Visiting Bonavista, Painting in Witless Bay





Witless Bay / 16x16


EVER SINCE I read "The Bird Artist," by Howard Norman, I've wanted to visit Witless Bay - if only to enjoy saying the name, and knowing that I am, indeed, in the town of Witless Bay. I think "witless" is one of the great words in the English language.

Sadly, to my twisted mind, the town is not named for the intellectual capacity of its current inhabitants, or for a group of would-be settlers eaten by bears. Its name derivation, according to Wikipedia, probably came from Captain Whittle, the English explorer who found and founded it. Over time - maybe after he died? - the name transmuted to "Witless."

It is a traditional Newfoundland town, a fishing community of about 1,500. There are whale-watching and puffin-watching boats, as well.

While I am painting this, Dan Pearson, above, walks up from his home across the street. He is a retiree who now is an artist. Witless Bay has become somewhat of a retirement community, close enough to St. John's that one can shop there, but far enough away to be quiet and serene.

Above, Pearson's studio. He made the wood-burning stove himself, and says it heats the studio all winter.
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Bonavista

The little house above sits on the bluff below the Bonavista Lighthouse. 

Above and below, different parts of the harbor in Bonavista. And look, below, the sun is out! 



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Bonavista Cafe

Miranda, above, moved her two children up from St. John's to open this summertime cafe this year. When school starts, she says, she will probably only be open on weekends. We get lunch to go, and enjoy it sitting out in a rare, sunny afternoon.  


The cafe is simply and prettily decorated with antiques and local art. 



Miranda has a great collection of antique salt-shakers.  


Here's Carol, waiting for lunch. 

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Fish Tales


IN BONAVISTA HARBOR, we get out to look at the boats. This man is filleting cod, and offers some to Carol. He fishes on weekends, and he is allowed to catch a limited amount of cod, but only for personal use or to give away - not to sell. In a summer, he says, he can catch a winter's worth of fish. He used to be a commercial fishermen, but now, he sells licenses. They range in price from $100,000 to $5 million, he says.  For more on the history of commercial fishing in Canada, please click here. 






That, above, is a cod tongue. 

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Dog of the Day


Maya lives in Ontario, and is visiting St. John's, staying in the hotel where we stay. 

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A Final Thought

"Adventure is worthwhile."

- Aesop





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