On the Discovery Trail (Part 1)

Happy Thursday everyone!!!

This past weekend the boyfriend and I did some at home tourism. By at home I mean 3 hours drive one way and camping for the (long) weekend at one of Newfoundland's beautiful provincial parks. The beauty of it all was that it was so spontaneous. I was simply driving to work thinking 'what on earth am I going to do this weekend'... things have been kinda stalled on the home construction front and the weather man was calling for our best weekend of weather yet! Long weekend + beautiful weather + nothing to do = CAMPING of course. So that's where it all started.

Now I should tell you I have probably only been camping in my adult life just a handful of times. I'm not a fan of anything that buzzes, creeps or crawls in the woods so I usually just try and stay away from it all. BUT as my camping epiphany hit me all that went out the door. I was going to go camping and that was it! But where. There are about dozen or so official camp grounds about the province and I kinda wanted to branch out of the 'go-to' places that I visited most as a child (Terra Nova and Butterpot parks- don't you just love those names!!!!). After a quick conversation with a coworker and the desire not to drive too much Lockston Path Provincial Park on the Discovery Trial (aka highway) became the destination for the weekend.

Cape Bonavista Coast Line

Now, I won't bore you with too much history BUT the Discovery Trial lies on a particularly historically important peninsula in Newfoundland. The Bonavista Peninsula and the town of Bonavista marks the very discovery of the isle of Newfoundland by the British sponsored and Italian explorer Giovanni Caboto (or John Cabot as he is known here). It is said that upon arrival the ocean was simply teeming with cod, which eventually became a huge trade industry for the Brits as they colonized - somewhat unwillingly - the Island of Newfoundland. The Bonavista Peninsula was also a huge epicenter of fishery as well, evidence of which remains to this day. I hadn't been to this area since I was 10-12 years old so it was great to re-discover all the sights.

First up was Bonavista with it's picturesque fishing town vibe, the Ryan Premises and their iconic lighthouse. The wonderful thing about Bonavista is that they have really committed themselves to preserving history through their historical sites. The Ryan Premises is a perfect example of this. Mr. Ryan was (some 200 years ago) a very powerful and wealthy fishing merchant. So now the federal government has turned all the buildings he owned including his house into a story of the rise and fall of the cod fishery in Newfoundland. 

Bonavista

View from the Ryan Premises

Out-building of the Ryan Premises

The Boyfriend and I at the Bonavista Lighthouse

Bonavista Lighthouse

I should also mention that before heading back to the campsite for the night we made sure to stuff ourselves FULL with the freshest and most delicious fish and chips that this planet has to offer :) and I don't even really like fish and chips hahaha

Well folks I think that's about it for Part 1!

Lots more to tell so I think that will have to wait for my next blog post!

Until next time :)

Melissa