Conception Bay

Just outside of the harbor were some icebergs that were grounded and slowly melting into nothingness. They were the real reason for our sail. We were in search of ‘Bergie Bits’, those small pieces of ice that break away from an iceberg as it disintegrates. We had used the last of Ted’s stash the night before so we needed to replenish his supply.

Ted had forgotten to bring his fish net so we had to improvise with a vegetable net - what a joke! Andy drove and worked the main (we rolled up the jib) while Ted and Geoff were the netters. I was the videographer of the momentous event. Since we had no dip net we used the vegetable net, a brush handle and a small piece of line to make up the makeshift equipment. The handle was attached to one end of the net and the line was tied to the middle ‘bottom’ of the net to cause drag in the water to open up the net. Ted controlled both the line and the brush handle while Geoff laid on his stomach hanging over the side to secure the other end of the net. For the next hour we all laughed, grunted, groaned and generally had a great time as we made attempt after attempt to snag elusive ‘Bergie Bits’.

It became an issue of pride. After all, how could we go home empty handed? Geoff and Ted were focused. Andy would accept no help at the wheel or the main. Clearly DHM (Dick Head Momentum) had taken hold and would not let go until we landed our treasure. Finally the moment came when the makeshift net did its job and neither Geoff nor Ted made a false move and a ‘Bit’ was heaved aboard amid shouts of joy.

DHM however takes a while to wear off. In the afterglow of success Geoff spotted another ‘Bit’ and thought we should bring it aboard. Ted being slightly more sane than Geoff took one look at it and exclaimed, "No way Geoff, that thing is as big as a fucking toilet!" We kidded Geoff all the way back to the slip.

We had Cod for dinner at the yacht club and swapped lies with the locals until it was time to take Geoff back to Inishfree and ourselves to Ted’s. Andy headed off to bed while Ted and I stayed up till 1 a.m. talking about everything from Canadian politics to telecommunications and of course sharing sea stories.

We spent the next day seeing the sights of St. John’s and the area surrounding it while I took lots of pictures. At a tiny harbor named Quidi Vidi Andy bought a wooden box to ship home the ten pounds of Cods tongues he bought for his wife Liz. We visited Signal Hill where Marconi sent the first transatlantic wireless radio signal. It over looks St. John’s harbor and the view is spectacular. At Cape Spear we could see the iceberg we had come so close to in the fog a few days earlier. It was every bit as big as we thought it was. Mike Battcock delivered my schooner and we made arrangements to have the schooner shipped home via the local Mail Boxes Etc.. The cost to build a crate and ship it to California was twice as much as I paid for the boat. It was worth every cent!

St. John’s and it’s people were fantastic but by this point I was getting anxious to be going home. I wanted to see my daughters, Morgan and Erin - I missed my girls. I also had a new budding romantic relationship that was pulling at my heartstrings and urging me to catch a plane home. That night we went to dinner and then to a local pub for drinks as our last hurrah in Newfoundland. I went to bed looking forward to the long flight home.