SS Gorch Fock - St. John's Harbour

The Gorch Fock is a tall ship of the German Navy (Deutsche Marine). The ship is named in honor of the German writer Johann Kinau who wrote under the pseudonym "Gorch Fock". The ship and crew have been entertaining visitors to St. John's harbour for the past 3 days.

The Gorch Fock has been in continuous service as a school ship for the German Navy since 1958. More than 11,000 cadets have been trained on the Gorch Fock in that time.

In 1987/88, she sailed around the world, with stops on five continents. Lasting 336 days, this was her second longest cruise, topped only by a training cruise in 1996/97 from Kiel to Bangkok and back that lasted 343 days.

- Wikipedia

Making Fish

"The sculpture, Making Fish , celebrates Newfoundland women and their role in the cod fishery in the late 1800s. The sculpture is a larger-than-life depiction of two outport women bending over to pick up a heavy pallet of dried salt cod."

Suzanne Woolridge, The Arts Report

Wild Iris at Cape Pine (Iris Vericolor )

This graceful sword-leaved plant with its showy boldly veined flowers is found throughout Newfoundland. The iris is most ostentatious in moist meadows and stream banks that are wet early in the spring but often dry later in the summer.

In for the Day

Fishing boats tied up at the wharf in Quidi Vidi harbour after a day on the water.

Woodland Caribou on Trepassey Barrens

Several years ago the the southern Avalon Peninsula supported one of the largest Woodland Caribou herds on the island. Alas, today, the herd, once numbering 5000 strong, has been reduced to a few hundred animals because of parasites and coyote predation. Yesterday, I was able to approach a small group of twenty of these magnificent creatures. Caribou are naturally curious animals with a keen sense of hearing and smell but their vision is poor. As you slowly and carefully get closer, they will move off. Younger caribou will often approach you. These caribou stayed about a kilometer from the road but I was able to find myself in the middle of the herd enjoying and photographing these beautiful animals.

"High and Dry" Ancient Whale Bone

This bleached whale skull at Cape Ray probably weighs a couple of hundred pounds. It did not easily find a perch on this weathered rock.

Fish Stage Near Rose Blanche

"A fishing stage is a wooden vernacular building, typical of the rough traditional buildings associated with the cod fishery in Newfoundland, Canada. Stages are located at the water's edge or "landwash", and consist of an elevated platform on the shore with working tables and sheds at which fish are landed and processed for salting and drying. Traditionally, they are painted with a red ochre paint, though colours other than red are sometimes seen."

- Wikipedia

Old Capstan Near Rose Blanche

A rusting capstan from another era lends perfect contrast to the young spring ferns.

Rose Blanche Lighthouse - Detail

This light tower is the last remaining granite structure of its type in Canada.

Rose Blanche Lighthouse

The Rose Blanche Lighthouse was built in 1871 from a nearby granite quarry and operated from 1873 to the 1940s. The original light was a 4th order dioptric lit from sunset to sunrise at a height of 95 feet above sea level. It could be seen for 13 miles in clear weather. The building fell into ruins but, in 1988, the citizens of the surrounding communities began restoration and the the lighthouse was returned to its former glory in 1999.

White Giant

It takes a minimum of 3000 years to produce an iceberg and 3 years to journey to Newfoundland. The berg will melt within a matter of months if not weeks after passing south of St. John's. This white giant is drifting to its destiny off Cape Spear.

Ice Sculpture off Cape Spear

85 % of all the ice bergs that appear off Newfoundland's coast originate from the glaciers of Greenland. These icebergs are the fastest moving bergs in the world at 0.7 km/h.

Iceberg Radiation Fog

Radiation fog streaming from this iceberg is caused by the warm moist air over the berg being cooled to its saturation point or "dew point".

Bergy Bit - Cuckold's Cove

The International Ice Patrol defines a Bergy Bit as an iceberg 1-4 meters high and 5-14 meters long, weighing 0.1 megatons. This grounded iceberg, the size of a small bungalow, was photographed in Cuckold's Cove.

Pinnacle Ice Berg - Freshwater Bay

No two ice bergs are the same but they can be catregorized by descriptions of shape and size, such as tabular, blocky, wedge and pinnacle. This is a pinnacle iceberg near St. John's Harbour. When the middle melts out, it becomes known as a dry dock, resembling the docks for repairing ships.

Ice Berg Off Cuckold's Cove

The silence of the early morning air is shattered by a loud bang, followed by an eerie cracking sound that reverberates across the bay. That huge tabular ice berg off Cuckold's Cove has split into two uneven wedges. This spectacle plays out in the spring and early summer off Newfoundland's coasts. About 400 - 800 icebergs survive the trip from Greenland to Newfoundland each year. The 1800 nautical mile trip can take up to three years.

