Hi Jane

I just got off the phone with our travel company Maxxim located in St. John's. Christina says there are icebergs right now in Twillingate, which it shows on the website as well as down toward the Trinity Bay area. We leave June 1st and she says that our timing should be perfect. We start out in St. John's, then Dildo, Twillingate and then Rexton-Trinity Bay.

We are staying at Kelsies Inn in Twillingate, reccommended by the Provinces tourism book as well as Maxxim. Their website is www.kelsiesinn.com and there is a link to Iceberg Quest on the website.

We are doing a whale tour - O'Briens whale and bird tours out of the Witless Bay area.

the temperature today and expected for the next few days is 10 C if they are lucky, it was 6 C this morning. They may get up to 14C this week if the weather is correct, but Christina warned us that we most likely won't need shorts.

I hope this helps. Have an incredible journey!

Dee

Sorry for hijacking the thread, But Dee and Jane, I'll appreciate a trip report on your return. Our trip starts on june 29th for 8 days and we'll be visiting GrosMorne, Twillingate and st. John's, Thanks.

FWIW, we are staying at the R & J bed & br. at Ttwillingate (got the whole house) as it was the only one available, and I'll certainly post a trip report and review on my return.

Thanks to both of you - I leave May 31st and will be back June 4th so will make the most of the short time. I'll leave a good summary upon my return - and although I wasn't planning on it, I guess I'll take my computer with me as it seems the only way to stay on top of the icebergs while there - ie) there are so many right now around Bonavista and some around Twillingate - so will sign onto icebergfinder.com to stay current!

Have a wonderful trip Dee - if you have anything more current on the bergs, please post before Wednesday night! jane

You may like to know that I stayed at Kelsies Inn in Twillingate a couple of years ago. We hadn't booked and this was the third place we tried. It turned out to be very nice and the couple running it were very friendly. The rooms were spacious and the breakfast was good. We met lots of fellow travellers too and we continued to meet the same lots of people all round the island. Hope you have a great time.

Thank you so much Myshkin, we really appreciate your opinion about Kelsie's Inn. We have been told pretty much exactly what you have said by Christina at Maxxim. I will try to do a report when we return.

Jane - I checked today and icebergfinder show there are icebergs again in the Bonavista/Trinity area.

I went on the weather network website to check the weather, my husband works with many from Newfoundland and they have been a constant source of info including the temperatures today which are between 4 and 6 degrees in St. John's BRRRRRRR! Be prepared for cold and rain. We are in Twillingate the 4th and 5th and it says 2 degrees and rain both days, naturally on either side of those days it was a couple of degrees warmer and mostly cloudy.

If you need any info about icebergs or anything else just ask any of the locals and someone will be able to help you as you go further north. Newfoundland is known for being a place that if they see someone standing on a corner with a map in hand people will stop to see if they can help. Just like Toronto eh:)

If you get in a spot and need a place to stay, even last minute I would contact Christina at Maxxim to see if she could help at all, they are located in St. John's.

I hope you are fortunate enough to see icebergs Jane.

Safe Travels!

Dee

Hi Dee,-

Like you, I signed onto icebergfinder.com today. I am feeling confident in that there are so many around Bonavista - the odds seem even higher than in Twillingate. Either way, I will do my best.

Thank you for your insight to the weather - I hadn't checked it for a couple of weeks so will ensure to pack some warm clothes. Although my excitement is strong enough to keep me warm!

I will share my experiences upon my return - and hope to hear of your adventure - wishing you a safe and wonderful trip.

jane

Hi Jane

I became concerned about my outer apparel plans so I made a visit to a store in a neighboring town who I had hoped would still have a few winter items left over. What a great idea. They had a spring/fall jacket - Jones New York, knee length, waterproof and it will fit nicely over my polar fleece and half price taboot! Now I feel I am ready to go. Just have to remember to throw in a pair of gloves just in case. I mentioned why I was looking for a warm jacket when it was 28 degrees outside and the store owner recounted a story about when her and her husband flew to NL a couple of years ago. Her eyes became almost misty, it was so nice. She recalled a story about a couple from St. John's they had met on the plane, who invited the two of them to come for dinner when they were in St. John's. As she put it, the friendliest people in the world.

We are crazy for puffins and whales, icebergs are pretty important but rank number three behind the birds and whales.

You may not see this post until you return. I hope your adventure is full of icebergs, beautiful scenery and warm friendly Newfoundlanders!

We will chat when we both return.

