The Rock Rocks

by Jim-Beaux Lieyeah

Cape Spear Na- tional Historic Site: As any traveller does, I have referred to my trusty Travel Guide to help me seek out Newfound- land’s treasures. Today, I have come here with a head foggier than most mornings on this province’s coast. But things have cleared quickly as I stand at the “Far East of the Western World.” From here there is nothing but the sea to the east. To the west a

prosperous conti- nent has developed over the last 500 years. Around me lies a barren land- scape that has rightly earned the name “The Rock.” From here I can see

Signal Hill...

Cabot Tower sits perched on the top of Signal Hill, one of two hills guard- ing the port and city of St.John’s. From there, one can look down inland and see the city spread out in front of them. Looking out east, one is faced with the great navy blue

expanse known as the Atlantic Ocean. The tower was built in 1897, to com- memorate the 400" anniversary of John Cabot’s discovery of the New World. Thanks to those

sent out the first transatlantic wireless communication. The ramifications of that discovery are still being felt today with things like cell phones, television remotes, and garage

POD Es ACA Ue head foggier than most mornings on

USC Te ks

coast.

Heritage Canada moments (the federal government and Sheila Copps beams at us) this spot is better known for Marconi’s experiment. The Italian inventor was looking for a place to test his new invention: wireless communication. Initially, he had opted for Cape Cod as his North Ameri- can site but prob- _ lems and distance to Europe brought him to St.John’s. On that eventful day, he

door openers to name a few. But time has frozen here. The city has grown and modern- ized but here things seem the same as over 100 years ago. I certainly hope this National Historic Site remains un- touched for all its’ visitors imaginations to enjoy...

...As I walk through the park, my gaze keeps returning to the sea. Below me lies the jagged

coastline, defiant in

the face of the

oceans remorseless

attack. At its

furthest corner the

ocean heaves. The

rocks are swal- lowed and the waves roll over them. It is something to be- hold when nature rolls these waves over the coast. Each heave builds to over six foot peaks today before it crashes down on the edge of the continent. The sea colour trans- forms along a blue spectrum, from navy to teal, to green, and finally to the white of the foam as it drifts out to sea again...

We drifted out of

Corner Brook early yesterday. We got a first hand taste of the town’s curious statistical claim to Canadian fame. This area, that lies nestled in a valley with the Humber River on its side, gets the most snow- fall anywhere in Canada. Usually, I would dispute this, however all evidence seems to confirm this. Marble Moun- tain lies a five minute ride out of town and claims to have the best skiing east of the Rockies (which my brother Nic-oh-lie-yeah has confirmed). This I

can not validate but I can say that on

~Nov.12th there was

enough snow to ski!! Corner Brook is Newfoundland’s darling town. Their economic policy of aggressive promo- tion to lure compa- nies in, has paid off. The bustling town sprawled over the valley is certainly a site to behold after 200+ km drive from the ferry. The world class salmon fishing here has also served to justify its pres- ence on many

1]

a small opening around a concrete frame. Upon closer inspection and entry one realizes they are p in the concrete maze r of a WW II coastal (a gun battery. Huge

guns still sit in their sidings. It is not

hard to imagine

their arrival from

the US in 1941 and

the first shells (250

pounds a piece)

being fired out to

sea. Any entry

towards the harbour

must pass through

these guns sight.

One can’t help but

TTA WOU CTE Le STC eR UTE when they sawa

Ee Ca a huge ice herg inch its way past.

surveys of the top 10 places to live in Canada. Year round world class facilities (thanks in part to the Canada Games that were held here) and resources should keep this town on the list for awhile to come...

..One comes upon

wonder what the soldiers thought when they saw a whale glide by or a huge ice berg inch its way past (person- ally I can’t help but speculate that these guys took shots at it

for fun). The con-

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