The TSN Turning Point

We've been back in PNG for 2 weeks now and our transition has gone very smoothly. There are a few reasons for that, one of which is a much improved grocery store. A few months ago I wrote about a new grocery store opening in Port Moresby which had a definite effect on the existing store. They have improved their layout and selection. I've been able to get good tomatoes everyday and I've even found spinach and asparagus.

Another big reason is that 4 new restaurants in the Harbourside area have opened, so our dining options have improved greatly. The weather is slowly getting back to normal as well. After drought like conditions for over a year due to the El Nino, we are getting showers late in the afternoon on most days. The amount of rain should increase from now until February when the true rainy season will be in place.

The main reason for our improved life however, is our improved social life, thanks in most part to our friends Melissa and Allan. They are from Fort Frances Ontario originally, but like us, they have lived in Halifax and Calgary, among other places. Melissa works for an oil company and Allan is in early retirement, also like me except he takes care of their daughter Sienna. They are great people and we became friends instantly. Recently Melissa and Allan bought a gorgeous boat and Melissa refers to getting the boat as the TSN Turning Point in their time in PNG. Everything is now split between the time before the boat and the time after the boat. We got to enjoy their inaugural cruise this weekend when we went to a small island just outside of Port Moresby harbour called Fisherman's Island and  spent the day out there on Saturday.

Melissa put on a good spread

and of course we had a few tasty beverages.

Sienna is a cutie who has taken to life in PNG without hesitation.

There is a small shanty town on the island where some fisherman and their families live.

All of a sudden we saw several of them sprinting along the beach with their nets trying to get ahead of a school of fish swimming along the shore. They did manage to haul in a large catch which they promptly loaded into a cooler on a small boat and headed into Port Moresby to sell them.

Everyone in the village was so happy, especially the kids who were dancing and cheering on the beach.

It was the first time that we felt freedom in Port Moresby because we didn't have to rely on a driver to shuttle us around or worry about our security. It truly is the TSN Turning Point. Thanks again to Melissa and Al and Sienna for a great day.

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Back to Reality

Our time in Canada has come to a close. We leave tomorrow afternoon for our long journey to Papua New Guinea. We had a fantastic time while we were home. This was the first time in 4 years that we were in Canada during the fall and it was beautiful. Lori and I went on a couple of great hikes on the East Coast Trail. This was near Pouch Cove.

And this was by Cape Spear.

 It was blueberry season so we were able to pick some while we were hiking.

We also went for a couple of walks in the city. This is along the Waterford River in St. John's.

The main reason we were back at this time of year was to attend a wedding. Lori's cousin got married and it was a beautiful ceremony at the bride's parents house.

I'm not sure when I'll post again, but I do know that I'll be wearing shorts when I do. Talk to you soon.

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Downtown St. John's

Lori has been in St. John's for about a week and a half now and it's been a lot of fun. Like a typical trip home, she had appointments and errands to take care of and of course we've been running through the list of foods we have to have when we come back - Jiggs Dinner, Fish n' Chips, Bologna and Toutons.

This past weekend we took a small vacation within our vacation and stayed in a hotel downtown so we could enjoy our time out and not worry about getting home. The hotel had a beautiful view of Signal Hill and the narrows.

On Thursday night we went out for dinner at Raymonds and it was fantastic. It has become one of our must do's when we come home now. Then on Friday night we went to the Mile One Centre to see Jerry Seinfeld perform.

The show was really, really good. Mario Joyner was the warm-up act and he was very funny as well. It was a great weekend.

It's amazing how fast time passes while we are here. We only have 10 days before we leave for Port Moresby, so we are trying to get everything in before our flight.

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Halifax/National Parks

When we altered the dates for Lori's trip back to Canada, I knew I was going to have a lot of time to fill before she got here so I planned a trip to Halifax. I hadn't been back since we left in 2003, so a trip was long overdue. Not all of my buddies still live in Halifax, but we were able to find a weekend we could all be there.

Instead of flying up, I decided to drive and make a few stops along the way. First, I spent 2 nights in Gros Morne national park. It is such a beautiful spot. I stayed in a little town called Woody Point and the hotel was called The Bonne Bay Inn. If anyone is going to visit the area, I highly recommend the hotel.

I went on a pretty tough hike while I was there. It's about 16km with a lot of elevation changes, so I knew it was going to be difficult, but because it had rained heavily prior to my hike, it was very difficult. I was beat by the end of it. I was in ankle deep mud at times and some of the stairs were washed out completely.

I also had to ford a river twice. I knew that before I went, but the water was a lot higher and moving a lot faster than I expected.

It was worth it though, because the views were incredible.

I left Gros Morne on Thursday and drove to Port-aux-Basques to catch the overnight ferry to Nova Scotia. I was going to drive the Cabot Trail on Friday morning, but it was so rainy and foggy, I skipped that and went right to Halifax.

I had a great time in Halifax. Catching up with my old friends, telling old stories and basically laughing the entire time.

We went out for dinner late Friday night, but that didn't stop us from going for a donair on pizza corner at the end of the night.

It seemed like a good idea at the time, but when I woke up with heartburn and donair sauce on my phone, it didn't seem like a good idea.

On Saturday we went to visit my buddy Pete, who is a firefighter for Halifax Regional Municipality and was on duty. He gave us a tour of the station.

It was so nice to see all those guys again. We made plans for another weekend next year. Maybe in Boston this time.

After the weekend, I drove back to Cape Breton so I could catch the ferry to Newfoundland, but this time I was able to drive the Cabot Trail and the Cape Breton Highlands national park and it was spectacular.

Once I got back in Newfoundland, I made one more stop in yet another national park for a hike. I stopped in Terra Nova national park before I made my way home.

Anyway, I know that's a lot of pictures to look at, but it was an eventful week. I'm back in St. John's now and it's only 2 more weeks before Lori get here.

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Bike Ride

My time in Newfoundland has been quiet. Like every time I come back, I had a bunch of Doctor and Dentist appointments that I've worked my way through. I've also been catching up on Netflix, as well as what I had recorded on my PVR, not to mention watching lots of Olympics. After sitting on my butt for a week and a half though, I figured I'd better get out do some sort of physical activity instead of watching it on TV.

I went for a great bike ride on the Trailway, which is the trail on the old railway bed in Newfoundland. I found a stretch that hugs the shoreline and it was a beautiful ride. I parked in the Foxtrap Marina and rode west for about 9km before I turned around and returned to the car. The ocean was next to me for the entire trip.

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Ontario

I had a fantastic trip to Ontario, thanks to my brother Dean and his wife Charlene. I was very well fed while I was there. I managed to eat everything on my Ontario food bucket list - field tomatoes, butter tarts, summer sausage from a Mennonite butcher in St. Jacob's and I had corn from Gillespie's farm every day for the first 7 days I was there.

I hung out in the pool with my nephew Jack, teaching him how to snorkel.

The main reason I came back in August however, was to go on a golf trip. My brother organizes a golf trip to Michigan every year and I've never been able to go. For me, the golf was secondary and the best part was hanging out with my family.

 It was a great trip with lots of food, beer and family.

I flew to St. John's yesterday and now I can start on my Newfoundland food bucket list - Jiggs Dinner, fried bologna and toutons. For the first few days though, I'm just going to relax and watch the Canadian girls kick some butt in Rio.

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