Trinity, Newfoundland - Canada Day, Saturday, July 1, 2017

Happy Canada Day!

We took our time getting ready as it was raining.  We tried to call the Bonavista Social Club to see if they would be open for lunch today as it is a holiday, but we did not hear back. So we abandoned visiting them for their highly recommended pizza and headed south back to Trinity where we are going to see a walking Pageant this afternoon and dinner theater this evening.

It was only in the high 40's and blustery winds.  The Rising Tide Theatre Pageant is held at various sites throughout the picturesque town of Trinity (posted photos yesterday on our way north through town).  The wind was really blowing and I would not have been surprised to see a few snowflakes!

An Englishman and Irishman were our hilarious hosts

We thoroughly enjoyed the 2 hour walking play about the history of the town despite the weather.  Actors were excellent, musicians were talented, we learned some history and laughed a lot.  They covered the "discovery" by Cabot 500 years after the Vikings and who knows how long after the Native peoples, the life of fishermen and their families in the early days, pirates, colonial courts and justice and some political history.  Highly recommend this 20-year old Pageant if you are ever here in Trinity.

She agrees to marry a sailor

Early colonists - fishermen

Pirates used the coves as protected bases in Summer

Drying cod for the Fish merchants

The Irishman has the Englishman searching while he takes a wee nip

The sailor dies, leaving the woman a very young widow

Recreated service in the town's beautiful church

Washerwomen gossiping and bemoaning the hard life of women

The first court in Newfoundland, trying to bring order

Too much gossiping

Trinity's political history

We later went to the Rising Tide dinner theater, which was in the form of a "Kitchen Party."  The original kitchen parties were the local townspeople getting together in someone's kitchen or a church to tell stories, recite poems, and music, music, music.  The dinner was a quick serve meal of either roast beef or cod au gratin with all the sides and a dessert, followed by the performance.  Community seating and we got to socialize with a few couples from Ontario.

We were amazed at the talent that is mostly young people from Fine Arts programs in Newfoundland colleges, along with some great local comedians and actors.  Their voices were professional, singing many folks songs and the comedy sketches were hilarious.  

We returned to the RV and drove about 2 miles to the one and only campground in the area.  Only 15 amp service, but that is enough to run the furnace without worrying about draining our batteries as it will remain in the 40s all night.

A busy and wonderful day.