Dee

There are a few icebergs now visible from the St. John's area (at least they were yesterday) so if anybody happens to be reading this, and in St. John's, it may be a good day to check them out.

(The weather is nice here today as well)

Hi Dee,-

I hope your trip was magnificent - if you enjoyed Newfoundland even 10% as much as I did, you loved it!! I have never been so taken by a place in my life - the people, the land, the air, the sea ....

Day 1 - the plane flew over the 1st iceberg to reach St. John's - just off Signal Hill. I went straight from the airport - and just watched it and all its majesty. If I had to leave right then and there, it would have been worth it!

Day 2 - drove up around the coast - stopping everywhere - spent the day at Torbay, Pouch Cove, took the ferry to Bell Island where the mines are so interesting. The drive took the day despite its close proximity to St. John's. I met so many wonderful people - from all over - many of whom came to St. John's for all the reasons I listed above. There were larger icebergs off Bell Island but unfortunately, I did not see any signs of whales - althought the ferry ticket seller told me that there were often sightings.

Day 3 - was a very very cold day (this would be the second day of your trip I think?). I wanted to get close to the iceberg that I saw on my first day - it was now grounded on the other side of the harbour - so I went out with the only operator going out (due to rough weather). I love the view of the Battery from the water - and getting close to the berg was incredible as the colours were so alive. We were out for two hours and absolutely froze - but all 14 on the tour stayed on the upper deck - it was worth it. I then did a little drive around Marine Drive and had dinner at a local restaurant - very simple with awesome food - called International Flavours (I think). One of the best meals I've ever had.

Day 4 - left early for Bonavista - took my time - stopped in many small villages - and along the way. Then I drove into Bonavista .. what a site! Icebergs were everywhere - all shapes - all sizes. And still quite a bit of Glacial Ice. Incredible. I drove up to Cape Bonavista and saw the Atlantic side - fell in love with it - and cancelled my plans to go to Twillingate. I wanted to spend the entire time I had left there. I rented a small cabin 'Oceanside Cabins' just down from the Cape and my view was awesome. I watched the sun set over the glacial ice and the bergs. Amazing pics. I then found a small cafe (think it's Bonavista cafe) and had the BEST chilli I've ever tasted in my life. It was so good that I went back the next day for lunch and ordered the same thing. If I could buy it where I live, I'd eat it a few times a week!

Day 5 - visited the 'dungeons' where the cliffs and the rock are 600 million years old - incredible. It's just off the cape and yet you could easily miss it. It's actually a provincial park and there are many animals on the property - a real treat. And to top it all off, I downloaded my photos to the computer only to discover that one of the pics I took of an iceberg off the Dungeons road/park included a shot of an Orca - I technically did not 'see' the orca - until I saw the picture - showed it to a couple of locals and they had not doubt that was what it was. Apparently orcas have been around of recent years ....

I then drove to Trinity and area and spent the rest of the day visiting small villages etc. Everyone loves Trinity - and I know it's beautiful - but I personally would hate to miss Cape Bonavista if given the option. Driving back to St. John's late afternoon, I pulled over to take the photos of Inukshuks high up along the cliffs on either side of the Trans Canada. I was parked when all of a sudden, a horse trotted up to the highway - it was one of the largest horses I'd ever seen - and then I realized that it was a moose! A female moose (cow?) and she put on a show for me - I video taped this incredible animal who, although aware of my presence, didn't seem too bothered! What a treat!

Day 6 - flew home with the fondest of memories. By evening, I signed on to The Telegram to read what had occurred today on the Rock - missing it. And then I signed onto Sutton Real Estate to look at a couple of the houses I drove by that were for sale in the historic downtown part of St. John's. I truly think I could live there at some point in my future. The only one concern I have is 'how bad are the winters?' I spoke to many locals who all love it there - and yet almost always qualified their love by saying 'too bad about the weather'.

I can't wait to hear about your trip - I did not drive too much - when I returned the rental, it totalled about 850 kms - spent 95% of my time outdoors - and was very envious of some of the travellers I met who were spending weeks there. I'd love to spend more time there - and go up to Labrador. I wish there was a way to post photos - there probably is - but I haven't found it!

Hope you saw your puffins - I did not - but would love to someday.

Looking forward to your trip report! jane

I'm glad you enjoyed your trip.

Hopefully you'll be back again soon...and the weather's not TOOO bad...you get used to it...hahaha...we don't get tornados or earthquakes, and only rarely get hurricanes (nothing like in the southern US) so we can deal with some fog, snow and wind.