Twillingate
There is something incredibly relaxing and life-affirming about watching icebergs at sunset. The beauty of nature splashed in vivid colour by the setting sun. The sound of water and cracking ice. A gentle breeze one evening, a whipping wind the next.
Our evenings in Twillingate seem a world away these days. Perhaps one day we will have the opportunity to again sit in silence in a faraway place, marveling at nature in all her glory, without our worries weighing so heavily on our shoulders.
Located in Crow Head, Twillingate, the Long Point Lighthouse has stood tall on the forbidding coastline since 1876, keeping sailors and ships safe for over a century. The Long Point Centre hosts a number of interesting exhibitions, including one about the Titanic, and a walk along the coastal paths is a must. If you’re lucky, you may even get a tour of the lighthouse.
Our visit was spent outdoors admiring the views, which included the largest iceberg sheet we’d seen on the trip, walking along the many paths, and chatting with a friendly photographer who had some serious gear.
A drive around the Twillingate Islands reveals a picturesque landscape around every corner.
Twillingate, a small village spread out on the rocky coastline of Iceberg Alley, is known as the iceberg capital of the world. Although we visited late in the year, we were lucky to see a number of these gorgeous ice queens during our short stay. Our icebergs were not the towering monsters that we’ve all seen photos of in magazines and in videos on climate change, but they were still a sight to behold. Beautiful in their shapes and colours, they cracked and snapped in the still waters as we sat enchanted by their icy grace and charm.
We also visited the Durrell Museum to learn about fishing history and see the mounted polar bear but unfortunately we have no photos to share. The museum is worth a visit if you ever find yourself in Twillingate.
Our last day in Gros Morne National Park was overcast and moody. We went on a short hike and drove through the foggy Tablelands on our way to the next destination - Twillingate. That morning, while doing our laundry, we met a couple who told us there were icebergs in Iceberg Alley, which was unusual given the time of year. We immediately decided that we would head directly to Twillingate, some 400 km away. After camping for the night beside a quiet lake, we awoke to a peaceful, sunny morning and wandered from fishing village to fishing village in search of the elusive ice queens.
This year, 2021, marks the 10 year anniversary of our trip to Eastern Canada and I realized it was past time to finish posting images from our adventure. And really, it has not been a hardship to go through these old photos and reminisce of times gone by.
