Worth The Trip
Glovertown sits at the end of Alexander Bay, at the bottom of, what is named on our chart, as Bloody Reach. We learn later there were violent confrontations here between the Beothuk and the Europeans in the 18th century.
According to the Newfoundland Heritage website, fishermen tended to avoid the bay due to its dangerous and uncharted waters "but chiefly (as I conjecture) because the Savage people of that Country doe there inhabit".
We expect a very friendly experience today and are glad we went the 10nm out of our way to experience this lovely place.
There is heavy silt movement from the Terra Nova River so we are told to aim for the white church steeple until we arrive at green marker number JGM7. We can then head safely to the green buoy and the gazebo marking the harbour entrance.
Once again I am facing a very narrow opening with stone break walls on both sides. Depths show as low as 7 feet on our chart plotter.
Marina manager, Dion is where he said he would be, in his bright orange safety shirt, waving us in to the end of a finger dock. Dion had texted me a diagram of the slip so I knew exactly where we were to go. So helpful when arriving in a new harbour! Easy arrival and a friendly face to take our lines. He is soon joined by the other marina staff who come to introduce themselves.
We are amazed by this gesture but not really surprised. The friendly service began when I called in asking about dockage. The lady who answered actually manages the visitor information centre right next door. When the marina personnel are out of the office, their phone is forwarded to hers. She even offered to run to the docks to find them if needed. Instead she gave me another number to call and Dion answered immediately. (We’ve never had that service in a marina - anywhere!)
Dion proceeds to tell us about the lounge, washrooms and laundry. He shares the wifi code and points out the grocery and liquor stores, pizza restaurant and hardware stores. These are all within 10 min walks.
Glovertown has a population of 2000 but 20 times that in the summer. There is a high school, two gas stations, library, health clinic, pharmacy, a museum and RCMP detachment.
Sadly, the Scotia Bank has been closed, with the nearest bank an hour away in Gander. We have run into this in Lewisporte, Fogo and Twillingate. The locals quite upset by the departure after 130 years serving these small communities.
A ship yard and a fish plant sit across the bay.
The marina hold 85 slips and we understand they are all spoken for.
It is extremely warm, even in our light sailing shirts and wind pants. We make the short walk for groceries and a trip to the hardware store to discuss barbecues. Harald gets a replacement o-ring and a new gas hose, if needed.
At the Foodland I am thrill to find Nova Scotia strawberries and fresh greens from just 10 miles away.
Back at the marina I start the laundry. The use of the machines is included in our dockage which is relatively expensive at $1.30 per foot per night but we pay no extra for laundry and showers.
We like to anchor but if we are going to shore we prefer floating docks to wharfs. We do not have to worry about tide levels and adjusting docking lines.
There is also a workshop with tools open for our use, 24 hours a day. The marina staff are friendly and helpful with whatever we ask - and for somethings we don’t ask for - like a ride back to the hardware store.
Yes! The barbecue is fixed and the gas hose has been returned.
After the many trips to and fro, carrying groceries and laundry, I am tried and ready for an early bed.
We are very happy we made the trip down Bloody Reach.
Happy Birthday, John!
