Twillingate Island

June 20 to 24: We had less than 200k to drive to get to our next destination, the Dildo Run Provincial Park on New World Island. This is very close to Twillingate. We had lunch in Grand Falls-Windsor and noticed a puddle of something under the Jeep. After closer inspection, it was pink-ish. The Marsh Motors Chrysler was a few minutes away and could hoist the Jeep up. It turns out that this was A/C water contaminated with coolant. Phew, no issues with the Jeep at all. And since we needed an oil change anyway, we got that done. We were waiting for the Jeep and saw this beauty in the showroom.

Shortly after the Jeep maintenance, we stopped in Bishop's Falls to see the Trestle over the Exploits River. This bridge is part of Newfoundland's train history. It is the longest Trestle in Newfoundland and was converted to a pedestrian bridge. We were unable to find more information about the bridge.

Lewisporte Train Park
In Lewisporte, we stopped at the Lewisporte Train Park. The size of the snowplow is an indication of how much snow can fall here. Back on the west coast of Newfoundland, many locals were talking about last winter when they got two meters more snow than their ususal of 6 meters.
The doors were all locked, but we got a good look through the windows of the inside of the locomotive and rail cars. A detailed description at the site explains the history of Newfoundland's railways.

Twillingate
The first night here in the Dildo Run Provincial Park was colder than usual. The small oil-filled heater was a good investment and kept the trailer at a comfortable temperature so that getting up in the morning was more enjoyable. Today a visit to Twillingate was on our list. The town is very busy with tourists and offers many services, such as a Canadian Tire, two hardware and 3 grocery stores . The town has several hotels that can accommodate visitors arriving by tour bus. Needless to say that several restaurants compete with the best seafood, patio and view. Once we left the core of Twillingate, we found some nice spots.

Crow's Nest Café
On our way to see the Long Point Lighthouse, we found the Crow's Nest Café. One of the few coffee shops on our Newfoundland trip where they serve Americano and baked goods like muffins, cookies and pies. There are a few tables inside and tables and benches outside. The setting was very relaxing to kindle a yarn with fellow travellers. The word 'yarn' is Newfoundlandish for 'a story'. We visited the Crow's Nest Café more than once.

Long Point Lighthouse
The Long Point Lighthouse is a popular location. It is not in operation anymore. Several trails around the lighthouse lead to the edge of the cliffs and one goes down to Sleepy Cove. We didn't take this way and turned around just before the last steep drop down to the beach. On the way back to the campgroung, we drove to Sleepy Cove and explored the abandoned copper mine and the remnants that can be found around there.

 
Sleepy Cove
 

Rockcut Twillingate Trails
The Rockcut Twillingate Trails is a collection of several trails. We picked the French Beach Trail and the Spiller's Cove Trail. There are so many alternate routes that we lost track of what part we hiked. The trail is rugged and the view is well worth the effort. We were looking for the 'Hole in the wall' without success, but considered the hike a mission accomplished.

 
 
 
Annie's Harbour Restaurant in Twillingate was the reward for our hard work. They offer fresh local seafood like lobster, cod, and snow crab. We had a lobster and a moose burger. Talking about moose burger. They carry moose meat in butcher shops. Unlike Ontario, it is legal to sell and serve game meat like moose and rabbit.

Pikes Arm Lookout
We were exploring the harbours and coves that are nowhere mentioned in a travel guide and came to Pikes Arm. We saw the sign for the Pikes Arm Lookout Trail. The weather was great and we wouldn't miss this opportunity to get a good look over the small harbour and islands. This was a lucky find that led to a stunning panoramic view. When you visit the place, don't forget to leave some money in the donation box for the trail maintenance. They keep it in excellent condition. The trail is @ 49.64718, -54.58295

Webber Bight
We drove on a rough road for 1km from Tizzard's Harbour to Webber Bight. We followed a weathered wooden sign to the beach, hoping to find an unknown gem. Well, it was very well known to the locals as the picnic table and fireplaces indicated. If it's good enough for them, it is good enough for me to go for a swim. The wind was warm and onshore. The water temperature was 19C degrees, but it felt way colder. The beach is @ 49.60064 -54.80403