jskinnell

Our Canadian Maritimes Adventure Week 9 (Part 2) – Terra Nova and Bellevue Beach

We continued our trip around Newfoundland with a visit to Terra Nova National Park. We stayed several days at Newman Sound Campground, which gave us plenty of time to do a couple of hikes and explore the Visitor’s Center.

Terra Nova Visitor’s Center

This unique visitor’s center had a gift shop, a small cafe where we got lunch one day during a hike, an interpretation center, and even a “touch tank”. While we did not touch the sea creatures, we did get an amazing up close look at the sealife that is in the water just outside the door.

A crustacean, possibly a crab, on a bed of smooth stones in a shallow container, with an urchin visible nearby.
A crab resting among green seaweed and yellow beads in a shallow aquatic environment.
Close-up of a sea urchin on rocky sandy ground, surrounded by pebbles and shells.
A close-up view of a cluster of black mussels on a sandy beach, with a small purple starfish resting on top, surrounded by various pebbles and shells.
A starfish with a pink hue resting on rocky surfaces, surrounded by smaller stones and marine debris.
A large crab with reddish-brown shell and limbs, resting on a bed of pebbles and sand, near the edge of a rocky surface.
An interactive tank exhibit displaying various marine organisms and rocky substrates in shallow water, with educational signage visible in the background.

Hiking in Terra Nova

Coastal Trail

The next day we left from our campground and hiked the Coastal Trail. This 6-mile trail is marked easy to moderate, however it is definitely more on the moderate side. Good hiking boots were a must as we walked through wetter spots and climbed up rocky paths. However, it goes along the coast so the elevation gain isn’t bad.

The trail goes from the campground to the visitor’s center where we had the lunch I talked about earlier. After resting for a bit, a bathroom break, and water refill, we headed back to the campground. Along the way back, we stopped by a pretty waterfall. It was a very nice hike.

A couple takes a selfie in front of a trail information sign in a forested area, wearing sun hats and sunglasses.
A woman wearing sunglasses and a patterned jacket stands on a wooded trail beside large rocks and trees.
A serene landscape featuring a tranquil body of water surrounded by greenery and a cloudy sky.
A man and woman stand together on a beach by a lake, wearing hats and sunglasses, with green hills and a cloudy sky in the background.
A scenic view of a calm lake surrounded by lush green trees and distant hills under a cloudy sky.
A man and a woman smiling for a selfie by a waterfall in a lush green forest.
A cascading waterfall surrounded by lush green foliage and rocky terrain.

Ochre Hill Trail

The next day we drove to the start of the Ochre Hill Trail. This trail was a 3.1 mile roundtrip and gave us a workout with more climbing. But the views at the top, as usual, were worth it.

Serene lake surrounded by lush green trees under a clear blue sky.
A panoramic view of misty mountains and dense evergreen forests under a hazy sky.
A panoramic view of a serene lake surrounded by lush green forests and rolling hills under a clear blue sky.
A person standing on a rocky outcrop overlooking a vast green landscape of trees and hills, taking a photograph with a camera.
Aerial view of a rocky cliff overlooking a forested valley and a lake in the background.
A panoramic view of a serene landscape featuring multiple lakes, dense forests, and distant hills under a clear sky.
A man and woman posing for a selfie on a hiking trail with a scenic view of a forested landscape and a lake in the background.
Person standing on a rocky ledge, overlooking a vast forested valley and lake under a clear sky.

Terra Nova should definitely be on your list as you travel around Newfoundland.

Bellevue Beach

We spent a couple of days camping at Bellevue Beach RV Park. While the views of the bay were spectacular, it was quite windy and there was a boil water alert. So we decided to keep our time there short and plan one day to explore the Avalon Peninsula. We were surprised at the amount of history in such a small area.

Brigus

We began our day by taking a drive to the port town of Brigus. Someone had suggested we go to The Mercantile, but there was more there than that.

We started by visiting the Ye Olde Stone Barn Museum. Built in 1825, this is the only stone structure left in Brigus. However, inside are 2 stories worth of the history of the town, with many artifacts being donated by residents.

A stone building labeled as a museum, featuring a red door and a sign indicating that it is open for visitors. The surrounding area includes greenery and a white picket fence.
Interior of a museum room featuring wooden walls and display cases filled with artifacts, including a large spinning wheel and historical photographs.

Once we were done, the docent told us we must take the short walk to The Tunnel. What is this tunnel they speak of? Well, as Brigus was once a major shipping port, the powers that be decided it was too difficult to unload and load cargo by going up and over the hill. So, they built a tunnel through it! There is also a wonderful little park and views of the bay beyond.

Person standing in front of a rocky tunnel entrance on a gravel path, surrounded by grass and rocks, under a partly cloudy sky.
A tranquil view of a calm sea reflecting the sky, with distant rocky hills and greenery along the shoreline.
A metal sculpture resembling boat sails, situated by a waterfront with a plaque detailing its significance. In the background are residential buildings and a lush green landscape under a blue sky.

