St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

February 21, 2011
Skating at Mile One Arena, and with my oldest friend Cathy,
at The Cassels' backyard rink in CBS (Conception Bay south) and at Signal Hill, overlooking Cape Spear and The Narrows

Well, it is only because of the weather that St. John's was my tenth provincial skate.
On arrival at midnight my cab driver cautioned me "you must watch your step since it is St. John's and there is some of the North Atlantic on every doorstep." They had been having a nice mild winter and it looked like an outdoor rink was not going to be available. Of all the pond skating that is often available in late February, there were none safe enough to try skating on this year.
Good Luck followed me on this leg, as I had a CBC Radio 1, St. John's interview (at 7:15 a.m.) and the on air request for an outdoor rink was granted by the Cassell family in St. John's, (CBC south, i.e. Conception Bay South). Mrs. Cassell responded immediately and we arranged for an after work skate at their home.

You can listen in at: http://www.cbc.ca/thestjohnsmorningshow/audio.html for the audio interview Feb. 21, 2011 at 7:15 a.m.

and

http://www.cbc.ca/thestjohnsmorningshow/ for the follow up on their web site Feb. 25, 2011.

Meanwhile The Telegram wanted to interview me at the Mile One Arena. The arena has a lunch time skate scheduled and it helps some office workers get their exercise in and others clearly enjoying a skate. A few of them heard me on the radio in the morning, so they wanted to make sure I did get a backyard rink. It is always more pleasant skating to some music and the regulars told me that you can buy a skating pass, and they also sell a parking pass for the skaters.
My friend, Cathy took the day off to make sure I got to Signal Hill, Cape Spear, The Battery (with all the colourful homes in the rock), and the Village of Quidi Vidi. Her daughter cooked us a jiggs dinner; yes, peas pudding included and her son in law complemented me with two CD's of his bass playing with "Shanneyganock" (a well know Newfoundland group), and they all made sure I got screeched in that night.
What a wonderful place, it is so colourful here and the people really are the friendliest and they know that you are "from away".
My photographs in St. John's are not that good, but in my minds eye!!! unforgettable.

It has been quite a ride, and loads of fun ice skating in the Provincial capitals and now that I am on my last city, I am somewhat sorry it is coming to an end. I have met some wonderful people and I do regret not recording the names of those photographers, usually complete strangers and each one saying what a great idea to ice skate outdoors in the capital cities of all the Canadian Provinces, and they wished they could come along. And a lot of you did come along on my blog, thanks a lot for joining me and I'll see you in Ottawa.