club. Since we had a relaxed slow passage, it was cocktail hour by the time we got settled. We had a fun evening with lamb ragu pasta and a game or 2 of Rummikub.
On Tuesday we planned to hike to a nearby harbor, Salvage, which had been a possible destination. We took the dinghy to the shoreside trailhead and embarked on what sounded like a “short easy” hike. We quickly reached a large pond with a substantial beaver dam. As the trail seemed to disappear, it was clear that the trail had run along the lake before the beaver dam raised the water level and erased access. Mark bushwhacked and went ahead through the underbrush. There was a moment when we thought we might turn around but Mark assured us…10 people in all from various boats…that it was only about 4 more trail diversions before we would be back on track. Ok maybe it was 5 or 6 diversions of bushwhacking. After 3 hours we arrived in Salvage just as the sky opened and poured rain. Luckily there were 3 boats of our group docked in Salvage and we were able to get a ride back around to Barrow harbor and jump on the Commodore’s boat. His captain took Mark and Bill to the dinghy landing and we were all returned to our boats in the pouring rain.
We had left 2 people in Salvage since there weren’t enough life jackets to take them along on the first trip so I hopped on Moya’s boat and made a quick return to pick them up. Along the way we spotted a bald eagle and a whalespout.
After everyone showered and dried off, we went to have cocktails with the commodore. He has a 68 ft sailboat that’s easily accommodated us.
Dinner back on board was cod pan fried and sauced with white wine and capers the cod here is unlike anything you can get anywhere else. It is flaky and sweet and clean tasting. Another round of Rummikub after dinner finished. We are getting competitive!
Wednesday we departed for the small fishing port of Happy Adventure. They have the best fish and chips around and having just finished lunch, I would agree.
we get organized, we will go off to another location for the night where we plan to anchor. This is a fun adventure that keeps on having surprises.
The Adventures of Anne 