The Narrows - St. John's Harbour

St. John's Harbour on Mother's Day.

Butterfly at Bowring Park

Inspired by a group of images taken by Karen whose photography I admire, I ventured to the Bowring Park greenhouse to capture the butterflies brought to St. John's from the Deer Lake Insectarium. Apparently , the entire population of St. John's ( 150,000) had the same idea and we were packed like sardines in a hot tropical environment. I snapped a few shots and fled !

Identification of this beautiful creature would be much appreciated.

Land' s End - Baja California Peninsula, Mexico

I have just returned from a 23 day vacation in South America and Pacific Mexico and hope to resume posting my Newfoundland images soon. Meanwhile, here is a photo of El Arco, a magnificent natural rock formation at Land’s End in Cabos San Lucas, Mexico at the tip of the Baja California peninsula. Cape Spear on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland has also been called Land's End and has the same rugged beauty.

Working Lighthouse - Cape Spear

Here is a stylistic winter view of the present operational lighthouse at Cape Spear.

Lonely Sentinel - Cape Spear lighthouse

Cape Spear lighthouse once guarded the most easterly point of North America. Now it stands as a lonely reminder of our maritime heritage on a cold and windswept bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Sunday Blue Jay

A Blue Jay, fat with peanuts, brightens an otherwise drab day in my winter garden.

Winter Tulips

"The tulips are too excitable, it is winter here.
Look how white everything is, how quiet, how snowed in."

Tulips - Sylvia Plath

Cannons at Queen's Battery

On Signal Hill, the last battle of the Seven Years War was fought. Ruins of old forts with their ancient cannon can still be seen.

Tied Up at the Wharf

Today I wandered around the Boat Basin on the south side of St. John's Harbour and was attracted by the vibrant "patriotic colors" of the Covenant II.

Queen's Battery Barracks - Signal Hill

Signal Hill rises above the entrance to St. John's harbour and because of its strategic location it was a natural site for a signal station and fortifications protecting the harbour and the city. On the lower slopes of the hill, one can visit the the restored Queen's Battery Barracks, a remnant of the Napoleonic period.

Greater Scaup

The Greater Scaup is a diving duck that enjoys lakes, bays and ponds. It is often seen on salt water in large rafts often composed of thousands of birds. It is a particulary hardy bird capable of withstanding severe cold and rough weather in winter. This duck appears right at home on Quidi Vidi Lake.

To view a similar species - the Tufted Duck - click "here"

After the Storm

A violent blizzard hit the Avalon Peninsula yesterday accompanied by 110 kilometre an hour winds. All over the city, roads and cars were buried. The storm dumped 40 - 50 centimeters of snow, with drifts reaching the tops of garages and sheds. My driveway received 3 feet of snow plus the snow from the snow plow.

I ventured out early with my snowblower and later my good neighbor, Dave tackled the drifts in his driveway with his vintage Honda snowblower.

American Coot - Quidi Vidi Lake

The coot is a slaty duck-like bird that prefers fresh water but is sometimes found on salt water inlets and bays. It is a casual visitor to Newfoundland. This particular bird has found friends amongst the myriad other waterfowl at the western end of Quidi Vidi lake.

The expression "silly as a coot" probably originated from the peculiar appearance of the coot with its dark head, white bill and clumsy movements. When swimming it moves its head back and forth like a chicken.

Snow Squall on Quidi Vidi Lake

Visibility was poor for about twenty minutes and suddenly I stood at the very edge of the squall with the sun streaming through the distant trees.

The Rower - Dressed for the Cold

The Rower, Morgan Mac Donald's cast bronze scupture on the shores of Quidi Vidi, sports a hat to shield him from winter's frigid breath.

To see the entire sculpture, click "here"

Evening Over Quidi Vidi

Today I walked around Quidi Vidi Lake and experienced what Newfoundlanders call "weather". One minute the sun shines and another minute I am engulfed in a snow squall. The lake is frozen now but at the inflow of Rennies River the waters are open and gives refuge to hundreds of black ducks, mallards, tufted ducks, pintails, gulls and teal. Quidi Vidi Lake, of course, is the site of the Royal St. John's Regatta in summer - an event that has been held since at least 1826.

Sliding on Saturday

"Gliding, sliding, slipping, tripping

If ice skating's too exhilarating
Try sliding, it's quite exciting."

