Is Winter Over?

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Class let out a little early today, and so I decided to take a drive up Signal Hill. Today was a really nice day - nothing but blue skies and seasonably mild temperatures. Unlike Ottawa, most of the snow in and around St. John's has now melted! Tomorrow it is suppose to be +7C with rain. So long as it is not snow, I think I'll manage. With the rain, the last piles of snow should disappear... so, is winter over? I must say that this past winter has been great. The temperatures were mild and there really wasn't that much snow. I arrived thinking that St. John's was going to be covered in several feet of snow and that spending many winters in Geraldton has done little to prepare me for a Newfoundland winter. Sure, the snow started a little early this season, but it's quickly over and spring is just around the corner. Now, I say this with fingers crossed... I hope I can now put the car brush and winter boots away.

Signal Hill was busy today, and I think it was because people wanted to take advantage of the nice weather. I set out for a two hour hike but found many of the trails closed - until May and the start of tourist season. Regardless, I did what trails I could. Here are some pictures from the hike...


Cabot Tower, sitting atop Signal Hill.


The five hundred foot climb to the top of Signal Hill. May I suggest driving?


Can you see the person at the end of the rock face?


Canons aimed to defend St. John's harbour... many years ago. Did you know that a German U-Boat actually fired torpedoes into the harbour during WWII? Underwater nets strung across the harbour prevented them from causing any damage.


Fort Amherst across the Narrows with Cape Spear (the most Easterly point in all of North America) located at the top and far left of the picture.