Hooked on Newfoundland: A Rug Hooker’s Road Trip Part 4 - The Beautiful Bonavista Peninsula

Hooked on Newfoundland: A Rug Hooker’s Road Trip

Part 4 - The Beautiful Bonavista  Peninsula

A popular destination for travellers exploring Newfoundland is the Bonavista Peninsula, known for its quaint fishing villages, rugged coast, adorable puffins and its place in history as the landfall site of explorer John Cabot in 1497.   Intrigued by where Cabot first set foot in what he called “the New World,” we make our way through town toward the Cape Bonavista, home to the iconic lighthouse and a statue commemorating Cabot’s arrival aboard The Matthew. 

According to a plaque at the site, the name ‘Bonavista’ is believed to have originated from Cabot’s reaction after 35 days at sea. Upon sighting land, he reportedly exclaimed “bueno vista,” meaning beautiful land. Although we arrive at the Cape on a windy, overcast day, I can definitely see his point, this place is truly beautiful.

We wander up to the lighthouse and spot our first puffins of the trip, perched on a rocky outcrop rising from the sea just off the cape. We watch as these small birds scurry to the edge and simply step off, appearing to free fall toward the sea until the last second, when they somehow manage a perfectly graceful landing on the water below. 

As we head back to our campervan, I duck into the Art and Craft Shop next to the lighthouse, leaving Derek and our dog, Elsa, outside in the wind.   I assure them I’ll only be a minute.  Famous last words. 

What a wonderful shop, filled with all the things you expect in a great Newfoundland gift shop and then some.  There’s the usual touristy stuff, plus books about the province, beautiful jewellery, cozy knitwear, t-shirts and hoodies, and even quilted table runners and placemats. And then…there’s yarn.   A small display of dyed yarn catches my eye. It’s from a studio called Seascapes and each skein is inspired by Newfoundland’s landscapes, with colourways named for specific places like Bonavista, Twillingate, and Gros Morne. One in particular draws my attention, a rich blend of reds, greens, and golds, and a little sparkle called Newfoundland Vintage Christmas. Given my love of all things Christmas, naturally, this is the skein that I choose to purchase.

I later look up the studio, thinking it might be fun to stop in, only to discover it’s located near St. John’s. Unfortunately, we won’t be heading that far south on this trip—perhaps this is just as well, as my allotted space for purchases in the van is filling up.

Tally of rug hooking supplies: 6 skeins of yarn, one pattern, two cards