Continuing to explore the Bonavista Peninsula…and my first iceberg sighting!

Another little community on Bonavista Peninsula is the historical community of Port Union.  Port Union is the only union-built town in North America, it is a Historic District of Canada, and it is currently making a big effort to restore its heritage buildings and celebrate its unique contribution to the history of Newfoundland.  Port Union began in a flurry of construction in 1916 - it was to be William Ford Coaker and the members of the Fishermen’s Protective Union’s “capital” as they built a new type of commercial and economic footing for Newfoundland’s fishermen.

The fully restored Factory building

“The Bungalow” built in 1917, home of Sir William Ford Coaker, founder of Port Union.

Restoration work in progress

Constructed from 1918-1920, on a picturesque rocky perch, Holy Martyrs Anglican Church was built to commemorate the Coaker Recruits of World War One.

A very intentional community with a very unique street scape.

A stormy day along the coast.

Off in the distance the little community of Maberly, with a population of approximately 15!

Elliston - the little fishing community where I stayed and (below) The Meems’ B&B was top notch!  Amazing hosts in a beautiful location!

A memorial statue, representation of father and son Reuben and Albert John Crewe, who froze to death during the 1914 SS Newfoundland Sealing Disaster, is located with a beautiful ocean view in Elliston.

Leaving the Bonavista Peninsula today, driving along the west side of the peninsula because…I had heard a rumour that there might be an iceberg along that shoreline.  Along the way I went through the area called Open Hall-Red Cliffe…population 60.  The shoreline and rocks here were very different - and easy to see why Red Cliffe has its name!

Open Hall

Tickle Cove and its Sea Arch.

Sea arches form at headlands, or areas of rocky land that jut into the sea.  The waves wear away or erode the rock from both sides of the headland, creating sea caves that eventually join to form a sea arch.

Tickle Cove Pond.

And what is that I see off in the distance?  An iceberg!!

The photos don’t do it justice.  It wasn’t huge but it was bigger than it looks, and there’s something absolutely magical about watching these huge pieces of ice.