Tuesday 6/21/2022 - Day 10 of 31 on our 2022 Canadian Maritime #2 Caravan with Yankee RV Tour

On Tuesday June 21, 2022 we drove to Prince Edward RV Park, a Kinsmen endeavor. The Kinsmen Club of Corner Brook have been operating this campground for over 15 years.

As we drove, we were running along the Gulf of St. Lawrence, we saw the Table Mountains section of this range, a section of the Earth's mantle exposed at the surface. Once paralleled the east coast of North America from Newfoundland to Alabama, and rivaled the present-day Rockies in their beauty. The forces of erosion, however, have taken their toll, and our Appalachians have been worn down to a gently rolling terrain, with only a few upland areas remaining to remind us of their former magnificence. The erosion of the Appalachians has revealed in Newfoundland a superb cross-section of the core of an ancient mountain belt, and made it the Mecca for earth scientists from around the world.

We passed by Barachois Pond, it is the largest Provincial Park in Western Newfoundland. All 1,000 acres of the park are in the Western Newfoundland Forest ecoregion which is characterized by a balsam fir forest with an underlying of ferns and moss. The Western Newfoundland Forest is distinguished from the rest of the 19 provincial ecoregions by its vegetation and climate. These in turn limit what types of animals one would expect to find in the area.

Situated in the spectacular rolling terrain of Western Newfoundland, the Little Grand Lake Provisional Ecological Reserve protects extensive bogs and barrens, as well as mature boreal forest that is prime habitat for the endangered Newfoundland marten. The reserve's borders were designed to capture specific ecosystems-making it the province's first true ecosystem ecological reserve-and also provide the highest level of protection to the marten habitat at its core. Little Grand Lake Provisional Ecological Reserve is one of three protected areas surrounding Little Grand Lake. The other two are the Little Grand Lake Wildlife Reserve and the Glover Island Public Reserve. These reserves extend the area of Newfoundland marten habitat under protection, and provide buffers against the effects of any human activity that would be harmful to the marten's recovery. What is a Newfoundland Marten? It is one of only 13 native land mammals inhabiting the Island, the Newfoundland marten is in the same family as the weasel, mink, and ferret. Marten thrive in mature, closed-canopy forest, a habitat type that is disappearing from the Island portion of the province. The total Newfoundland marten population in the province is estimated to be around 300 animals. The forests within the Little Grand Lake reserve system are home to the largest remaining core population of Newfoundland marten on the Island.

We arrived in Corner Brook and had the afternoon to go to the grocery store and explore the area. There was a park with a great waterfalls, but it was over an hour each way to get to it.

We had a short time to rest before we headed out to our “Screech In” at the Pasadena Ski and Nature Lodge. The Pasadena Ski and Nature Park is a not-for-profit organization located in the ‘Crown of The Valley’ beautiful Pasadena. The park is a must-see tourist location and local attraction. 

It features over 11 miles of wilderness trails featuring breathtaking views and the wildlife of Western Newfoundland. In the winter, their ski trails are groomed and tracked daily. If skiing is not your cup of tea, they also have over 4 miles of groomed snowshoe trails for your enjoyment. The cozy chalet offers a comfortable place for guests to enjoy a hot cup of joe, tea or hot chocolate, and a snack by the fire. It is in the cozy chalet that we had our dinner.

Our dinner was traditional Newfoundland Moose Stew. I was a bit leery, I am not a gamey tasting meat kind of person … but when in Newfoundland … do as they do! The list of ingredients include Moose meat, of course … plus a nob of this, or an enormous glob of that and a bunch of the other thing. It might be a tough recipe to follow! I have to admit, it was so good … I could have had a second helping!

We were entertained by a local folk trio but they were only a duo tonight, the Sharecroppers. They are three retired teachers, who learned their harmony was a natural fit! They have been performing together for 35 years. They sing about their homeland, exploration, culture and heritage. Some songs are serious and some songs are silly. But all the songs are good!

There is a rite of passage for those who visit Newfoundland & Labrador and want to be an honorary citizen – this ritual is known as the Screech-in. The caravaneers, us non-Newfoundlanders, also known to Newfoundlanders as a "come from away" or "mainlander", were asked if we wanted to be become a Newfoundlander.

The proper response, of course, would be a hearty "Yes b'y!" We each had to eat a piece of hard tack, which is a hard, dried bread like substance. Back in the day, this was a meal on the fishing boats most of the days! We also enjoyed a piece of "Newfie steak", we us “come from a wayer” would call it a chuck of bologna!

