Corner Brook and the Bay of Islands

Randy said since Newfoundland is the home of Mary Brown Chicken we have to try it. I took him up on that and set our destination to the location outside Deer Lake. It was surprisingly good for fast food and the staff was over the top friendly. The drive from Deer Lake to Cornerbrook was very pretty. Cornerbrook is built on many levels so interesting to navigate through. We picked up some supplies and looked for downtown parking. We wanted to visit Boomstick Brewery. Just as we found the brewery it started to pour so we went in and sat at the bar. It was very upscale, more like a nice restaurant but the beer was good. A couple who looked familiar came in and Randy figured out we passed them on the Tablelands Trail. We had a great visit, a perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon in the city. We parked at the visitors center for the night. The next morning we headed to the Bay of Islands. This area has applied to be considered a Unesco Heritage Site and the application is under consideration. It was another spectacular drive and we went all the way to Bottle Cove Beach for a really good hike. There was also a nice boardwalk along the beach. We met a lovely dog and her owner on the boardwalk and found out the ship wreck was a short distance away in Cedar Cove. We decided against visiting it and went to Blow Me Down Provincial Park instead. I love the names. The park was closed but we could walk in and do a little exploring. Oh and we ran into the couple we spent yesterday afternoon with. Too funny. We drove back towards Cornerbrook and stopped for the night at Humber Arm South Day Park. We parked in a level spot with a fabulous view and the sound of a waterfall in the background. The small community built this park and welcomes travelers. Spotless washrooms and showers open 24 hours, a couple of trails, a gazebo with built in propane barbecues and free starlink. There was a small circular walk through the woods called Trail of Our Ancestors. Every few feet there was a painting done by local artists depicting part of day to day life through the years. There were communities on some of the islands that had been relocated as recently as the 1960s. It was so well done and is a work in progress. We met a few locals who were volunteering and they were so welcoming. This province continues to amaze me. A couple of vans and one c class also spent the night. What a great place.Read more