I live in Peterborough, ON.  I had started my journey east the end of June. It was now July and time to board the six-hour ferry ride to Port aux Basques, Newfoundland from Cape Breton Island. As we approached "The Rock," the mist was thick, and we could just barely see an outline of the island. I was spending one week in Newfoundland and I already felt like the exploration had begun. 

I embarked on a four-day vacation in a cabin on Spirit Pond. The landscape, the ocean, the people and their conversations along the way were the inspirations for my song "The Crossing."


The Crossing

(by Sunrise Summer 2008)

We’ve come from all around to head for Newfoundland
Waiting for the ferry, as patient as we can.
For a journey lies ahead as we approach “The Rock”
In anticipation we all change our clocks…

8:00 o’clock Atlantic…8:30 in Newfoundland!
Touching down in Port aux Basques,
Straight through the barren land,
All the way to Corner Brook just to stay the night.
Then to Gros Morne National Park at the first sign of light.

Near diamond-covered waters on the Atlantic shore
On rugged rough terrain, one thing’s for sure…
It’s not hard to envision those friends of old Champlain
Cabot, Cook and Cartier, exploring was their fame.

8:00 o’clock Atlantic…8:30 in Newfoundland!
Explorers a many by sea and land
On the great Atlantic Ocean, wild and free
And the Gulf of St. Lawrence is quite the place to be.

At the Harbour known as Rocky the waves splash in.
The sunset is spectacular I told my friends
The seagulls play fishing games as fishermen sell their goods.
If you’ve never crossed to Newfoundland
One day you should.

8:00 o’clock Atlantic …8:30 in Newfoundland!
Travellers so many by sea and land
On the great Atlantic Ocean, wild and free
And the Gulf of St. Lawrence is quite the place to be.
Glorious and free, glorious and free, glorious and free
Oh Canada glorious and free.

From:

"Sunrise"
(Dawn Barry)   Submitted By: NULL