On Your Doorstep Issue 6 | Page 99

With a mid-trip goal of Fogo Island ( home to the awardwinning , starkly stunning LEEDS-certified Fogo Island Inn at the edge of the sea ), we had to do some fair driving , taking in the Bonavista peninsula with the fishing boats all still hemmed in by late season pack ice . Last spring was unnaturally cold and long , even for Newfoundland , and the pack ice stayed in the harbour longer than it normally does , hampering the livelihoods of the professional fishing boat operators . At the best of times , fishing is not an easy way to make a living . When you do it out of Newfoundland , you are at the mercy of Mother Nature in her most extreme moods .
We made a point of checking out historic Port Union for some interesting industrial photography . The town was specifically founded by William Coaker to function as the base for the Fishermen ’ s Protective Union in 1917 . And who can resist a stop at the whimsically named “ Come by Chance ” to see the steel rigs of the oil refining operation ?
After being sidetracked to Twillingate ( the heart of Iceberg Alley ) overnight due to high winds , we finally make our way to Fogo Island . Fogo Island is roughly 35 kilometres across , and 24 kilometres from top to bottom , population just shy of 2,400 people . Canada ’ s Flat Earth Society believes that Brimstone Head , a massive rock on Fogo ’ s northwestern coast , is one of the four corners of the Earth ! We put our time on Fogo to good use , managing to get all over the island , and even to include a beautiful , locally sourced lunch at the stunning Inn . If you get a chance to tour the hotel , take it . Only 29 rooms , at a ridiculously luxe price per night , the place is never empty . Look up more on the Fogo Island Inn ; it ’ s got a fascinating story .
Back to mainland for our final stop , some hiking in the utterly glorious Gros Morne National Park , a world heritage site . Whenever you see spectacular views of the coastline in
Layers of Light Cascada , Coyhaique
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