The last set I’ll be publishing of my Newfoundland trip. It was quite simply the best vacation I’e ever been on.

Quidi Vidi (pronounced Kiddy Viddy) is essentially  a town within a town.

Being a beer connoisseur, I wanted the QV Brewery tour. The tour was great fun, with lots of laughs and some beer tasting. If you’re in St. John’s, you have to check it out, and if you live in Alberta, you’re in the only other province that sells QV Beer. I recommend “7″, which is quite possibly the smoothest 7% beer I’ve ever tasted!

After our tour, Sarah and I headed for a bite at “Ye Inn of Olde” where a sweet olde lady served us a bowl of chilly and a turkey sandwich.

I’m really going to miss Newfoundland for its laid back attitude, the smell of the ocean air, and the pleasant nature of the locals.

While I was in St. John’s I decided to take part in Scott Kelby’s worldwide photowalk. I was especially disappointed when I missed last years and being able to do it in another city made a huge impact in the way I took my shots.

Only problem is now, I can’t decide which image to enter into the contest, and I can only pick ONE.

I’ll mention which one I ended up choosing in a future blog entry.

Also included in qualifying photos are my Basillica Church Photos.

Did I mention I got like four days to decide?

The Basillica was finished in 1855, and was the brainchild of one Bishop Michael Anthony Fleming.

Got back in town this morning. Home safe and sound

Overlooking St. John’s is Signal Hill, which was used for fortifications from the 1600′s. Cabot Tower was built in 1897 and can be seen from just about anywhere in town, all you have to do is look up.

The hill has been involved in several wars over the century’s, as well as land to sea communication via flagmast.

Located about thirty-five minutes from St. John’s is Bay Bulls, which first appeared on a map in 1592. Origins of the name are not completely clear. Over the next two hundred and fifty years or so the town will be attacked, invaded, occupied and set on fire.

Bay Bulls is famous for its bird and whale watching, with Gull Island just off the coast and of course the whales, which make their way from the Caribbean each year.

I’ve never been on a boat before, and I can’t really swim. Let me rephrase that: I can swim, but poorly and I don’t like it. When I was a kid, I went to lessons until I learned enough just to keep my head above water, then conveniently forgot my permission slip for the years following.

That being said I was excited. My father in law asked if I get motion sickness and I couldn’t think of an example.

The weather was incredible. It had rained all morning and we rescheduled our ride for 2pm, and by noon it was clear, sunny and very warm. If you’re from the praires and come out to the east coast (or anywhere with large bodies of water) expect a little shock to the system in the form of humidity.

It’s about ten degrees cooler out on the water, which was just right for me. Riding on a boat was much like taking public transit. Hold on to the rail. The tour guide (aided by other passengers) sang a newfie jig as we left dock.

There are a dozen tours in Bay Bulls, we chose O’Brien’s and were very happy with our choice.

Gull Island was packed with birds. We were instructed by our tour guide to avoid looking up with our mouths open.

After some educational bits and a slow, steady pass by, we head out further from the coast. We started seeing whales almost right away. I can only imagine how many were under the surface because it seemed like every minute, one (or several) came up for air. When they do, they spray water (and spit) up to thirty feet in the air (and over into my circular polarizer once or twice).

I was assaulted with new sensations. Hearing the ocean, seeing the whales, smelling the air, feeling the boat underneath my feet.

On the way back, in true DiCaprio style, I spent the whole ride at the very front end of the boat, until I couldn’t see the rails in my peripherals, and took everything in (and snapped a shot when I saw one). I also learned that I need to wear sunscreen, as I burned my face and forearms (it looks like I’m holding my breath right now).

While docking, we heard “Welcome back to Canada.”

Got to see a lot of downtown St. John’s today. The air is thick and humid compared to out west. Every breath is like a glass of water. You can see many old buildings being worked on, other tourists snapping photos, and a historical building or church on just about every block.

Today was gorgeous, and apparently Newfoundland summers make Calgary’s look downright predictable, so I’ll take all the sun I can get.

My prairie legs are stiff from all the hills.

In the living room of my home is a painting of Cape Spear, which I received from my in-laws a little ways ago. I often looked at it and wondered what is was like. Especially since I knew I was going to be there someday (July 15th 2010).

The early 19th century saw the first lighthouse (second built in Newfoundland), which is now a historic landmark, and the one featured in the painting. The second was built in 1955.

Cape Spear is less than an hour from St. John’s but feels worlds away.

Being a westerner I’m very used to grid like roads, and in the heart of the prairies I’ve also come accustomed to flat lands. Everything here is up, down or sideways, every nook and cranny has its own name and the air is clean enough to eat off the floor.

We finished our little tour of the inside of the original lighthouse (a few snaps included below), just in time to see a wall of rain heading towards the Avalon Peninsula and made our way down double time (not fast enough).

I had said since The Bow Tower was nothing more than a hole in the ground that my shot would be while it was still in a state of construction.

I didn’t think i’d be using film, especially not 120. Even though I’m just about thirty, I started with digital, then “discovered” film.

That being said I like the results I get sometimes. The slight imperfections. There’s something organic (I realize that’s a buzz word) about this shot, regardless of the post-modern subject.

Posted via email from Knight Light Photography