10.09.2023 Sunday Corner Brook.

 Well today Missus says we are going to a place called Corner Brook. We watched the ship turn left on our TV map, into what appeared to be a very narrow channel. Went up on to deck 7 to watch the progress along this channel. Lots of small isolated settlements along the way. We think the only way in and out would be by boat. Eventually the inlet widened and we saw steaming chimneys from large buildings  on the right of the harbour. Already in harbour was the biggest ship I had ever seen. It was called 'Norwegian Joy'. Missus says they have at least 2000 passengers on board. The RA is having to stop a distance away in the harbour and we are going over to the port by Tender. These Tenders are also Life boats for the ship. Strange things. When they tie up, a person has to climb through the front window to throw the rope to the jetty. The person driving is in a seat about 6feet off the floor and can stand up and put their head out of the roof-light to give them all round vision!! Does look funny.

We are going on a coach tour about 2hr.30min long. Some others are going on longer excursions which involve quite a lot of walking. Missus who has dodgy knees and wobbly back, opted for the panoramic tour. When we got to the jetty we were pointed to the coach we were going on. We had a nice modern coach, some of the others had an old  Yellow School Bus for their tour. We think it is a good idea to make full use of these coaches when it isn't a school day. Our courier had a distinct Irish accent. Apparently English, Irish, Scottish and French settled in Corner Brook. The first place we visited was the Cook Monument on Crow Hill overlooking the bay. Missus took pictures of The statue of Capt. James Cook and all the plaques explaining his presence there. His main mission was to map Newfoundland. Which he did very accurately. We were taken to the Humber River river, this is an important Salmon River. When the authorities put a weir across they realised they needed something for the Salmon to climb, so they put in a Fish Ladder. This area of the river is also used for recreation, there are diving boards and sun beds. It is quite deep at this point where they put the weir in. Then we  went to the old station. Corner Brook had a Narrow Gauge Railway at one time, but the Government in their wisdom rather than modernise it closed it instead. Our last port of call was to Marble Mountain. It is the Ski Resort for Corner Brook. It was strange seeing all the ski lifts and green slopes interspersed with trees. It must look lovely when covered in snow. Nearby was a 65foot Cedar tree trunk carved with  historical people and events all the way to the top, starting at the base with John Cabot and Vikings. John Cabot had sailed from Bristol in 1497 in the 'Matthew' with a crew of 18 men. After a month at sea he landed on what he called New found land, and took the area in the name of King Henry VII. The sea was plentiful with cod and huge numbers could be caught just by dipping a basket in the water. Not far from the Cedar Totem pole was a pond and there was some Darter Dragonflies that were quite black. We took some pictures and hope to identify when we get back to the ship. The steaming chimneys on the dock were from a paper mill.  Great excitement when we got back to the dock, there was an Osprey hovering looking for fish, and it wasn't far away. There were people on the dock with their long camera lenses taking photos of it. We got back on the tender and sat so that we could watch it, suddenly it dived but alas it came back up with nothing. Back on board, and we had lunch. The weather improved in the afternoon and the sun came out and it warmed up, very pleasant. 

Picture of Statue of Captain James Cook

These next few Photos are about Capt. Cooks Surveying work.

Looking down to the harbour from Crows hill.

The Cedar Tree carved monument to significant people and places.

 This is Sympetrum danae Black Darter

This evening we went up to the Auction on Deck 10. Items for Auction; The Ships Flag signed by the Captain, the lamp that came 2nd in the recycle competition (the Whale came first), a painting by Ashley an Inuit girl and a beautifully illustrated map of the North West Passage route we had taken. This had been illustrated by Elsa. The map was hotly contested by two Germans and went for over 600 Euros. Also the same German bought Ashley's painting also for over 600 euros. None of the other items made quite this much but they all made a good price. The Master put in a bid for the Ships Flag but alas it elluded him. The money raised went to the Hurtigruten Foundation. 

So alas our wonderful cruise is coming to an end. Just one more day on board, it will be a busy one at sea. Missus says we have to pack tomorrow and only put in our carry on bags what we need. I am getting sad, I loved being in foreign lands and on the high seas. We had a nice surprise this evening, a knock at our door and it was Ricky with certificates for us all for completing the North West Passage. We certainly hadn't expected that. Ricky also came round later with the obligatory evening chocolates. Only two chocolates again!! Grrrr!

Me with my North West Passage Certificate.

Morgan with his North West Passage Certificate.