Saturday – August 27
We rose this morning with a plan. We had a 3:00 p.m. tee time at Humber Valley Golf course so after breakfast we would go play the local nine hole course at Humber River. An early nine would be a nice way to warm up before the afternoon tee. Humber River appeared to be a well-designed and interesting course, but we couldn’t get on due to the club championship being held that morning. We were told our next best bet would be Blomindin G.C. in Corner Brooke 40 km southwest. Again they tossed us out the door saying that due to yesterday’s rain their tee sheet was completely filled up. We were beginning to feel unloved. So what do many discouraged people do when they can’t have their way? They shop. Off to the local mall to find a bookstore. The mall was actually very nice – no different than back home.
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| Dining at Humber Valley |
We kill the necessary time to get to the afternoon course early enough to have lunch and down not too many beers.
Humber Valley Golf Course near Deer Lake, Newfoundland evokes two words – Play It! Next time you’re passing by Newfoundland with your sticks in the car, put this course on top of your ‘must play’ list. A five star world class golf course is hard to find. I don’t know how many stars Golf Digest would dole out, but Humber Valley gets a solid five star rating from me. The course is very well manicured; greens demand attention to uphill, side hill, and downhill reads. The elevation changes can be dramatic such as hole #10 which is a par four that has a 400 foot drop from tee to fairway. The first four holes play to the greens that are back dropped by Deer Lake. Other holes were aptly designed with the Humber River in play visually or off the tee. Every hole is easy on the eyes – no snoozers here.
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| #10 at Humber Valley - 400 ft. drop |
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| Ed at Humber Valley |
Gary and I were partnered up with two guys from Grand Falls, Newfoundland – Bart and Dennis. They both certainly were great company having good humor and full of conversation. We laughed our way around a very beautiful, yet challenging 18 holes. My advice – play it.
Our foursome stopped for a few beers in the clubhouse as tradition dictates. We told the usual jokes and golf stories then moved on down the road – Bart and Dennis back to the Comfort Inn to their wives and Gary and me to the best dinner recommendation the Marble Inn 5 miles away.
Finally a gourmet meal that didn’t disappoint – Jungle Jim’s be damned. Gary and I ordered the same dish. The dinner started with a glass of Italian red then followed by superb seafood chowder served with mussels then homemade pasta and lamb meatballs. Dessert was a homemade ice-cream – banana, walnut, and chocolate. This was truly a first class eatery. We had a long discussion with Jim, an Englishman from Lancastershire, regarding the world economy and how the UK and Europe are really screwed whereas the US is large enough to recovery on its own (so says Jim).
We contently waddled away from dinner waving goodbye to clinical psychology grad student Stacy who served us dinner. Another fine day on ‘The Golf Road’.
Note: A special thanks to Jackie at Humber Valley Golf Course for the great service and restaurant recommendation.
Day 7 – Sunday, August 28
It’s hard to believe it was I who pried Trapani out of the sack at 5:00 am to drive the 2 ½ to Port Aux Basque to catch the ferry to Nova Scotia. We figured it was smart to get out of ‘Dodge’ while the getting’ was good just in case hurricane Irene changed its tune and float up this way. Although getting stuck in Newfoundland actually isn’t a bad prospect once you’ve seen it.
The cabin we rented for the 7 hour ferry crossing to North Sydney was worth the extra $50. After the 5:00 am wake up, napping in an actual bed for three hours was heaven. The last few hours on the boat were spent enjoying the music of Bugs and Debbie Green. They are a husband wife song team who perform comedy, instrumental music, and local folk songs for passengers. They were a lot of fun. (No pics due to tired camera.)
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| Schooner dock at Baddock |
The drive down from Sydney to the P.E.I. ferry at Caribou was much quicker than expected. We did stop for directions in a beautiful resort town of Baddock. Gary insisted on looking at a few boats in the harbor then we both agreed to have lunch at 'The Yellow Cello Cafe'. Gary was like a kid in a toy store with all the prime choice boats in the small harbor. Lunch was a good topper to this stop. Baddock rivals Harbor Springs in charm and prosperity.
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| Yes there really is a Yellow Cello! |
We made the ferry on time, and as most of this trip we had no plans until on the advice from Kim, a fery service worker, we called the Prince Delta Hotel in Charlottetown, NS. It is a first class hotel with a fair price when you include parking and breakfast on the house (sort of). We had a drink and a light dinner before closing. Dave, a customer at the bar, talked about the fishing industry and the frustration of the professional family fisherman with the big foreign outfits that are just overfishing certain species.
Colby the bartender gave us a taste of an expensive Autralian wine after Gary used his charm (or con) on the guy. Good job Gary as Koocooberry merlot is outstanding.
It is 12:30 am Atlantic time. We shall sleep well at the Delta Prince Hotel.
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