CAPE SPEAR

North America's Eastern Point

Cape Spear, Newfoundland is the most easterly point in North America, and I had thought I’d like to get over there to see a sunrise one morning since it is the first place to see the sun. However, the sun was up a bit before 5 AM and it would mean trying to get a cab very early in the morning for the 15-20 minute ride from St. Johns to the area, so I gave up on a sunrise.

  However, we did visit Cape Spear and a friend and I did walk to the point for a photo op. The rugged coastline is spectacular. It was clear and sunny by the time we arrived late in the afternoon.

I walked the 156 steps up to the 1836 lighthouse . It is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Canada’s Eastern Provinces. A modern concrete lighthouse was built in the 1950s just a few meters from the original one.

            The old lighthouse has been restored to its 1840s décor and shows how the light keeper and his family lived.  Because the lighthouse was built while the province was still a British protectorate it is six sided and has the required 23 windows. However, half of the windows are false and painted black behind them. Sitting high on the very windy hill if all the windows were real it would be impossible to keep the house warm with the one fireplace in the kitchen, which also was used for cooking.

            During WW II a gun battery was built into the stone cliff. Barracks housed 300 men, 50 of whom were Americans. There were underground passages from the gun battery. Viewing it I thought That must have been a challenge to build. All evidence of the barracks was gone.

            Several whales were playing just off the coast. They were blowing every few minutes compared to the 30 minute spans at Witless Bay. We stood and watched them for some time and what a fitting way to end out visit in Newfoundland!