Cape Spear (2019)

“Lighting up the dark so bright…
For all of those who sail by night.”

 

 We re-visited Cape Spear Lighthouse on a lovely sunny day during our St. John's 2019 family vacation.

   

There are many steps to climb and it can get cool, wear practical shoes and bring a jacket.

Exploring Cape Spear, Newfoundland and Labrador

“Cape Spear has two lighthouses – a newer one (1950’s) and the restored original (1830’s).” – Going everywhere

Bleached planks.

“The oldest surviving lighthouse in Newfoundland and Labrador is located at the most easterly point of land in North America. It has been restored to its 1839 appearance and shows how a lightkeeper and his family might have lived in the mid-19th century. The Visitor Centre contains exhibits on the history of lighthouses and the tradition of lightkeeping. The site is surrounded by spectacular scenery and wildlife such as whales, seabirds and icebergs in season.”  – Parks Canada

"Welcome, come inside."

"The original Cape Spear lighthouse is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Newfoundland and the location has been designated a National Historic Site of Canada." - Wikipedia

 

  "In 1836, a white stone lighthouse was built on Canada’s eastern tip and Emanuel Warre became its first keeper, watching over the souls that traversed the rough Atlantic seas into the harbour of St. John’s"- Fly porter.

Inside the old lighthouse.

"Today the historic lighthouse has been restored to its original appearance and furnished as a light keeper's residence from the mid-19th century."-  Gone with the family

Can you imagine carrying the furniture up these steps?

 

  “Because of its proximity to convoy routes during the second World War, a gun batterywas installed at Cape Spear to defend the entrance to St. John’s harbor. Barracks and underground passages leading to the bunkers were built for the use of troops stationed there.’ – Wikipedia

 

  "In 1940 the Canadian and American Permanent Joint Board on Defense saw Cape Spears potential and began building a heavy artillery site here. Two large concrete gun batteries were built into the hillside and were connected by underground tunnels. Built off the tunnels were many large rooms used for ammunition storage and living areas. Administration buildings, barracks, a canteen, and shelters were built nearby as well. "- Hidden Newfoundland.

Posters inside.

Cape Spear Battery And The Blackhead 'Dummy' Battery

The new concrete Cape Spear lighthouse, was constructed in 1955

"The farthest Four Corners of Canada in every cardinal direction hosts a place in the Parks Canada network: Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site to the East; Kluane National Park and Reserve to the West; Point Pelee National Park to the South; and Quttinirpaaq National Park to the North."- 






"Cape Spear National Historic Site is not only historically important, the area is also beautiful and teeming with life. A place of historic significance and of natural beauty, Cape Spear is a fantastic getaway for you and your family."-Home Away.



"Stark white Cape Spear Lighthouse pierces a sky swirling with seabirds atop a craggy headland. It overlooks a vast expanse of indigo ocean where glittering processions of icebergs glide by, Humpback whales breach and pods of porpoises send misty spouts into the Atlantic air."- Historic places day.

RELATED 

Cape Spear - St. John's - Hiking Newfoundland

Cape Spear: The Lighthouse And Its Keeper

Standing on the Edge of North America at Cape Spear

CAPE SPEAR LIGHTHOUSE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

Iceberg Finder.

“From downtown St. John’s, to Cape Spear- explore with St. John’s’ only Hop On Hop Off! Perched on the edge of the North Atlantic,  St. John’s is known for stunning ocean fronts, its brightly coloured Jelly Bean Row houses, its unique culture, history, and more! With tons of sightseeing to do, you won’t want to miss out.” – St. John’s Hop On Hop Off

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Cape Spear Lighthouses, 2015.

TOKELOSHE ©

Opal Falls

"Located in Peter Lougheed Provinical Park, Opal falls are multi-leveled falls found within the rocky fissures west of Mount Wintour. By following Opal Creek for fifteen minutes upstream, you find an intriguing spot surrounding the falls area -- with steep scree and rock slopes, and high rock faces. Due to the splits in the mountain that yield Opal Creek, the falls area is quite unique and allows for scrambling on either side of the falls. On our visit, we saw a few mountain goats and many traces of them in the creek and falls area. With luck, animals will be all you'll see as this area is fairly unvisited. The trail to the falls is easy, however not marked. You may need to cross the creek several times along the way. To get there, take Hwy 40 into Kananaskis from the Transcanada Hwy. Proceed into Peter Lougheed Park, staying on Hwy 40 past the Hwy 140 turn-off. You will continue along Hwy 40 towards Highwood. (From the Hwy 140 turnoff, this part of Hwy 40 is closed during the winter months.) After approximately 5 kilometres, take the Valleyview dirt road, on the eastern side of the road. Shortly after turning off Hwy 40, you cross a bridge over Opal Creek. Park on the left side of the road and proceed upstream to the falls. " http://macdonald.typepad.com/

Related: Opal Falls

Troll falls

Labor day weekend we went to Troll falls, which is close to Nakiska. It is very well named as there is a small cave, moss and it is dark. We rode halfway there with our bicycles, we met some nice people on the hike who joined us later at Opal falls again, Mr. T. climbed higher this time and took some photos of the top falls, which one can’t see from where we were.

