Canada

After our trip to the Lotters, we headed off to Newfoundland in Canada to visit Mike, Kath & the girls.

We had an hour wait in Newark when we landed and grabbed our first New York pizza slice, which wasn't very nice, I think because we were in the airport. We went in a TINY plane to Newfoundland which was a little scary but we arrived safely.

Mike met us at the airport and we headed home to Kath - it was really great to see them again.  We sat chatting and drinking coffee for the rest of the evening. Their house is beautiful and done so tastefully - it made us feel so at home.

The next morning we woke up to some snow - apparently not very much but plenty for me (who was waiting to wake up to snow for over 2 weeks !)  Of course I ran straight out onto the deck barefoot and very excited and even managed to get Hudson out to join me. 



Signal Hill

Later that morning we walked down town to meet Mike for lunch - it was SO cold !  We went to a quaint little place and had some very tasty warm food before walking back home - although there was no snow falling my legs were freezing and the wind was icy.

View from Signal Hill

They had invited all their friends for a cheese and wine the that evening and we met so many people - they really have made a great group of friends and it was so nice to meet them all although I must admit I couldnt remember all their names.

Supper at Yellow Belly

We went to watch the girls do a skating show and the boys made their way onto the ice to try their out their skills.  They did okay and there weren't too many falls or injuries - the girls were awesome on the ice !

We then headed out to their cabin for new year.  What an awesome place.  Its not too far from their house so it was a pleasant drive out.  Their cabin is off a "pond" (which we would call a lake/dam) - it apparently freezes in a "proper" winter over but was still beautiful - you could just imagine what it would look like in summer.

New Years was a blast.  A few of their friends joined us at the cabin and the kids had an awesome time dancing and playing games.  When the clock struct 00h00 we let off some fire works then the mad ones around us headed of to lake and had a polar bear swim.  I must just tell you that I wasn't one of them but Aaron and Campbell joined in and froze.  It was very funny to watch and even funnier when they got out the water !

Aaron thinks he's very "cool" after the polar bear swim !



And in goes Cams - you can actually see the snow flakes !

 The next day we went off for a bit of sight seeing and to visit some friends in a near by village.  The houses are awesome - all very colourful and quaint and exactly what you see in the movies.

Hudson laughing at Lolly while she sizes up Amelia

The next few days were spent in and around the area - we  went to the little fishing village where Amelia Earhart took off across the Pacific.  We went to the memorial for her where there is a replica of her plane and then we headed off to the airfield where she took off from.  It was amazing standing there knowing that history had been made right where we were.

Hudson "taking off" on Amelia's run way





 Back at the house we managed to get in some sightseeing of Newfoundland town - the Geo centre where they show you all the different rock types and how Newfoundland began and learnt that when the Titanic sank, Newfoundland was the closest point to the ship - they had a whole display of the Titanic and details about how it could have been avoided etc - very interesting.

We went to Cape Spear which is the eastern most tip of Canada - really beautiful place with a huge light house - but oh my goodness it was cold !

We also got to see a real live hockey game - what an experience.  It is so fast and very dirty !  You can basically do what you want except kill someone on the ice !  It was awesome to watch and the kids sat right up close to the glass and jumped everytime someone pushed another player into the glass.  We really did enjoy that.

Before heading off to the game we ordered pizza and were shocked - apparently the Americans do everything big but I think the Canadians are close behind !

One of our last dinners was at one of their friends house's.  They made the traditional Newfoundland meal which I couldnt repeat now, but it was really an experience and very tasty.  If you think about it being a fishing village where all their fruit and green veggies are shipped in, they have to make do with things that grow on the island (and not much food does grow there) they are really creative with their food.  It was a really nice evening and we were sad it came to an end.

It is such a beautiful little town with so much history and interesting facts - you can just imagine all the old ships coming in and docking - I just loved it and it is really like you see it in the movies !  A really special place.

Eventually our time with the Stringer was up and we were so sad to leave them but very happy to see where they lived and that they are settled and happy.

Thank you Stringers for looking after us so well and spoiling us - we miss you and can't wait to see you all again - in SA where its warmer !