June 11th (Day 34) – Last Day In Dildo Run Provincial Park/Twillingate.

A tight fit on the ferry!

We decided to travel to Farewell to catch the ferry to some small islands within this huge archipelago with the intent of seeing endangered Newfoundland Ponies and whatever else might jump out at us.  We were last in line for the ferry to Change and Fogo Islands behind many cars of locals going to a funeral on Change Island, population 250. We had opted for Change Island only, but with the line-up we weren’t convinced we would get loaded.   To understand what happens in small isolated communities the school on Change Island had 130 students not too many years ago and next term will only have 12.  We were told we would not be loaded, but then told they could and when they closed the ramp there was only a foot between the huge steel ramp and our rear bumper.  While in line an elderly woman got out of her car in front of us and came back to chat – that’s the Newfoundland way!  By the time our conversation was finished we were invited to their home on Change Island for tea.  Regrettably we opted for the earlier return ferry to avoid being caught up in traffic when the funeral was over so weren’t able to take advantage of Winifred and Frederick’s invite to take tea.  We did see the Newfoundland Ponies and left a donation for their care and feeding.       

The funeral on Change Island

Change Island ponies

We spent our last night in Twillingate at a comedy show – ‘How to be a Newfoundlander 101’, where we learned some of the unique words and phrases used by Newfoundlanders in communicating with each other.  Denny helped in demonstrating the use of terms ‘Arn’ (did you catch any fish?) and ‘Narn’ (no).  We finished the evening with a ‘Screeching’ ceremony where we became honorary Newfoundlanders, which meant kissing a fresh Newfoundland fish, drinking shots of Screech (a Newfoundland rum), and completing the ‘screeching’ ceremony.

We're officially (honorary) Newfoundlers!