Yesterday we went for (I believe) our first significant hike of the year. There are three new sections of the East Coast trail wrapping around the west side of the Northeast Avalon:
The red section is Bauline to Cape St. Francis, we did that last year. The white section is Conception Bay South (specifically Topsail) to Portugal Cove, which is the last section we have to do.
The yellow section is from Portugal Cove to Bauline. That's the one we did yesterday. It was truly insane - lots of stretches like a normal East Coast Trail with wooden stairs and steep inclines, but this one had about 2.5 hours total of, basically, rock climbing. It was the most vertigo-inducing, terrifying stretch of trail I've yet done here. Doesn't come across in pictures but they weren't kidding in the trail guide when they stressed assuring your footing with every step. I'm glad to have done it once, but I'll never do it again. Coming down into Bauline was the worst, so I would be willing to hike in from the Portugal Cove side to the waterfall, and then back out the same way.
Anyhow, some scenes!
We started, of course, in Portugal Cove, like good Catholics
This is where the two ferries to nearby Bell Island dock, shuttling back and forth constantly between the two, passing each other in the middle of the tickle, all day, every day. Wabana is the main (only?) town on Bell island.
Enjoying some the views from the trailhead.
Starting our descent down to the lake/falls.
I don't believe anyone in history has even been as happy as we were to arrive in Bauline lol