I set off on a quick trip on Tuesday – Now finding the time
to sit down, basking in the sun, in the back garden I have written down my
observations, comments, whatever… Forgive the ramblings. Enjoy/endure.
With the news that I am through to the next stage of my visa, and one and a half days off from work, I felt pretty damn good. Add in to the mix one part cold, lonely house, with a girlfriend the other side of the Atlantic, and one part feeling adventurous, the scene was set for a microadventure.
I have taken a few hitchhiking trips in Newfoundland (my home for the previous 9 months, and *touch wood* the next 15 months) before this one, each with varying degrees of success. Few of them have been documented on here.
The weather was reasonable, and the premise was simple;
Hitchhike after work to somewhere cool, and sleep under the stars (somewhere
equally as cool). I’d then return the next day, in order to make work for
9.45am on the Thursday.
I got off to a great start, with a friend (thanks Valerie!) driving me to a petrol station out of town, on the Trans Canada Highway (TCH). She also allowed me to gorge myself on some of her leftover birthday cake.
Within twenty minutes of setting myself and my bag down, I was on the way along the TCH with a part time man of the cloth/part time hairdresser, providing my wheels! Conversation flowed, and within 30minutes he’d already offered me a job on behalf of his mate – As a stonemason! Furthermore, Derek insisted I take HIS contact details so that when I was next out his way, he could take my girlfriend Elissa and I on a tour of the area. Nice bloke.
However, just before disembarking from Derek’s car, the heavens decided to open. My microadventure under the stars could turn into a washout… But never one to let a little bit of rain put paid to my oft ill conceived plans; I decided to plod on, to my as yet undetermined destination. I sought shelter under a highway flyover, and once again stuck my thumb out.
My next lift was with Cordell, an educator who has recently moved back to Newfoundland. He was en route to Gander to see his mother. Again, the conversation flowed, and after a quick text to my buddy John to find out what to do in the Gander/Twillingate areas I decided, on a whim to head up that way with Cordell.
John came through big time. Bearing in mind the weather, he had already okayed it with his parents for me to stay with them in Lewisporte! Fantastic stuff – No rainy night out in my bivvy!!! Not only that – the welcome I received upon entering their abode was akin to that of a long lost son. Cordell dropped me at their door, and I was welcomed with not just open arms, but opened beers and an open fridge. Boooyah!! The next few hours were spent socialising, not just with them, but also with their daughter Becky (back visiting from outta town) and their friends! And, before bed, I was invited by Becky to go iceberg hunting with them all in Twillingate the next morning.
After a night under the ceiling, and home cooked food, I woke up in a jovial mood (with obvious good reason), and the lingering blanket of fog did little to dampen that. Passing little towns, hamlets and communities along the way we were welcomed into Twillingate by a big old berg. More followed. And with the aforementioned fog, the views out from the lighthouse were mystical and awe inspiring. And later that day I was treated to the Newfoundland delicacy; cod tongues. It felt as if I was slowly turning into a Newfoundlander.
I got off to a great start, with a friend (thanks Valerie!) driving me to a petrol station out of town, on the Trans Canada Highway (TCH). She also allowed me to gorge myself on some of her leftover birthday cake.
Within twenty minutes of setting myself and my bag down, I was on the way along the TCH with a part time man of the cloth/part time hairdresser, providing my wheels! Conversation flowed, and within 30minutes he’d already offered me a job on behalf of his mate – As a stonemason! Furthermore, Derek insisted I take HIS contact details so that when I was next out his way, he could take my girlfriend Elissa and I on a tour of the area. Nice bloke.
However, just before disembarking from Derek’s car, the heavens decided to open. My microadventure under the stars could turn into a washout… But never one to let a little bit of rain put paid to my oft ill conceived plans; I decided to plod on, to my as yet undetermined destination. I sought shelter under a highway flyover, and once again stuck my thumb out.
My next lift was with Cordell, an educator who has recently moved back to Newfoundland. He was en route to Gander to see his mother. Again, the conversation flowed, and after a quick text to my buddy John to find out what to do in the Gander/Twillingate areas I decided, on a whim to head up that way with Cordell.
