Come From Away or Welcome Home?

We have crossed the Davis Strait and it has been a rough ride. As we sail back into Canadian waters, our first stop is Red Bay, Labrador. While waiting for Canadian Customs and Immigration officials to clear the ship, I get a real sense of pride seeing the Canadian flag flying proudly, albeit at half staff due to the Queen’s passing. This picturesque and quaint village at the end of the Trans Canada Highway is a prime example of how to welcome foreign visitors to a country you are proud to be a citizen of. The importance of first impressions to foreign visitors is paramount in my mind. I mention to several of the 140 residents how impressed I am with the cleanliness and upkeep of their homes and properties. I know they are proud of the efforts that they make. They respond that they do make it a concerted community project to help one another to keep the town’s appearance pristine. It is a pleasant walkabout of the former whaling station with it’s whaling museum, interpretation centre and local café. The weather is cooperating, and it is just so pleasant to be passing by the way, from away. I’ve heard of the Strait of Belle Isles before but never realized it is the corridor of water between Labrador and Newfoundland. We sail into Corner Brook, Newfoundland and we are welcomed by the singing of a lone cowboy dockside. You can hear the twang in his singing voice, and you know you have landed on The Rock. We’re only here for the day and I end up taking a bus tour which I thought was to be a hike to Gros Morne National Park. I don’t like taking excursions with 50 other people on a touring bus, but I make the best of it. There definitely is lots to see and the drive along the coastline and the diversions into some of the local waterside communities is an enticing invitation to come back soon. A visit to Newfoundland would not be complete without a photo of the Neufie Bullet. Our guide is a locally retired government worker and to my disappointment he didn’t know any Neufie jokes, so I had to tell him one about the Neufie and the Quebecer. I’ll tell you another day. Well, the trip is winding down and we sail into Halifax tomorrow. Not to bore you with a long synopsis but it has been a very educational and eye-opening experience. I will definitely have another perspective when talking about Inuit issues and the Canadian north in future. I now will look at many of the problems and concerns with a new purpose and understanding. I'll drop over 'round by and by.