A Hot Day For A (Rewarding) Walk
The Alexander Murray Trail is reported to be eight kilometres long, with several hundred steps, waterfalls, and gorgeous views - it starts twenty minutes south - in the opposite direction from the wharf. It is almost 30’C on Sunday morning so we opt to walk to Rattling Brook instead - ninety minutes the other direction. The walk is along the road where we pass many lovely homes and gardens. We also pass the hydro workers. It is a food fishery day so people are out in their boats, we expect fishing for cod but also just trying to escape the heat, with no access to power at home.
A motorhome with British Columbia plates is parked on the side of the road. The tourists have driven from Vancouver. They ask about our journey and for some information on places we have visited - we are always happy to share! The Mrs takes notes, including “Twillingate Dinner Theatre”, Change Islands Museum and ponies, Brimstone Head on Fogo and “must read” the author Michael Crummey.
Just before arriving in Rattling Brook we pass by some very modern stages and sheds - all different colours. We could see them along the shoreline from some distance but up close they are more inviting - some painting ideas come to mind. A gentleman wanders out to the road, asks where we walked from and tells us about the ownership of the stages. He also tells us we are almost at the falls, pointing out the small gazebo along the shore. That is a picnic area, with access to the falls across the road. We continue on. Coming this far, we might as well see the falls and hope for a ride back to town.
The stages at Rattling Brook
At the gazebo we save part of our small snack of dried teriyaki pork, granola bars and water for the trip back. Crossing the road, we find the sign for the Rattling Brook Falls, “800 ft. Waterfall” and begin the short walk through the forest and up the stairs to the view of the falls. There is not much water cascading right now, but expect at some point this is a breathtaking imaging.
700 feet high but not much water this summer
At the base of the brook
The return walk is not as bad as we had envisioned - no offer of a ride and I refuse to hitchhike. Also, it could be days before we get another decent walk. We pass the colourful stages and skiffs and punts tied to private wharfs. I’ll have to tell Jules next time we see him about the “make or break engine” we saw!
The power repair is complete and the lights are on in the grocery store. We stop in for our last stock-up for three weeks. It is our hope to ration our water and food supplies until we return to Lewisporte at the end of the month. Fresh produce will be long gone, but our dehydrated and canned goods will get us through. There will be no more stores available unless we stop in Triton.
Dinner out is in order! I reserve a table for 6:30. We make some departure preparations on the boat - top up the water and fuel and get the updated weather forecast. I think the medications are giving me a burst of energy, and I clean the head and galley and vacuum the cabin - all this after our ten kilometre hike. Then we finally indulge in the provided showers - our last chance for hot, (spacious) showers if our plan to stay offshore plays out.
We share the mussels and I opt for the hot turkey sandwich - delicious! Many of the staff come by to say “hi” and we tell them we will be leaving in the morning. Ashton recalls our visit last year, remembering us as the couple “from the Great Lakes”. “We get lots of boats here but not many from from Ontario.” It warms our hearts that he remembers us. We also remember him. He was the first we met when we landed in 2023 and had a cold beverage on the deck. Our bill for the dockage and meals is settled. The owners are not working tonight, but I will send a note of gratitude in the morning.