MY LOVE

Our Mother often reminds us; “Nobody comes to Newfoundland for the weather. Unless they really like weather. Because we’re weathering weather, whether we like it or not!”

 

“…we’re weathering weather…”

 

Newfoundland could best be described as the nose of North America, and many would suggest we’ve got it shoved in the queerest spot imaginable. After all, this is the epicenter where two of the world’s most extremely polarized ocean currents come crashing head long in a maddening swirl of mass and might.

The Labrador Current is one of the coldest on the planet. Starting on the distant coasts of Greenland it dances northward, collecting massive slabs of glacial ice that calf from the shores of that country’s ancient ice fields. Two to three year’s later, having pushed across the frigid waters of Canada’s Davis Strait and Baffin Bay, it finally turns southward heading up through the Labrador Sea, filling the harbours of Newfoundland’s northern shores with a plethora of icebergs and arctic ice.

 

 

“… a plethora of icebergs…”

 

All powerful, until it comes face to face with the tepid waters of the ‘Gulf Stream’. An ocean current whose extremely high temperatures can sustain itself all the way across the Atlantic Ocean, imposing dramatic climatic effects as far north and east as Scotland where palm tress grow in this tropical conundrum.

While the mixture of these waters creates the perfect blend of nutrients, feed, oxygen, and light for nurturing fish habitat – their associated airmasses thicken like a Turkish bath on a distant moor. The resulting fog bank hangs constantly along our shorelines, blowing on and off the Newfoundland coast, riding the prevailing winds with utter abandon; creating a sub arctic sky whose beauty is magnified by the Mediterranean light we experience at our surprisingly southern latitudinal position.

 

 

“… magnified by the Mediterranean light…”

 

Arguably, Newfoundland would be another Caribbean Island if these currents weren’t colluding against us. Or perhaps with us. 

Last summer one of our McCarthy’s Party Tours’ guides, Carl Hutton, was spending the weekend in Salmon Cove, Conception Bay where he was fortunate enough to happen upon the world famous French painter, J.C. Roy, capturing the beach front in his typical fashion, working in the field, painting ‘Plein Air’.

 

 

“…. capturing the beach front…”

 

He was friendly enough when they arrived but the Hutton’s are a smart crowd with a deep respect for the arts, so they gave him ample space, bringing the man an occasional drink, lounging on the sand bank located a comfortable distance aft, and simply absorbing the marvel as his masterpiece emerged.

As he neared completion, the artist became more engaged with his audience, allowing Carl an opportunity to ask;

“Have you ever painted here before?”

“Yes, yes, many times. But winter is best!”

Surprised by this response, Carl queried;

“Winter? You don’t mind the weather?”

To which our favorite painter responded;

“Weather? Weather is what I love most about Newfoundland!”