Foggy St. John’s

 CTV News:

Yup. This was our week in St John’s. The week that the fog around the city was so thick, for so long, that it made national news.  

We had plans to go to Cape Spear, the most eastern point of Canada, to maybe see whales or icebergs.  Nope.  What we saw were rocks and buildings shrouded in white mist. There could have been an iceberg 50 feet off shore and we wouldn’t have seen it. 

We did go to Signal Hill.  Couldn’t see whales or icebergs out there, either. 

So we decided to spend some time in the downtown, maybe have a drink or two at those famous Newfie bars that my hubby remembered from his younger days. 

Turns out that going bar hopping with your wife isn’t nearly as  much fun as going with your buddies.  Course, it could have been because it was only 4pm when we walked the infamous George and Water Streets looking for bars. I guess the area doesn’t come alive until after 9 pm, and frankly, the wife just doesn’t see life after 9.  But hubby had great stories to tell about stumbling up and down the hills and stairways way back when.  

The fog lifted slightly before we went back to the campsite, and we could see Signal Hill from downtown. So we took the opportunity to take another run up there.  

It was clear enough to see the city around us, and gave me some great shots of the fog rolling back into the harbour.  It was a short respite.  

The fog didn't stop the east coast rains. Often it didn’t look like it was raining but when you stepped out, it was this wall of fine droplets that soaked you through in minutes. 

I can tell you that the Newfoundlanders are tough. The rain doesn’t slow them down at all. They walk, run, even bike in all weather. Even in shorts when it’s only 7 or 8 C.  You can tell the tourists.  They are the ones wearing raincoats.  I don’t know how bad the rain has to be before the natives of St John’s wear one, but it must be torrential.  

I think the beautiful city of St. John’s is the original rainbow city.  They love their bright colours. It appears that if you want to fit into the neighbourhood, you have to paint your house a different colour than anyone else.  

Even the mailboxes have to stand out.

I guess it makes them easier to find in the fog.  

W