King's Point, An Undiscovered Gem That We Discovered!

 

As we drove further north and started towards the east the terrain changed, you could almost feel that the ocean was getting closer and closer, and the sky showed that look about it when the horizon meets the water rather than the earth.  It was mid afternoon and we had pulled off the highway and were getting oh so close to King's Point.  

When I had had to find a place for us to stay on the western side of the island and had after much effort landed a cottage in Codroy, I asked the owner Claudell where she would go as a stop over between her place and Twillingate which was our first long stay destination.  Without hesitation she said we should most definitely go to King's Point and that we should stay at the By the Sea Inn and Cafe .  I listened to Claudell as she talked about this small coastal town not quite a tourist haven, I did a little internet searching and made a reservation.  The town is quite small, and it is impossible to miss the Inn.  It sits right on the Bay, you can smell the sea and we could also smell good food.  

We brought our things in for the night and we each went our separate ways for a bit exploring, and stretching and enjoying this fun little stop.  

The mountain range was still a part of the geography and was already feeling like an old friend that just stayed with us as we made our way on this first full day of exploring, being and oh yes driving in Newfoundland.  The lupine, which were mostly gone when I left Maine were in all their glory here, fields of lupine another familiarity between here in Maine and there in the Green Bay region of Newfoundland.  We tried to make contact with the man who had a tour boat and lived across the street from the Inn, but it was five days later when i got a return phone call, it was worth a try, but we would not be going out on the ocean while we were in King's Point.  I did have lots of fun at the Kings Point Pottery Shop.  Oh what amazing pottery on display, the shop clerk talked about the number of very well known potters in the area.  I bought a mug which I have used every day since I returned home.  It is a wonderful shape and has a puffin, makes me happy and is just the right size for me and for my hands.  

I will have to take a picture for a later blog.  I did pick up a little business card size hand out at King's Point Pottery, I want to share what they say about themselves:  "King's Point Pottery is nestled between an ancient mountain chain and the icy North Atlantic Ocean.  Our award winning work is inspired by a hardy island culture that has been forged by centuries of living between rock and wave.  For us, pottery is a connected and uplifting way of life.  We hope you will enjoy using our hand crafted works, just as much as we have enjoyed creating them!  I absolutely do.  Check out their website or give them a call, I am sure they would love to talk with you.  After taking in all the diverse and beautiful works at the pottery shop it was so good to just walk around, to sit on a bench, to just notice.  I was struck by the beautiful works of creativity and beauty I had just taken in, and looking outward and seeing the beauty all around me.  I sat on a bench looking at mountain and water and got to just be. These moments of such quiet, which of course was not really quiet birds singing, a few cars going by, a few other people walking around, but the magnitude of being away.  The feeling of comfort of being away filled me up and the more silent inside WOW was happening.  Those moments of sustenance were not the only sustenance we needed.  When we checked into the Inn, we had made our dinner reservation (making reservations for eating is important, and in this little village there were both local people who came regularly to the cafe and tourist, mostly from other parts of Newfoundland, who were either staying at the Inn, close by or had traveled a little ways because the food was known to be so very good.   After walking the few blocks of town, doing what I call eye shopping and having a little rest, we decided to take a little ride to see more of the area.  Off we went stopping and looking and finding our way to a little bar where we decided that a little "happy hour" stop before supper would be just the right thing.  We walked into this little tavern and no one was there except a young, very friendly woman.  We told her we were staying at the Inn and

she was happy to have some customers.  Within a few minutes another woman walked through the door.  She was a nearby local, and walked right up and asked if she could sit with us, of course we said yes.  She was delighted to see other women sitting at the bar, had lots of stories to tell about the area, she had family in the Twillingate area, so we talked about going from here to there, what she thought would be good things to see and had a delightful time, listening to the lilt in her voice and listening to her and the bartender exchanging updates about the goings on in town.  I had asked the bartender if there was a drink that she especially liked to make, she smiled big and pulled out a pile of index cards with drink recipes.  I laughed out loud, and asked if she would make me a Caesar.  She showed me the card and went to work, here was her recipe but she brought it to a new level. I found out the rimming makes the drink and she put in celery, dilled bean and olives, I enjoyed this Canadian Special, while Marcia had a glass of wine and our local woman friend whose name I have forgotten drank her beer. 

Tall glass. Caesar rim add ice. then, add:
• 1 0z vodka
•3 shakes of Worcestershire
- Ask customer if they want Tabasco
- Fill with clamato juice add salt a pepper AND beans or olives

We each enjoyed our drink and said goodbye, the local whizzing out of the bar and quickly as she had come on in, and we followed close behind.  Life in King's Point.   The ocean was calling, our stomachs were growling and it was time to put our feet up for a little while and walk on over for supper.  

We did have a good meal.  I had a seafood special, and wished that it was Sunday so we could have a "jigg dinner" or Saturday so we could have the pea soup, but I got what they have everyday fresh wonderful seafood.  We ate at a table where we could see the water, watch the changing light, and check out the people, it was also where I was called L'il Darling - oh it is so sweet, and made me laugh and wonder and say some sweet endearment right back at the waitress who wondered what she could get the L'il Darling.  

 

KIng's Point was our first sit down supper and we were happy, tired, excited and aware that we were doing our best to not fall asleep way to early, which would mean getting up way to early as well.  We took another little walk around time before heading to our rooms and the evening was just right not too cool and not too hot.  The rains that had come and gone throughout the day had held out and the next day weather was promising more sunshine and our next stop would be Twillingate right at the tip of iceberg alley.  We would be staying on an island off the island and I for sure was looking forward to having a home base for a little while.  It is a three hour drive to Twillingate (it would be a very short boat ride) there are not many roads, it puts the Maine saying "you can't there from here" on steroids, you really can't get there from here except one way and that there are very few straight shots at your destination.  I fell asleep feeling the day,  planning in my head about the tomorrow and enjoying the sounds of sweet little place that Claudell had suggested.   The next morning we got up, made some coffee and tea in the room, took another walk checking out the new day and then went for breakfast which was included with the rooms.  There were a few locals at a few tables and a few tables of those of us who were staying at the Inn.  We ordered our food, talked about the day, and waited and waited and waited.  Breakfast came, and for the first time I said I think we are on island time....it would not be the last time I said that to myself or to Marcia.  We went back to the room, packed up the car and once again headed out this time needing to go east then south then north to get to our next island stop: Twillingate.  Here are a few more pics from King's Point: