Nature Break – Photo Walk in Chapel’s Cove

I can’t believe I almost said no.  Glad I didn’t though.  You see, it’s often challenging for me to transition from one state to another, especially when I’m focused on a project.  It’s rare, however, that that I’m not absolutely thrilled to get out of the house and into nature. What a blessing I did this week – especially since I haven’t done this kind of thing as much this summer as I’m used to.  Sure, I’ve walked through Bowring Park and downtown, where I stopped at The Rooms to look at the view of the harbour on one day and went to sit on the dock another to watch a cruise ship leave St. John’s. But without a car, I haven’t headed out of town very often since I returned in July.

Truth be told, with so many fulfilling projects in my painting studio, I’m definitely going through a hermit phase. Since I started painting full time, I’d say I average a 60-hour work week. I’m often in the studio by 6am and stay there until 10pm.  What can I say. Time flies when you’re having fun.

Anyhow, I’m so glad I said yes to a ride out of town this week.  My housemate and her sister were going blueberry picking and asked if I wanted to come along.  Winters can be very long in Newfoundland, so the mild sunny weather alone could have been enough to get me up and out the door.  The thought of walking by water with my camera & tripod, however, were what really pulled me out the door.

While the sisters reveled at the abundance of blueberries on a burnt-out wooded hill by the ocean in the Town of Harbour Main, Chapel’s Cove & Lakeview (about 30 minutes out of St. John’s), I walked along the road from the ocean and past a series of ponds (lakes, really) all the way back to the main road.  Although I had more than one lens, I shot everything with my 70-300mm. What beauty! And what a great picnic too- Orinda had baked ciabatta bread that I had lathered in pesto and filled with roast chicken and organic romaine lettuce! I also had one of her famous spelt bran, wheat germ, flax seeds & blueberry muffins with me … just in case.

When I got to the main highway 5.5 hours later, it was getting dark.  I sat on a unique bench at the end of someone’s driveway for an hour, listening to the sounds of nature and neighbouring households, but then thought it best to knock on a door to ask to use the phone to see what the girls were up to.  By the time they came to pick me up, we all had lots of stories to share.  Thanks Charmaine & Orinda and thanks to the folks of Harbour Main, Chapel’s Cove & Lakeview! I invite you to experience this beautiful part of the world through my eyes.