Screeching in to St.John's

From Conception Bay, all that remained was an easy day's ride to my final destination - St.John's, Newfoundland. It was a nice ride and we enjoyed ourselves, stopping at a little yard sale, stopping for coffee, and generally taking our time. It was almost anticlimatic as we found our way to the campground. We were also in different frames of mind at this time. The Grays still had another week before they flew home and planned to do one more loop south. On top of that, they were both feeling sick at this point. For me, this was the end and I was determined to celebrate. It was Saturday night and I knew it would be the opportune time to check out the legendary George Street and hopefully get "Screeched in". Terrie and Angie decided they would stay at the campground. Luckily, we met a cool guy in the campsite next to us that was in town for something work related and had been out to George St. a couple times already. He was up for hitting it again, and the two of us went to see what the night had in store.

We started out with a pint at Nautical Nellie's, a true English style pub. The bartendress was friendly, full of energy, and proud of her town. She offered to take me out to get screeched in on her next night off. That was two nights away and I think we both knew I would be screeched in by then. We pushed onwards. From there we moved into the heart of it. There's something like 30 bars in a 3 block span of George St. If you can't have fun here, then you must be dead. Everyone is in good spirits. There was a big scavenger hunt like race going on. We had three different wildly dressed groups ask us to take their picture or else join them while doing a can-can dance. Each group was given a disposable camera and had a list of things they needed pictures of. Usually of the group doing something crazy.
Anyway, to make a long story short, by the end of the night I had been screeched in, met all kinds of great people, tried out about 5 or 6 of the bars and had an all around great time. Unfortunately, I didn't bring my camera out for fear of losing it so you'll have to imagine. Wish I had but I'm glad I still have my camera.

In case you don't know what getting "screeched in" means, it refers to the ceremony and subsequent downing of your first shot of Newfoundland Screech, a dark Jamaican rum. It involves reciting many lines of serious Newfoundland jargon about sailing, kissing a cod and downing the stiff rum. The cod I kissed had to be one of the ugliest specimens I've ever seen.

Finishing the Journey

Ok, the last chapter I left you with was leaving Branch after the hangover of all hangovers. Being as we were hungover and didn't leave until 4, we didn't make it too far this day. 28.5 kms to be exact. I started feeling good once we got pedalling.

Terry, on the other hand was one grumpy dude. Sorry Terry, telling it like it was. We started looking for a roadside place to camp after about 20 kms and finally found a small gravel pit like site. It was actually quite nice, considering. It turned out the REAL gravel pit was somewhere just up the last road we passed before choosing this site. We discovered this after a vehicle drove by us, turned up that road and then shortly after the gravel crusher started. He had the late shift. It didn't stop until just before we were to leave the next morning. Besides the continuous sound of gravel being crushed a few hundred meters away, it was a nice night. Angie created a very feng shui kitchen complete with an entrance (made of rocks), seats (made of rocks), two cooking platforms (also made of rocks)....you get the idea. Hey, when you're given rocks...uh, make a kitchen? After a tasty dinner we enjoyed an amazing star filled sky. Angie had a star chart and we checked out the constellations while Terry cursed the gravel crusher. Don't get me wrong, we were all cursing the gravel crusher.
The next morning we had oatmeal for breakfast and the hit the road with sunny skies and feeling 200% better than the previous morning. We decided to put in a good day and did. We rode 90 kms to Conception Bay and camping on the northern shores of the Avalon Peninsula. It was a generally enjoyable day, taking pictures of everyday life in Newfoundland and enjoying the fresh air. We stoppped for some awesome cod bites and chips. Fresh, cheap($5), and tasty! We pushed on to a great camping spot right on the water. Windy, but beautiful. Oh, it should be noted that I cracked out the whoopy cushion I bought earlier in the trip this day as well.


We stopped for coffee and ice cream in Holyrood (like Hollywood, except in Newfoundland) and there were a few unexpected BBRRRAAPPP's, much to my enjoyment and Terry and Angie's embarrassment.
Terry retired early once we got camp set up as he was feeling sick. Angie and I had a small fire on the beach in an old tire rim and I got to laugh at the crazy workings of her brain fuelled on caffeine and ice cream. Very funny girl. Miss you guys!