Well this was a trip and a half, 5 days that felt like 2 and a mission that got partially completed. There was a clear mission for this trip, get dad to Newfoundland and bring him back up to the top of Berry Hill. This location was such a big deal for Pops…. and me.
The trip started out fantastic. Flying out of Hamilton was a game changer, so smooth and quick. Porter was a great airline and was early on the first flight and only 20 min late on the second. All in all it was a great travel day. I got picked up by Emma and we picked up right where we left off. She pulled out all the stops and showed me some true Newfoundland hospitality.
I got to meet a few of Emma’s friends and neighbours during the visit. All of them had some kind of comment or laugh when they saw the guy from Ontario show up with White “Sneaker-Boots” in May. “You want to go to Gros Mourn in those?” “Oh those Sneaker-boots wont last long”. It was looking like pops wasn’t going to make it out to Berry Hill as it was a bit soggy.
Delayed due to Ferry Crossing
Making it to Berry Hill is pointless if Pops is late. Anyone who knew Pops knew that he was often late. As a child I remember him being weeks late at times but more commonly hours late. To the point that I had to tell him my wedding was hours earlier than it actually was, he made it on time to the wedding. Tracking Pops on his road trip, I got an update that he was going to be 1 day late… The day I leave.
After I got the update that he was going to be a day late and the weather was not conducive to me hiking in my white sneaker-boots, Emma and I started to change our plans and I had decided that I was going to end up having to come back in order to complete my mission. Then I got another update on Monday… “Delivery Date Unknown – Delayed Due to Ferry Crossing”
So now I have to plan another trip and turn this trip into a holiday/sightseeing tour. I wasn’t complaining as I liked where I was and the people I was around. We ended up doing some small road trips to different places and sites. I ended up seeing some wildlife that even locals have yet to see. I could tell pops was there and helping me see some of the greatest sites I could ask for.
Clearly luck and/or Pops was on my side but while it was fun, it wasn’t my mission. My mission was to get pops to Berry Hill but I now had no clue as to when he would even show up. Tuesday rolls around, this is the date he was set to arrive. I am sitting there talking to Emma in the trailer at her cabin, the cabin that hardly has any cell service let alone data. I felt my watch vibrate with a notification, I looked at it expecting to see ” time to stand up” but instead I got “DELIVERED”
In true Pops fashion, he showed up!! On time even! This did not change the fact that we had changed plans already and it was super soggy out. The sneaker-boots just weren’t gonna cut it. So we went into Cornerbrook to get him and then I looked on the map to see where I could take pops. Frenchman’s Cove was my choice, the road literally ended at this rocky beach. The stop was perfect
I traversed the rocky bank to get to the beach. The view was breath taking and the atmosphere was peaceful. I decided that this was the place I needed to leave some of pops, I am still going to take him to Berry hill but it will have to be another time. I took out a handful of his ashes and tossed it into the water. “Welcome to Newfoundland Pops!” is what I proclaimed as his ashes scatter .
There have been a ton of emotions and even more so writing this. I would do it all over again…. in fact I will! I enjoyed the time I got to spend with Emma and her daughters. Pops would totally make it so I have to go back. Thank You Emma for being such an amazing and long term friend. 25+ years is a long time to put up with me and you keep doing it with a smile on your face.
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