Grey Salmon and a Green House in Northern Peninsula

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July 14

The Mayflower Motel-Inn–Outfitters ... in need of identity clarification, was a bust: .

the security latch on the inside of the door was only half there

one laminate floor thickness was used for baseboards

the plaster patch on the ceiling was cracked

the light fixture was from a 1953 bathroom

the pillows were dollar store stock

the sheets were polyester never mind micro fibre and see thru

the television was in a state of constant snow storm

the hallway walls seemed covered in beige plastic shelf strips

there were no directions to room numbers

the stairway to this heaven were a normal tread plus a third high

the breakfast choices included cheerios, wholewheat cheerios, rainbow cheerios, no name special K, white and beige toast bread, jams, cheese whiz, peanut butter in little plastics, coffee, tea, coffee-mate, oranges and apples.

the spoons were made in china

the towels were white, fluffy and plentiful

the receptionist got the job because her mother worked there (she was pleasant)

there was happiness in the van that only one night had to be endured at $119.00



People along the way:

Three couples also ate breakfast at the Mayflower. One from Lewiston, one from Ontario with their sister-sister-in-law and one knowledgeable husband giving info about must sees.



At the green house, a sign seen the day before and not investigated ... too bad because the lady growing plants with her brother would have invited me to stay at her place. The brother is a retired house builder and has built himself a HUGE plastic greenhouse. All the plants are in well constructed raised beds ...really raised to waist height. Corn, kale, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, onions, potatoes, name it! it is growing in this green house. After an hour with the woman some few minutes of video were made of the power saw cutting a man's pine logs into 2x4 6x6 and 2x6 in preparation for sled building. The round 3cm saw snapped and had to be replaced with a new one for $50. The saws come in sets of five to a box and can be repaired when they burst. After an hour of dawdle-ing about in pleasant company and eating raw kale leaf and carrot plus top straight from the ground an attempt at progress towards St. Anthony was made.



The drive did not last long. 'Underground Salmon Pool' read the sign. Intrigued the 2.5km dirt road was negotiated at less than 10km per hr.because of massive potholes right across the hole road. There were trucks but no humans in sight at the parking. Voices coming thru the trees led one to a group of workers having their 'dinner'break. These men were upgrading the path to the pool.



A fly fisherman helped find the pool. The river rolls down over rapids and boulders. The salmon come up these rapids. The underground part of the title comes into play when the river flows under and thru a rock arch exiting only to flow under a second arch further down the river. The salmon must go aginst this flowing river till they reach their spawning ground. http://roddickton.bidearm.ca/salmon.htm

The fisherman was happy to display his “wallet” of flies. He himself did not tie flies.



Along the way from Roddickton to St. Anthony many roadside gardens can be seen. These garden spots belong to specific people and are cultivated year after year. When the highway was built the topsoil was deposited at the side of the road at the bottom of steep non-negotiable shoulders. The peat and other bog soilk add to the fertility of these spots. Going off the road would land one in such a garden or a deep ditch of flaked rock.



The search for capelin was unsuccessful but all hope has not been lost. One person in Henderson's Convenience Store in St. Lunaire spoke of throwing away excess capelin … too too bad.



The Viking RV Park is almost perfect. Each spot has been measured with a short meter stick and being on the correct side of the electrical&water post is most important ...witness the man who stuck his head out of his camper and informed a new arrival that their RV was too close …..”but that OK”. The new arrival moved his rig.



The toilets each have their ow light. The office is filled with the smell of baking bread. The woman in charge has done a great job colour coordinating the picnic tables with the electric posts. And everything is super clean. The walls are covered in knotty pine and the breakfast tables have moose salt and pepper shakers.

Guess who bought a set … LOL ... and a book of Bologna Recipes ... great regret is still felt about not buying a book of Seychelle Recipes and that was from 1980 for heavenssake!!

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Photos

Romaine Big and Small
...the woman started these romaines from seed.

Into the Woods
... on the way to the salmon fishing.

The Pool
... the salmon swim into the cave.

Comments

[Sherry]

What is capelin? Ouch on the 119$ hotel bill. ?

[smatlanek]

from July 15.20016 ....capelin are tiny fish ...like sardines that come in schools and the whales and people feed on them. OK so the answer is a bit late but I am waiting here at the B&B for the man to do my laundry and I asked if I could fold it myself. So here I am catching upto blog business....anyway its raining outside. Am going have to cut holes into the waterproof bag I brought to cover my small pack