Each holding our shot of Screech, we were asked "Are ye a screecher?" and were taught the proper response: "'Deed I is, me ol' cock! And long may yer big jib draw!" Translated, it means "Yes I am, my old friend, and may your sails always catch wind." Screech is a Newfoundland rum with 40% alcohol by volume. The term screech is a colloquial term that has been used to describe almost any cheap, high alcohol spirit, including moonshine. The term is used in the brand name for this mid-priced rum to associate the brand with this tradition.

Before COVID, a cod fish, is then held up to the lips of each participant, who then bestows the fish with a kiss. Now, we have to give the ole Cod a wink and a nod. Good thing we had the drink before we were asked to wink at the fish! With that, we became an honorary Newfie!

We also learned and sang the unofficial anthem of Newfoundland. "I's The B'y" is a traditional Newfoundland folk song. "I's the B'y" is in the Newfoundland English dialect, and translates to "I'm the Boy" or "I'm the Guy".

Here are the words to the song … I can’t describe the tune!

I'se The B'y that builds the boat, I'se The B'y that sails her; I'se The B'y that catches the fish and brings 'em home to Liza. Hip-yer-partner Sally Thibault, Hip-yer-partner Sally Brown; Fogo, Twillingate, Morton's Harbour, All around the circle.

Salts and rinds to cover your flake, Cake and tea for supper; Cod fish in the spring of the year, Fried in maggoty butter. Hip-yer-partner Sally Thibault, Hip-yer-partner Sally Brown; Fogo, Twillingate, Morton's Harbour, All around the circle.

I don't want your maggoty fish, They're no good for winter; Well I can buy as good as that, Way down in Bonavista! Hip-yer-partner Sally Thibault, Hip-yer-partner Sally Brown; Fogo, Twillingate, Morton's Harbour, All around the circle.

I took Liza to a dance, As fast as she can travel; And every step that she could take, Was up to her knees in gravel. Hip-yer-partner Sally Thibault, Hip-yer-partner Sally Brown; Fogo, Twillingate, Morton's Harbour, All around the circle.

Susan White she's outta sight, Her petticoat wants a border; Well old Sam Oliver in the dark, He kissed her in the corner! Hip-yer-partner Sally Thibault, Hip-yer-partner Sally Brown; Fogo, Twillingate, Morton's Harbour, All around the circle.

I'se The B'y that builds the boat, I'se The B'y that sails her; I'se The B'y that catches the fish, Brings 'em home to Liza. Hip-yer-partner Sally Thibault, Hip-yer-partner Sally Brown; Fogo, Twillingate, Morton's Harbour, All around the circle.

Newfoundland was once its own country. They gave up their independence to become the youngest province in Canada. The official anthem of Newfoundland and Labrador is the Ode to Newfoundland. The Sharecropper and the wait staff at the chalet sang it for us.

Ode to Newfoundland:

When sunrays crown thy pine-clad hills, And Summer spreads her hand, When silvern voices tune thy rills, We love thee smiling land, We love thee, we love thee, We love thee smiling land. When spreads thy cloak of shimm'ring white, At Winter's stern command, Thro' shortened day and starlit night, We love thee frozen land, We love thee, we love thee, We love thee frozen land. When blinding storm gusts fret thy shore, And wild waves lash thy strand, Thro' spindrift swirl and tempest roar, We love thee wind-swept land, We love thee, we love thee, We love thee wind-swept land. As loved our fathers, so we love, Where once they stood we stand, Their prayer we raise to heav'n above, God guard thee Newfoundland, God guard thee, God guard thee, God guard thee Newfoundland.

It goes to show you the pride that they still have in their heritage and are united. Speaking of unity, their unofficial flag is a symbol of unity. The flag of Labrador is used to represent the mainland part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador as distinct from the island of Newfoundland. It was designed in 1973 by Michael S. Martin. The flag has been influential in Labrador; its colors are mirrored in the flag of Nunatsiavut, and its spruce twig was adopted for use on the Franco-Terreneuvien flag. The three colors of the flag, white, green and blue, represent the elements of nature central to life in Labrador: the snow, the land and the water. The three branches of the twig in the top left corner represent the three founding nations of the land: the Innu, the Inuit and the white settlers of the territory. Talk about inclusion, it does not get any better than that!

Tomorrow is another adventure!