Northern Pintail in Winter

This slender white-breasted duck normally flys south for the winter but the plentiful food supply in Bowring Park has tempted several pairs to over-winter along with its neighbours - numerous black ducks and mallards.

Caribou Memorial in Winter - Bowring Park

The stately bronze Caribou, a tribute to the Royal Newfoundland Regiment stands fast against bitter winds of winter amid the snows of Bowring Park. The Woodland Caribou is the symbol of the Regiment. This breed of caribou lives a solitary life in the forest, unlike the barren-land herds that roam our province.

The Walker

Today, the sun warmed mid winter in Bowring Park to a balmy -4 degrees Celsius thus luring me out of my cosy warm home. It began to snow just as I arrived at the park and I was able to photograph Margaret as she crossed the bridge .

A & W on a Thursday Afternoon

I dropped into the A&W today for a large Coke and a Chicken Grill. I try to eat healthy but I can't seem to let go of that Coke Classic at 390 calories. I am what is considered a patron of this establishment with it's very friendly staff and of course the daily newspapers. I photographed this image as I left my vehicle in mid-afternoon.

To see another version of this photo click "here"

Northern Flicker

The Flicker is the largest woodpecker in Newfoundland and is certainly my favorite visitor to the feeder. It is often quite noisy and commonly perches on a high dead tree druming for insects. This cautious bird will fly away as soon as I step into the garden but I had no problem taking his protrait from the kitchen window.

Rising Tide Theatre

Throughout the summer Rising Tide Theatre's summer company of over 40 theatre professionals produce the "Summer in the Bight" Festival in Historic Trinity. This festival consists of a series of evening and dinner theatre performances that celebrate Newfoundland's rich culture and heritage. The performances are presented in the Rising Tide Arts Centre, a replica of a 17th century fish store.

Iris - Waiting for Spring

In Greece, Iris has two meanings: that of the goddess Iris and that of “rainbow.” The Greeks say that the goddess Iris leads the souls of women to Heaven over a rainbow bridge."

The Iris is such a beautiful symbol of life and spring awakening that I thought that this image in the depths of winter would renew our hopes of an early spring.

Newfoundland Dory

The dory was once a common sight around the harbors and coves of Newfoundland. These two man fishing boats were used to fish cod through the 1860's and into the 1960's. The Newfoundland version was a small 15 foot flat-bottomed boat with flaring sides and a sharp bow and stern. This provided a very stable floating platform and its design allowed easy stacking on the deck of a schooner.

Simeon Lowell who came from England to Massachusetts invented the dory in 1793. The name itself probably originated from a Nova Scotia redfish known as the "John Dory Fish". Some Newfoundland fishermen still build this "little Lady of the North Atlantic.

A Snow Plow at Avondale

The Newfoundland Railway is long gone but scattered along the old track bed, communities still strive to conserve derelict railway stations, railcars, and locomotives. This veteran snowplow from the 1950s can be seen at the Avondale Station. The plow is unpowered and would be pushed through the snow by the locomotive.

Still Life

I photographed this colorful display of cut paper by simply turning on my flash. Although not a Newfoundland theme, the colors remind me of a Newfoundland autumn during the colorless months of winter.

Safe Harbour

Quiddi Vidi offers a safe refuge from troubled seas.

The Big One That Never Got Away

During the summer of 2000, I entered a fishing derby sponsored by a local marine supplier and won second prize with this 32 pound codfish caught off Bread and Cheese Islands in Placentia Bay. As we strained on the line, my brother Mike thought that we had hooked into an airplane engine dumped by the Americans when they closed their base in Argentia. All hands helped to land this trophy fish.

Miner - Bell Island Mural

Bell Island, an island in Conception Bay, was once a thriving mining community; today, the mines are now gone but you can visit giant murals that commemorate the islands proud mining heritage.

Twin Brooks

I come from haunts of coot and hern,
I make a sudden sally,
And sparkle out among the fern,
To bicker down a valley.

    By thirty hills I hurry down,
    Or slip between the ridges,
    By twenty thorps, a little town,
    And half a hundred bridges.

    Till last by (Lester's) farm I flow
    To join the brimming river,
    For men may come and men may go,
    But I go on for ever.

- Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Remembrance Day - Nov. 11, 2006

The grave of Private J. Hancock of the Newfoundland Regiment, in Y-Ravine Cemetery, Beaumont Hamel, France. Pte. Hancock was killed in action on the 1st day of the the Battle of the Somme July 1, 1916. He was 18 years old.

On July 1,1916, the Newfoundland Regiment advanced alone into a hail of machine gun fire and suffered a 90 percent casualty rate including every officer - one of the highest casualty rates in the entire British Army that day.