On the Ramea wharf

In Farley Mowat’s book Bay of Spirits – A Love Story, he wrote about his sailing adventures around the southwest coast of Newfoundland in the 60’s – how he loved Newfoundland, how he met the love of his life Claire, how he was warmly greeted at every wharf he happened upon.  Many things have changed since Farley’s sailing adventures in his vessel Happy Adventure.   Many outports have long ago lost their inhabitants.  Like Pushthrough.  The fish is gone, the fish making over.

But of those left, one thing is the same.   A vessel, any vessel, be it a steamer, the ferry, a visiting power boat, yacht, or sailboat, carrying strangers, is sure to be cause for curiosity at least, celebration at best.  In the old days, shouts of “steamer’s in” might have brought the entire community to the wharf to collect their mail, Sears orders, supplies, visitors or family members returning home or simply to break up the day and see the hustle and bustle of unloading the boat and reloading the boat.

Every port of call on the Southcoast of Newfoundland by Come What May drew similar curiosity.  The sight, upon arriving at the Ramea wharf, of the local outport people and a dog watching us come in, is reminiscent of Farley’s descriptions, albeit perhaps at a smaller scale.  We got the usual questions upon arrival – about where we were from and where we had just come from, about our boat, about the sea state, how long we had been at sea……..  we were happy to be part of their day.  And to be so warmly greeted, just like Farley.  😀

Read the book ……