Grotto Canyon

In Alberta, Heritage Day is celebrated on the first Monday in August. We went hiking at Grotto Canyon, (20 degrees) which is close to Canmore and popular for mountain and ice climbing. On our way there we saw an eagle at Glen Eagles, Cochran. It is an easy, but interesting hike. There were mountain climbers, a waterfall, Hopi Indian pictographs, friendly hikers, Hoodoos, and the walls are lovely.
On our way back we saw a few seaplanes filling up with water from Ghost dam and dropping it onto the forest fires.

Karst Spring

We saw 2 Moose on our way to Karst Spring, (see photos) close to Watridge Lake and Shark Mountain. A lovely moss covered fairyland, in a Boreal forest, where the water comes out of caves in the mountain (21 degrees). There were many friendly hikers. The water is v-e-r-y cold.

Name: Karst Spring Hiking Trail
Distance: 9.5 km return.
Time: 3 1/2 hours return. Difficulty Rating: Light
Elevation gain: 200 metres.

Location: From Canmore, drive 39 km south on the Smith-Dorrien / Spray Trail (Highway 742 - gravel road) which begins just past the Canmore Nordic Centre. Turn right 5 km. to the Mount Shark parking lot, where you will find the trailhead. This trail leads to Karst Spring, where boulders and driftwood are covered with bright green moss. The gentle elevation gain makes this hike a favorite with families, and the cool air near Karst Spring is appreciated on hot summer days. The first 3.6 km. are open to bicycles. Walking on the gravel road leads you through the Mount Shark Trail System into the forest above Watridge Lake, where a short descent puts you at the shore of this lake known for its trout fishing (don't forget your licence). Then follow the boardwalk and climb the trail along the creek to where Karst Spring bursts out of a rock face. The spring drains from passageways between limestone layers of Shark Ridge creating a Karst formation. Snow and rain water seep into cracks and dissolve the rock, creating tunnels from which streams begin.

Karst: The word ”karst” refers to a type of terrain, usually formed on carbonate rock (limestone and dolomite) where groundwater has solutionally- enlarged openings to form a subsurface drainage system. A mild carbonic acid produced from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, particularly the soil atmosphere, is primarily responsible for the solvent power of groundwater on carbonate rocks.
A trip to Karst Springs provides a sensational drive and a hike brimming with scenic surprises. The sites include the Smith-Dorrien trail and valley, beautiful Spray Lakes, an old logging trail, gushing Watridge Creek, shady forest paths, shimmering Watridge Lake, a boardwalk over a swamp, a short, steep climb and then to top it all off, a huge spring thundering directly out of Shark Mountain.

Butter pot Park

We had sunshine last Sunday and went snowshoeing at Butter pot Park. It is popular for cross-country skiing. There were people pulling sleds with kettles and stuff to have a “boil up”, using snow. Something, which we still want to try. Once Mr. T. went hunting in Calgary and they had tea made with snow melted in a tin can. When we got the kids were playing in the snow, trying to build an igloo.

“One of the most popular customs of people who love the outdoors is a day out in the woods or at stream side where there is opportunity to relax, build a small fire, and boil a small bit of water to make a cup of tea and enjoy a small lunch. The 'boil up", as it is called, is an integral part of any outdoor excursion and to some people more important than shooting game or catching fish.”

Bull Head Lighthouse

“I go to nature to be soothed and healed,
and to have my senses put in order.”
- John Burroughs

We hiked to Bull Head Lighthouse, which is part of the East Coast Trail in Newfoundland  on “Armistice day” (11.11.02)  It was a lovely 12 degrees Celsius although misty day.

"The lighthouse is accessible on foot from the community of Bay Bulls. The three-mile trail to the lighthouse is part of the East Coast trail."
- Lighthouse Depot

Please click here for a map of the East Coast Trail

It took us about 4 hours to do the 8 km. There are lovely coves, rocks and not a place to hike if you have a fear of heights.   Apparently there are ship wrecks in Bay bulls harbor. We met other friendly hikers

The lighthouse was built in 1908, the door stood ajar and we could go inside where we could see Gull island from the top. 

I think it would be a great place to look for whales and icebergs.

 Please click on the thumb-nail.

Beaches Path

The purpose of hiking Beaches Path was to get closer to the Iceberg near Mobile, but the hike itself is beautiful. Also part of the East Coast Trail, we set out from Witless Bay on a beautiful sunny day, of 15 degrees.

“Witless Bay Ecological reserve:
This province has one of the largest concentrations of seabirds in the world. Every year, millions of seabirds leave the open ocean and come to land to breed. Here, in one of Newfoundland and Labrador's seabird reserves, over 1,000,000 pairs of seabirds gather to breed during the summer months. Located just off the coast from Witless Bay are four islands comprising the reserve. They are Gull, Green, Pee Pee and Great islands. Here is the largest Atlantic Puffin colony in North America and the second largest Leach's Storm Petrel colony in the world”

The trail is very well kept with bridges, boardwalks, many stepping stones, wildflowers and signs. The walk along the beach with shaded parts between the trees and covered with moss; looks as if fairies live there. There is a lovely stone bench on which is written: “If you don’t walk there, you won’t see it’
There were many tour small boats in the sea, but we didn’t see any whales or Puffins. If you look at the horizon with binoculars, it is covered with birds.

The iceberg had started breaking up, but had diagonal blue stripes along it. Our dog enjoys the hikes as well and is dead tired afterwards. We hiked about 4 k’s to Witless point, where we saw the wreck “Apennine” (1919). There are also many wrecks along this hike. From there you can see Mobile. We lay in the sun for a while and then returned.