Norris Point - Trails, Tales and Tunes

Saturday, May 27, 2023

Hi Blog!

We were camped at Elephant Head RV Park in Trout River, right at the edge of Gros Morne National Park. As we researched things to do near Trout River, we were excited to learn we would be near enough to Norris Point to participate in their annual Trails, Tales and Tunes Festival. This 10 day festival is a unique blend of walks, culinary adventures, and entertainment. The festival attracts talent from across Canada to participate in small venue events.

When we woke up Saturday morning it was cold and drizzly. We decided to skip the 10:00 a.m. hike so that Ruby could have her morning walk, and because it looked like the rain would be too heavy by 10:00 am for a pleasant hike. We arrived at the Lions Club in time to do a little craft shopping before the homemade chili lunch at noon. The chili was great, but the home baked rolls were amazing!

Right after lunch, David Shears took the stage. David was born and raised in nearby Rocky Harbour, the center of Gros Morne tourist activity. The locals love him. He regularly plays at the Anchor Pub Kitchen Party and the Oceanview Hotel. He had a wide song library and has even wrote a few of his own songs.

Next up was Michael Park accompanied by his Mom. Michael is a dynamic, fun-loving and amazing young fiddler from the west coast. He  is about to graduate from Corner Brook Regional HighSchool and heads to Memorial University in the Fall. With French, Scottish and English blood coursing through his veins, Michael can play you a few familiar Newfoundland tunes from Rufus Guinchard, Kelly Russell or other Newfoundland classics, will switch it up with a Franco-Terre Neuvien medley by Émile Benoit, or he can take you across the water to the sweet sounds of Cape Breton’s finest fiddlers like Natalie MacMaster or Jerry Holland. He plays the traditional tunes as they were intended to be played. 

Michael Park's fiddle playing was so energetic, Kathy couldn't help but drag our new Quebecois RV friends out on the dance floor for a little stomping about.

We were sorry to see our new friends go, but they promised to email as soon as they could find enough internet to upload photos!

If we didn't have another event to go to, we probably would have stayed the rest of day partying with the Lions Club folks. However, we needed to be down by the waterfront at 3:00 for a songwriters' workshop at the Bonne Bay Marine Station.

Nothing says you're in Newfoundland like a bass with its own knit cap!

The program started with a short video of some of the scenic spots in Newfoundland. After the video, we learned a little about SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada). They help music creators, publishers and visual artists with rights management and licensing. They also helped underwrite the Norris Point festival so it can attract bigger talent.

There were three participants in this year's songwriters' workshop. While there might have been five artist on stage, three of them were part of the Russell de Carle Trio. From Left to Right, Steve Briggs, Russell de Carle, Craig Young, Ol' Billy Bob Boy a/k/a Bill Simms and Rus Boswell.

Just as the songwriters' workshop finished, we raced up the road to Spring Hill Inn for the Festival Feast and Wine Pairing. In the photo below, Kathy prepares to document the event.

We knew we would like these folks as soon as we saw the sign to the bathroom.

Here is the menu for the feast:

Our first course was a little tapas. Starting at the top and going clockwise, shrimp, duck and salmon.

The second course was lobster bisque paired with a Dona Maria Rose  rosé wine. The wine is a salmon-colored rosé, which presents fresh notes of wild red fruits, such as raspberries, strawberries and currants and floral aromas. It is a mineral rosé wine, dry with elegant acidity.

For the main course, each diner would receive two pours. The entire bar was lined with wine glasses -- two deep! Pictured behind the wine glasses are the owners of Sugar Hill Inn.

In the photo below, Dave is trying to figure out which wine is which. The small glass was from Italy and the larger glass was from Portugal. The Colle Corviano Fonte Maggio from Central Italy was a little too harsh for us, altough we both enjoyed the Donna Maria Touriga Nacional from Portugal.

The main course was a pork roulade stuffed with spinach, caramelized onions and roasted pistachios with a port and partridgeberry reduction. It was accompanied by roasted seasonal vegetables and potatoes dauphinoise. The dinner was delicious, but the potatoes were in a league all their own:  thinly sliced and layered with fluffy creaminess. 

Dessert was a lemon panna cotta. 

The dinner didn't end until 8:00, but there was till enough time to drive back to Trout River before the sun set, so Ruby Cat could get one last walk by dark. 

 

Here is one more look at the Tablelands in the late evening glow:

We've been watching the weather and snow is predicted for Sunday night into Monday. We decided to move our move day up a day, so we don't have to drive in the snow. Our next blog will be from the seaside port of Port au Choix. Until then, stay thirsty my friends.