Amelia Earhart

Yes, that Amelia Earhart. Her first flight across the Atlantic was from a small runway in the town of Harbour Grace. While the runway is now just a patch of grass up a gravel road (which we chose not to see), there is a nice memorial to her along with waterfront.

Along with the “Spirit of Harbour Grace”, this loving tribute to Amelia Earhart was donated to the city of Harbour Grace by resident and pilot Roger W. Pike.

A vintage airplane displayed as a monument, named 'Spirit of Harbour Grace', surrounded by greenery and flags under a clear blue sky.
Close-up view of the cockpit of a vintage aircraft with a propeller, featuring a smiling pilot in the cockpit, set against a clear blue sky and green landscape.
A bronze statue of a man in a suit stands on a pedestal in front of a vintage aircraft under a clear blue sky. The scene is set in a grassy area with informational signs and people in the background.
A bronze statue of a young aviator stands in the foreground, with a vintage airplane in the background. The scene features a clear blue sky and people exploring nearby informational displays.
Information plaque detailing the history of the aircraft 'Spirit of Harbour Grace' (CF-QBI) with images of the plane and log entries.
A plaque honoring Roger W. Pike and his contributions to Harbour Grace, featuring text about the legacy of Amelia Earhart and the 'Spirit of Harbour Grace' airplane, with a photo of Pike smiling near the airplane.

A large, weathered ship anchored in calm waters, surrounded by greenery on the shoreline. The ship has a rusty exterior with visible signs of decay.

Look further out into the harbour and you’ll find this wreckage of the SS Kyle. This used to be an iceberg cutter. Ironically, many years ago it ran into a large iceberg and limped into port town to be fixed. Before that could happen, a large storm broke the ship loose from its moorings, blowing it into the harbour where it became lodged in the earth. They decided to abandon the project and leave it where it still sits today.

A short drive from here is the Conception Bay Museum. Here, you will find more information about the history of this area. There is a portion dedicated to the history of flight in the area and well as the role pirates played here and on the seas.

Heart’s Content

Our next stop was the small town of Heart’s Content, and more specifically the Heart’s Content Cable Station. Believe it or not, this small town was where the first wired telegraph was sent across the Atlantic in 1866!

As this important part of communication grew, so did this small town. Eventually, Western Union took over and ran this station until the 1960s. When this form of communication was no longer necessary, Western Union left town. Fortunately for all of us, they left the operating equipment completely intact!

I took a lot of pictures, so here’s a slide show of the cables, wires, and equipment used.

Across the road you can still see where the cable would have come in from the water. It is now covered with a black tarp so folks won’t go in the tunnel.

Why this small town? Well, the ship needed to carry such a huge amount of cable and roll it out across the Atlantic ocean needed a deep harbour. This was the deepest along the Eastern seaboard. They actually converted a large passenger cruise ship to carry the cable. It was quite a huge undertaking and a fascinating piece of history.

A stone monument commemorating the landing of the first Atlantic telegraph cable in 1858 and its subsequent improvement in 1866, located near the ocean.
A collection of large rocks and pebbles on a shore, with some vegetation and a piece of black material scattered among the rocks.
Informational sign about Heart's Content as the landing site of the first successful transatlantic cable, featuring historical imagery and a brief description of the event.
Informational sign about Heart's Content, detailing its history and significance with images of the area and its development.

Dildo

Okay, so the town of Dildo may not have a lot of history behind it, but it is its more recent past that had us intrigued. First of all, let me explain why the town has this name.

On a small boat called a Dory, which is used for fishing off the coast of Newfoundland, the small pieces of wood that hold the oars is called a Dildo. Now that we have that question answered, here is why we had to go.

Several years ago, Jimmy Kimmel heard about the town and their dubious name. He decided he had to do something for the town. He paid for them to have their own version of the “Hollywood” sign put up above their town. The stunt worked, and now people flock to Dildo to see the sign and have a beverage and a meal at Dildo Brewing Company. They even named Jimmy the honorary mayor.

A mountainous forest landscape with a sign reading 'DILDO' prominently displayed among the trees.
Sign for Dildo Brewing Co. & Museum displayed on a wall.
A humorous campaign poster featuring the phrase 'JIMMY ♥ DILDO KIMMEL FOR MAYOR' on a blue background.
Exterior view of Dildo Brewing Co., a bright yellow building with a sign, featuring motorcycles parked in front and a clear blue sky.
A man and a woman taking a selfie by a calm body of water, with a scenic view of a green hill and a small town in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Conclusion

As you can see, there is quite a lot to do in these two locations. We loved exploring Terra Nova and this part of the Avalon Peninsula.

Our final stop is St. John’s before we hop on the boat and make our way to Nova Scotia.

We’re Mike & Jennifer Skinnell, and together we are The Rambling Quilter. We travel the country full-time in our 42 ft. fifth-wheel pulled by our F-450. Jennifer writes our blog, travel articles, contemporary romance, cozy mysteries, and “Don’t Wait – Our Full-Time Journey Through Breast Cancer”. Our blog is purely for information and entertainment purposes. However, if you’d like to support Jennifer’s writing career, her author link to her books is below.

Jennifer’s Author Site

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