American Adventure

St. John's, Newfoundland

A special thank you goes to Rich and Brenda Wolfe of St. John's, NF

Wednesday, July 17, 2002, 11:30:56 AM

A little confusion from the top of the Cabot Tower in St. John's, Newfoundland. Such an impressive city. I could spend much more time here and must come back here again in the future.

When I got up today, I looked out and saw the clouds and was a little disappointed. The edge of a tropical storm had blown in and rained quite a bit the night before. Weather reports had predicted rain for the whole day. I grabbed my cameras and took the chance and headed up the hill to the Cabot Tower historic site. You've got to do a search and learn more about this place. What an amazing place. For many years it served as a means of protecting the city and bay from unwanted intruders. On top of being an incredible fortress to protect the city it was also the site where Guglielmo Marconi made the very first transatlantic radio transmission. Way back in 1901.

Here is a picture of the tower shrouded in the fog that I was afraid would follow me all day and hinder my views. However, I really need to have more faith that things always seem to work out for me. Although I thought the fog still gave me an interesting shot.

I had to watch my step as these little snails were crawling all over the walk paths, just asking for somebody to step on them. Don't worry, I never felt that crunch/squish under my feet.

The views along the cliffs were a little creepy through the fog layer. On down the hill a little you could see the incredible battery of this fortress. With all the cannons aimed right down at the mouth of the bay there was no way that any ship was getting in or even close. I'm not sure about the history here but I would have to give credit to anybody that would have made it through.

Amazing set up, you could see how they would have moved the cannons and aimed them by moving them along the circular tracks on the ground.

The nearby lighthouse, shown here obscured by the fog was on the other side of the channel.

More views show the cliffs, Cabot Tower, the lighthouse again, as the fog was lifting and revealing more and more to me.

Eventually the fog had drifted and the sun began to shine on St. John's.

Off in the far distance of this next picture is where the Cape Spear Lighthouse would sit. It was still hidden behind fog. I drove up there and found that the fog had lifted there by the time I arrived.

Cape Spear is the furthest eastern most point in North America. Unfortunately the water there was quite dangerous and they had too many fences and signs posted up or I would have jumped in.

The water was amazing in color. It definitely looked cold. I couldn't catch them on camera but there was a few humpback whales swimming around not far off the shoreline. I could see their spouts and then see a real quick glimpse of their backs as they rolled over and back into the water. Too quick to get the camera on them and take the picture.

Way of in this picture you can make out the Cabot Tower on the top of the hill.

Yeah, that's me, all goofy and mesmerized about finding the edge of the world. Or I guess the tip of it.

More shots of the shoreline and cliffs.

Here is a picture of the old lighthouse that was no longer in use. Its now a little museum where they have it all set up like it was back in the day that it was in use.

And by the request of several people and their fascination with lighthouses, here's several different views of the current lighthouse.

So, like I said, I just need to have faith that things work out. The sky cleared and the fog stayed way out at sea.

I'll be headed back tomorrow and there may be a few days blackout period until I can find an internet access point again. I still haven't made up my mind as to the exact direction I'm headed now. I guess maybe, West. Ha ha.