John came through big time. Bearing in mind the weather, he had already okayed it with his parents for me to stay with them in Lewisporte! Fantastic stuff – No rainy night out in my bivvy!!! Not only that – the welcome I received upon entering their abode was akin to that of a long lost son. Cordell dropped me at their door, and I was welcomed with not just open arms, but opened beers and an open fridge. Boooyah!! The next few hours were spent socialising, not just with them, but also with their daughter Becky (back visiting from outta town) and their friends! And, before bed, I was invited by Becky to go iceberg hunting with them all in Twillingate the next morning.
After a night under the ceiling, and home cooked food, I woke up in a jovial mood (with obvious good reason), and the lingering blanket of fog did little to dampen that. Passing little towns, hamlets and communities along the way we were welcomed into Twillingate by a big old berg. More followed. And with the aforementioned fog, the views out from the lighthouse were mystical and awe inspiring. And later that day I was treated to the Newfoundland delicacy; cod tongues. It felt as if I was slowly turning into a Newfoundlander.
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| Mystical views at Twillingate lighthouse |
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| Icebergs at Twillingate |
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| Icebergs at Twillingate |
After lunch, Becky and her daughter drove me out to Gander. It was going to be
hard going to make St John’s in the same good time I made Lewisporte the day
before, but I felt the 9-10hrs I allowed myself would be ample time in order to
make work the next morning, at 9.45am.
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| The open road |
The lifts back from Gander to (near) Charlottetown were short, but plentiful,
encompassing a wide spectrum of society – Managers, security officials, off
duty taxi drivers, young, old, male, female, couples. There was another job
offer too!! However, due to construction, I was progressing slowly. It was
getting dark. Quickly. I was going to have to find somewhere off the road to
camp out for the night, ready to start the journey again the next morning, at
day break. But I kept telling myself ‘just one more half hour’ – It was now
near midnight. No-one was driving past, and who in their right mind would pick
up a bedraggled lone hitchhiker along the side of the road in the middle of
nowhere? AT night?!?
Then Michelle came along. She was on a night time drive to clear her head. Our conversation was stifled. I wasn’t even sure she liked me. But I was really appreciative of the lift. She could take me 15mins down the road. 15mins down the road is 15mins down the road. 15mins I wouldn’t have to hitch in the morning. But upon getting out the car she then proposed I stay in her spare room for the night – She would set her alarm for 5.30am, and drive me back to the highway. I quickly weighed up my options, and found myself heading back the way I came, to stay in her spare room for the night.
Out of bed by 5.30am, and back on the highway by 5.45am I had some serious hitchhiking to do! And boy did I do it?! One favour (thanks Tessa), one lorry driver, and one newspaper delivery driver later I was at work – only 30mins late. I just hope work don’t read this, and find out the real reason I was late. (Sorry – But I guess this is a kind of car trouble?!)
Then Michelle came along. She was on a night time drive to clear her head. Our conversation was stifled. I wasn’t even sure she liked me. But I was really appreciative of the lift. She could take me 15mins down the road. 15mins down the road is 15mins down the road. 15mins I wouldn’t have to hitch in the morning. But upon getting out the car she then proposed I stay in her spare room for the night – She would set her alarm for 5.30am, and drive me back to the highway. I quickly weighed up my options, and found myself heading back the way I came, to stay in her spare room for the night.
Out of bed by 5.30am, and back on the highway by 5.45am I had some serious hitchhiking to do! And boy did I do it?! One favour (thanks Tessa), one lorry driver, and one newspaper delivery driver later I was at work – only 30mins late. I just hope work don’t read this, and find out the real reason I was late. (Sorry – But I guess this is a kind of car trouble?!)
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| Sign found on the side of the TCH |
Despite the stress of being late for work, despite not achieving a night of
camping (thanks weather), and despite the short sleeps, I rocked up to work
refreshed, and with a warm glow – Glad to have witnessed and experienced an
essence of the Newfoundland outside of St John’s. I’ll be doing it again – So
work, be warned.
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