Staying in Saint John's at Pipi Park RV Park was great as central, and close to all we wanted to see here. Weather was still a little cool, but nice enough to not have coats all the time. Once we got set up off we went for a drive north on the peninsula that Saint john's was centred on.
We went north to a place a friend recommended, and we saw why. Flat rock was just as named, all the rocks were from the surface of the earth past, and pushed up and looked like an earthquake had just happened. As we came into town there was a pull out with a good view of the town, and we stopped. Here we found more than a view, we found a Grotto, a place that honours God, and what happened years ago when Christ was put on the cross. I am not religious, Polly is though, and she was so impressed with this beautiful place, so was I, with the work that went into making this place.
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| In front of the parking area by the church. |
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| View of Flat Rocks from parking area across from the church. |
We entered the fenced, unlocked place and walked up the stairs, and read all the writing about how this place was conceived, and built. People spent many hours here working to complete this for the 100th anniversary of the completion of one similar in Lourdes, France. We spent awhile looking around, and following the trail up around and over the rock that was the bet view of the town, and the water that made up Flat Rock. This was a real surprise for us, and Polly was very impressed with the white marble plaques that told the story of Jesus being crucified.
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| What The Grotto looks like from the road |
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Polly was impressed the Pope knelt here. |
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| You can see here the stairs were not done by pro's, as not same size |
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| Polly was really in Awe here... |
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| Bosco at the end of the cement where the dock to tie up was. |
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| How thick the layers of rock are here. |
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| Clearest water we have seen so far. |
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| The rock that lies below is huge |
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| Great harbour here. |
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| Cement launch that was pushed apart by the water |
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| The Church with the Grotto behind. |
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| Rock at the entrance to the harbour |
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| Cement launch is beside the fisherman's hall |
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| This is what Flat Rock has mostly around it. |
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| Seal skins for sale... |
We then drove down the hill to the town, that was not much but a fishing village as most places in Newfoundland are. This place was different, and it looked as if the whole place was off kilter, as all the rocks were not only flat, but were on an angle, and gave a different look to the place. We stopped at a place called Flat Rocks Fisherman's Center, which I'm sure was the center of town years ago, and now look unused, and starting to become dilapidated. You could see the dock and the launch were there and used well in the past, but all that is left is some of the cement that used to launch the boats in the past. The force of the water and storms have moved huge pieces of Concrete up the ramp like it was floated, amazing.
The town still looks beautiful, houses were well cared for, but fishing was a thing of the past here. Lobster traps were out in the bay, but looked like 1 fisherman's traps, not as before where the whole town was based on the fisheries. Was a nice place to visit, Thanks Dave Wilson for the recommendation.
We drove north and came out at a place where the road turned to gravel, and said 4X4 needed, and yep was a rough road, but took it slowly as thought we would see a beauty view, but as it turned out the point was gated and all we saw was the ocean and no great view. Was a nice, bumpy ride though.
We then drove around the end of the peninsula and went to Portugal cove, and had lunch at a pub, where we saw some slot Machines, most small places seem to have them, if only a few of them, makes them a little more money I guess.
On or way around Polly notices all the huge houses, she was surprised, but here the people have work, and the young want what we have all had, a big home to raise a family in. Just surprised as what we have seen so far were smaller homes, not he huge ones we see here. People were making money here, in the mines or off shore, they were doing good.
Was a good first day here in Saint Johns, tomorrow the City.
