Post Wedding: Private Ocean Zodiac Tour from Bay Bulls + Screech-In at Christian's Pub, St. John's Newfoundland

We are all up and ready by 10 am for brunch at the 'Terre Restaurant' in the Alt Hotel. 

Bay Bulls - famous for its boat tours

Then we drive out to 'Bay Bulls', about 40 minutes from St. John's, for our private ocean zodiac boat tour. We arrive a few minutes early and discover the colourful 'Mermaid Statue' sitting along the rocky shoreline overlooking the Atlantic ocean. She honours local maritime folklore and coastal tales that have long been part of Newfoundland's storytelling tradition. 

Mermaid Statue

Victoria, Joel, Gerrit and Beth - ready to go

Our tour guides are Brian and Taylor with 'Wild Avalon Expeditions', and they are awesome. 

Captain Brian with Charlotte, Reg and Ann

Cruising into a cave

We cruise the coast and see all sorts of jelly fish and wild rock formations. 

Lion's Mane Jellyfish

Gerrit

Hole in the rock

Taylor our guide

They take us out to the 'Witless Bay Ecological Reserve', which holds North America's largest Puffin colony. More than 260,000 nesting pairs come to the reserves's four islands during the spring. Though the majority of the puffins have left for the season, there are still lots about to put on a show for us. 

Chef Luke

After the boat tour, we head back to St. John's to get 'Screeched-In' at Christian's Pub. We have been holding off doing this Newfoundland tradition that welcomes visitors (come-from-aways) and makes them honorary Newfoundlanders. 

Kiss the cod

Chef Luke is an entertaining host who shares local history, jokes and stories with the crowd. First we eat a piece of fried bologna, locally nicknamed 'Newfie Steak'. Next we have to kiss a codfish - I put a napkin between me and the cod (Chris opts out totally)

Screech Rum for all

Finally everyone downs of shot of Newfoundland Screech Rum.

Screech Rum - bottoms up!

Joel and Vic with Chef Luke

We all receive an official certificate naming us honorary Newfoundlanders:)

Joel and Victoria Richards

It's been an amazing weekend together, but now it's time to part our ways. Joel and Victoria are heading to Gros Morne National Park tomorrow and everyone else is heading home. That's a final wrap :)