Blogs

We think Theatre Newfoundland Labrador’s new show “Newfoundland Vinyl” is a must see for those people who are interested in Newfoundland music from the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s. The backstory for the show is that Gros Morne Theatre Festival regulars “Ed and Ed” are throwing a musical fundraiser – for themselves! The music has a definite country flavour and includes hits made popular by A. Frank Willis, Roy Payne, Joan Morrissey, Harry Hibbs and Tom Cahill.

We are big fans of traditional Newfoundland music whether it be “I’se the Bye” or a song from the Northern Peninsula that we might never have previously heard. Neddy Norris Night is Theatre Newfoundland Labrador’s popular musical night and it takes on a different flavour depending on who is the musical director that year.

The Alexander Murray Hiking Trail in King's Point is 9 kilometers long and features both ground terrain and board walk. There are 2,200 stairs going up to, and down from, the summit, which are a great help when traversing the inclines.

The names Cathy Jones, Mary Walsh, Greg Malone and many of the original Codco crew are now synonymous with well known Newfoundland comedy. In 1973 they were just getting started in Toronto when they were distressed by the stereotypes that Ontarians felt applied to all Newfoundlanders. So they fought back with the play “Cod on a Stick” which pokes fun at Torontonians and Newfoundlanders alike.

Theatre Newfoundland Labrador (TNL) is back in Cow Head and they are performing several new plays for the summer 2012 season. We recently saw “The Fly Fisher’s Companion” and would recommend this play to anyone since although it deals with salmon fishing, its main theme is the changing face of friendship. The play follows Wes (played by Michael Chaisson) and Don (performed by John Dartt) as they gear up to go salmon fishing from a cabin they built together many years ago.

Join Jennifer Murphy on a trip of a lifetime down the mighty Exploits River in Central Newfoundland.

From May 19 to 21, two hikers from Paris, France braved chilly nightime temperatures and colder patches of snow and ice to make a rare spring trek of the Blow-Me-Down Mountain Trail. Fabien Mignot and Loris Pennacchioli took a break from their studies in Montreal to visit Western Newfoundland - formerly a part of the French Shore of Newfoundland - and hike sections of the IATNL.

This is the exact time of year when you might want to start planning your visit to Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve. Not that later in the summer isn’t a good time… or even early fall, but it’s over the next month or two that the perfect storm might just appear.

The Humber Valley Hikers has started its 2012 hiking season with a fine hike to Cedar Cove near Little Port in the Bay of Islands. Judie Gushue is an avid hiker and coordinator of the Humber Valley Hikers. She lives in Corner Brook and we chatted to her while walking the 1.8 km (1 way trail) to Cedar Cove on Sunday, May 13. "I am pleased that we had 16 hikers out for our first hike of the season" said Judie.

What a great afternoon ! The sun was out, the sky was blue and we were going zip lining at Marble Mountain. We met our guides Reg Flynn and Daniel Kean at the Marble Zip Tours (MZT) office (conveniently located at the base of Marble) for the 2 pm tour. We had enjoyed zip lining with MZT previously but had not experienced their newest zip line which brings you back to the base of Marble Mountain via their longest and fastest zip line yet!

Dog sledding was more exercise and more challenging than we originally thought. It was also a whole lot of fun! Elaine Pinard (owner of Les Skis Doux) has been taking people dog sledding for the past six winters from her base in Wiltondale at the entrance to Gros Morne National Park.

Last year Hazel Findlay embarked on an expedition to climb the rugged cliffs of Devil’s Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada. The result was a trip that fully tested both their patience and equipment. Read on for her account of the expedition, and be sure to check out The North Face Facebook Page for a behind the scenes video of Hazel on the trip.

Last year was a pretty amazing ski year in the northeastern United States - abundant and high quality snow continued well into March for some wonderful spring skiing (which I missed out on since I was in Chile). However winter 2011-2012 in the northeast has so far failed to produce more than a sprinkling of snow, which is why I headed north to Newfoundland with my friends Bruce and Nate in search of natural snow in excess of 3 inches.

Last winter we had a chance to head to Happy Valley- Goose Bay, Labrador and were most impressed with the cross country skiing trails and lodge at the Birch Brook Nordic ski club. As well as enjoying the skiing we were invited to a potluck supper at the lodge which was a great way to meet many of the club members.

It was a day ripped straight from a Star Wars movie. There we were, heading into the wild unknown aboard our airship, all seemingly unaware of what may lay ahead.

Cross country skiing is alive and well in Canada's eastern most province. Cross Country Newfoundland and Labrador (CCNL) is the umbrella group for cross country ski clubs and there are dozens of kilometres of groomed tracks waiting for any visitor.

I might have mentioned once or 300 times that I grew up in central Newfoundland, and yet my jaunt around the area this past summer had many surprises in store. That’s what happens when you live somewhere for 18 years: you start taking things for granted.

Frolicking on a beach in Newfoundland and Labrador doesn't always top the list of must do's when visiting the province. Much less during the month of December! But a trip to King's Point and area reveals a beach that can be enjoyed any time of the year.

Up until this summer, I didn’t even know it was possible to go rafting in Grand Falls.

Growing up in St. Alban’s, Grand Falls was the place to go when I needed to do some shopping. Home to Salmon Festival and the old Animal Land. And then Adventure Central Newfoundland sent me there this summer to do some exploring, and I changed my mind. I had one of the best meals I’ve ever had at 48 High, and met some fantastic people will exploring the Salmonid Interpretation Center.

But it was the rafting that won me over.

The autumn colours are usually at their peak over the Thanksgiving weekend in western Newfoundland but this year they seem to be lasting longer. Over the past few days we have been out kayaking down the Humber River and hiking through the fall splendour in the Humber Valley.