Christopher's Blog

Newfoundland, sometimes referred to as "The Rock," is a very unique place with some very interesting culture. Our road trip to Newfoundland started on Friday, August 8 in Oshawa, Ontario at about 3:30 p.m. We drove for about six hours which took us an hour past Quebec City. On Saturday we drove up to Halifax, Nova Scotia where Terri Lynn's sister Wendy and her husband Jeremy live. On the way there we stopped at the longest wooden covered bridge in the world and magnetic hill. At magnetic hill you can park your car, put it in neutral, and appear to coast up hill.

We spent a day in Halifax at the Busker Festival watching the performers do magic, martial arts, and tumbling. Then we went to a beach that looks like it belongs in Florida. In the early afternoon we drove out to catch our ferry North Sydney, NS to Port aux Basque, Newfoundland.

The ferry ride was about eight hours and overnight. We had bunks in a berthing. Terri Lynn and I woke up early to see the sunrise but didn't have much luck with that. It was too overcast. After disembarking from the ship we started our quest across Newfoundland to Cottrell's Cove on the north shore. It was a six hour drive so we stopped for breakfast at a local diner instead of the overly packed Tim Hortons just off the ferry.

The house were stayed at in Cottrell's Cove has been in the family for generations. I just learned today that electricity was installed on January 1, 1969. It is a cute little house about 30 yards from the ocean. The ocean in the coves are calmer than most lakes.

On our second day here we went fishing with a friend from the local SDA church. I caught a decent size cod within the first twenty minutes and three other smaller ones over the next couple hours. Mom caught a beautiful sculpin that she didn't think was so great. After fishing we came home and Jeremy cooked up the cod for lunch.

In the afternoon a few of us went up to a wild blueberry patch back up in some old logging roads. The blueberries weren't all ripe yet but we still managed to pick a large salad bowl full. We also picked enough crackle berries for Mark to make some delicious jam which we put on our toast for breakfast.

We spent Monday night and Tuesday in Twillingate, the iceberg capital of the world. We were about one month too late to see any icebergs, though. But we did see a good play about Joseph Smallwood's life. Joseph Smallwood is the man who walked across Newfoundland to create a union for the railroad workers then later became the first Premier of Newfoundland. We also went on some beautiful hikes around the area and saw humpback and minke whales.

The first thing we did after returning to Cottrell's Cove from Twillingate is jump into the icy waters of the bay. It was very refreshing! Dad says it was like a baptism When we surfaced we were excited and jubilant.

Friday was rainy so we stayed at home and spent quality time together.

Sabbath was a beautiful day. Since church didn't start until 3:00 p.m. we went on a walk to Yate's Point. At church dad did the Sabbath school lesson and Jeremy preached about breaking down religious walls and focusing on a relationship with Jesus. In the evening we went to Ray's house for potluck where we celebrated Doug's birthday and Ray played the accordion for us.

Today, Sunday, we were planning to take a trip to Exploit's Island but got rained out. Hopefully we'll go tomorrow. I guess there is supposed to be a lot of family history there.

For the majority of this week so far I've been packing to move out west. I'm not really sure what to expect at Canadian University College since I have been out of school for a while. It might be a little difficult financially too.

Anyway, before we leave we are heading up to Newfoundland for a family vacation. We will be gone for two weeks. Immediatly after we return from the trip to Newfoundland we drive to Alberta. So that is our plans for the next three weeks.

If anyone is interested in helping me through college by purchasing pictures please click the iStock icon on the top left.

The Veness', Terri Lynn's reletives are returning to California now. We had a great time at the cottage with them. I'll be posting more pictures really soon. For now here are a few that we took.

It is nice to have the Veness' here. We are going to have a weekend full of waterskiing and relaxing at the cottage.

Yesterday I made a trip to Barrie to learn some vector and photography tricks from Terri Lynn's auntie Heather.

I also got four more pictures accepted on iStock. Things are still slow because I'm just starting, but I hear it pick up a lot over time. I think it's fun either way.

Below are the accepted pictures.

A teenage male and female enjoy an ice cream cone together.

A young man tries changing the channel of a television that is up in a tree.

A few young adults watch a television that is up in a tree.

A female running with fairly strong motion blur. The side of her face is in focus.

I finally have a day off that I can work a little on my Web sites. I think it is fun keeping them up to date. I still want to try making a few extra dollars for college by designing web pages for people and taking pictures for iStock. I've been working on my portfolio and getting a few more pictures accepted. It is a slow start but hopefully it will pick up. If you know anyone who needs to buy pictures for any reason, please refer them my way. Also, if you don't mind having your picture taken and signing a release form, let my know and I'll gladly take you picture. I'll even give you the pictures to add to your portfolio.

I am also putting together a Web site for myself to try getting some photography business. I wouldn't mind doing budget wedding photography or something like that. Again, referals please.... I'll post the Web address when it is finished.

My father-in-law would like me to put together a Web site for his law practice. That will be good for my Web disign portfolio. Hopefully that will be coming in the next few weeks.

Between working on Web sites, pictures, and packing for out move out west, I've got a pretty full schedule for the next few weeks.

Below are two recent iStock pictures:
A happy young lady with headphones on dancing to the music she is listening to.

A young man with his fishing pole preparing to fish early in the morning.