The West Coast of the East Coast

By June, I had worked a 21/7 schedule for six months straight, and was getting edgy. I needed a break that was longer than my 7 alotted days off a month, and if I was going to take an extended break, I was going to use it wisely. I needed to be somewhere that wasn't Alberta, wasn't work, and definitely wasn't Edmonton. So I decided to go where everyone else in Alberta goes when they get days off: home. 

Not my home. Their home.

And I got on a plane to the other side of the country, the west coast of the east-most island province of Canada: Newfoundland.

I was greeted by one of my favourite human beings - the blog-famous Georgina - and one of her favourite human beings - born and bred Newfoundlander, Tommy.

Their home is on the Port-Au-Port Peninsula, 3 hours from the airport, but we didn't even make it there before we had to stop the car to watch some whales... and see this:

If anyone's listening, I would like a monument to me erected beside the ocean when I pass, please.

We arrived at the house to another warm welcome. Meet Joseph, who I became pretty tight with during our photo session before I dropped him into a boiling pot of water and then cracked open his shells to devour his yummy insides.

He had a good life.

And made for a good dinner. :)

I was originally a bit concerned about just how far out of the way I'd be during my stay. How was I going to go adventuring from way out here? But we went for a walk outside and the smell of the ocean hit me and suddenly everything was perfect.

I kid you not, this is legit their backyard:

And a walk along the ocean away...

In the other direction?

More of the same. <3

I walked that beach every single day I was there, and I was never alone.

There was Hoss from next door, the Newfoundland dog... in Newfoundland... *mind blown*

Gracie, the leaping golden labrador... not from Labrador...

...and Nipper the cat, who grew most unpleased that we crossed a brook.

Seriously, the cat came for all our walks too!

And caught the attention of some random small children who were walking the beach with their mom. Look at the hair on that little girl!

We went quadding a couple of times: six of us made one trip up into the backwoods to an old American military barracks.

When we got back to the house, I discovered this guy on the side of my seat, and took this photo with my phone!

There was a day trip around the entirety of the peninsula.

Hidden Falls (named so, because you have no idea they're there from the highway, though you're not more than a half mile away)

Discovered this guy walking back from the falls. If you look super-close, you can see his eyeballs watching me. Weird.

This mist-soaked flower:

and someone's picturesque boat!

Higher elevation made for fog. Windy as ol' heck, but still it's own brand of beautiful.

Beach.

Of course, I basked in my love of old wooden lobster traps, which are something of a symbol of childhood for me and are artistic in their own right.

and there was an afternoon at the fishing shacks at Blue Beach to drive the point home.

A hike here...

...a drive there...

...and more than one "Stop The Car!" moment.

A stop in Campbell's Creek, where I shot this trash-the-dress shoot 4 years ago, and where there is yet another picturesque boat...

...and, I swear to god, this has to be the world's most photogenic seagull.

A boat:

A goat:

Some camera-shy alpacas:

...and of course, the aforementioned leaping labrador. :)

I told ya.

Leaping.

On my last evening in town, we walked an ocean trail at the Gravels, where I shot these wedding photos so long ago.

There is something to be said for watching the sun go down over the ocean. In fact, there is a lot to be said for it. Good thing a picture is worth a thousand words.

Sometimes the ultimate adventure is right in front of you all along.