Do you sometimes wonder, too, how fast time flies by and you ask yourself: What have I done in all these weeks? It is already July 23, half the summer is over. Especially in Newfoundland where the summer season is so short, I would like to hold on to the sunny days and make them longer.
I was able to persuade my fisherman to hike along the coast of Quirpon Island with me. This is a rare occasion to spend an entire day outdoors with him as he usually is very busy fishing in the summer, as you can imagine. It was a sunny day, with lots of wind that kept the mosquitoes away. We spotted humpback whales in the ocean, watched foxes playing near the cliffs and spent time beachcombing. Some cliffs are really high and scary on this island. Many years ago, my fisherman got stranded here. He was waiting for help on the rocks but when it didn`t arrive, he climbed the cliffs and hiked to the lighthouse that was still manned then (today it is automated). The lighthouse keeper was able to get him rescued. His house was transformed into a tourist guest house. I stayed there a few years ago and it was a memorable experience!
This year, we had quite a few icebergs in our area which we really appreciated because last year, there were none. It is such a treat to approach these giants in a small fishing boat. The gurgling sounds that icebergs make are astonishing, sometimes downright scary. One is reminded of the fact that only the tip of the iceberg sticks out of the water and the rest is hidden below the surface. Phenomenal!
Almost every day I go walking with two dogs (one after the other). They are not my dogs but they love to go on walks. One dog is eight years old, the other only sixteen months and still has to learn not to pull on a leash. I haven`t been a dog person really (as children, we had cats, not dogs), but I am consulting the internet about dog training and learning a lot. I`m using a ten-metre-training leash which helps immensely. I have gone to the dogs, so to speak.
Some book news: The translation of my next Calista Gates mystery thriller “Bay of Evil” will be finished in its entirety at the end of this month. My translator Gerald Chapple does a really good job. Then I will revise the translation before the manuscript goes to the copy editor in New York. It will still take a while for it to be published but it is on its way! I will keep you posted.
