Andi & Anne's Adventures in Newfoundland
The view from Signal Hill is one of the best you can get in Newfoundland. You are surrounded on three sides by water and can see all the way over to Cape Spear and back to the airport.  The entire harbour is visible and the view of the Narrows impressive. The only better view is from the Scademia. You can only see a small part of the hiking trail up to Cabot Tower. What a dangerous-looking path THAT is! We got some pics of it when we were on the Scademia.

We toured the Visitor's Center and Cabot Tower, where Marconi received the first Trans-Atlantic radio transmission 101 years ago. We bought souvenirs and then decided to see Cape Spear.
Cape Spear is the most easterly point in North America. On the site are two lighthouses and a gift shop. The old lighthouse has been turned into a museum. The trail up to the lighthouse you can make from two directions. One with a million steps and the other on a "goat path." I decided to take the goat path since my knees were killing me and I didn't think I'd make it up the steps. Turns out that was the best decision for me. Andi and I wound our way slowly to the top  and enjoyed the gift shop and the view.

Last time I was here, we met the last Lighthouse Keeper's daughter. She was wonderful, answering my questions about life on Cape Spear. If you want to read about the conversation, go to Cape Spear, 2000. On the way back from Cape Spear, we noticed an official-looking van pulled over on the side of the road. There were men walking around, pointing across the street - at a red fox who was staring at them from the other side of the road. He didn't seem the least bit frightened by all the attention he was getting. Which was probably why the friendly guys from the wildlife commission were there in the first place. I pulled over myself and snapped a photo which you'll see in a couple of pages..
View of Fort Amherst from Signal Hill
Close up iew of the lighthouse at the Narrows
St. John's Harbour and winding
Signal Hill Trail
St. John's Harbour and winding
Signal Hill Trail
a little farther away
Ribbon near bottom of the next two pictures is the part of the Signal Hill Trail you can't see from above - taken from the Scademia.
Pilot boat has just led a boat out of the harbour. See the trail near the bottom center of the photo?
Cape Spear as seen from Signal Hill's Cabot Tower
Then we made the pilgrimage to Petty Harbour. How could you NOT go to St. John's and make the detour to visit Alan's hometown? Took some pics and drove at breakneck speed back to downtown St. John's because it was getting near Scademia time. Paid attention on the way this time to grab a quick look at Bowring Park. Maybe next visit to St. John's I'll get to go there. Just didn't have time today.
We were taking the sunset cruise tonight. When I got there I couldn't find my credit card anywhere. I emptied my pocketbook and Andi looked all over the van. I had used it several times that day and was in a panic because it was my only source of cash at the moment. I returned to the Tourist Store on Duckworth to see if I had left it there. No credit card! I said a few prayers to all the usual suspects - St. Anthony, St. Jude, and the BIG GUY. The woman behind the counter could sense my growing despondency though and called the Gift Shop at Signal Hill when we told her all the places we had been that day. They had it! One problem - it was 6:45 PM and we were due on the Scademia at 7 PM. We drove as fast as Ira would allow on that winding road, gratefully picked up the credit card at the Gift Shop and proceed to follow the only person in St. John's who does the speed limit down the Hill. ARGH! Water Street was becoming farther and farther away, time-wise and it was 6:57 PM.

I sped down Harbour Drive and slowed enough for Andi to jump out and run to the Scademia while I parked the car. Most curiously, no one had boarded yet. They were waiting for us! The wonderful lady at the Tourist Store had called the Scademia and asked them to wait for us. Thanks to that Newfoundland hospitality, we had the opportunity to take the most beautiful sunset pics and we both had the experience of a lifetime.
Gorgeous pics from the Scademia
Cabot Tower
After Cape Spear, we were hungry so we caught a bite to eat at Caine's Deli, one of Sean McCann's favorite hangouts, according to the Junos interviews with GBS last spring. Wow! It was evefy bit as good as he said it was! I had a Jiggs Dinner. Mmmmmm. And Andi ended up with Roast Pork I think, Delicious! Go, if you ever get the chance.
Petty Harbour close-up from the wrong side of  a very dirty car window.
Just about the entire town of Petty Harbour