The adventure began well before we departed our cottage near Kinmount, Ontario and headed for Joe Batt’s Arm, Newfoundland. Six months earlier we had committed to a week on “The Rock” and, after Canada Day, we finally managed the trip that had been on our bucket list for over a decade.
We would start with a 2 day stay at the Fogo Island Inn followed by 4 days hiking in Gros Morne National Park. And, much as when you buy a new car you start to see them everywhere, so it was with our booking at the Fogo Island Inn… the Trudeau family were there, Gwyneth Paltrow was tweeting about it, the flat earth society declared it to be one of the 4 corners of the Earth…!
The Inn kept us well engaged, with a “teaser campaign” of emails and a hand-written postcard from Sandra and Rosemary to heighten our anticipation. Advice was as practical as it was enticing, with suggestions on clothing, expected temperatures (high 10-14 C), ferry schedules, and iceberg activity.
Now you likely need a map to appreciate the destination for this trip. Departing Toronto about 8:30 we arrived in Gander via Halifax about 2 p.m. and by 2:30 we were in our rental car and on our way to Farewell to catch the ferry.
I do prefer small airports and while there are direct flights to St. John’s they add 3 ½ hours drive time. Also, you don’t want to miss seeing Gander whose small airport packed in 39 international planes on 9/11, adding 6,600 people to the greater Gander population of 10,000.
We arrived at the Fogo Island Inn at about 8 p.m. following a leisurely and scenic 30 minute drive from the ferry dock through a stark and beautiful landscape, peppered with fishing boats, wooden traps and colourful salt-box house communities clinging to the shore (another great travel opportunity - Salt Box rentals).
The Inn on Stilts
By Laura Bolton