Today was an exciting day for the Training Ship State of Maine. That’s because today marked the arrival of the TSSOM and her crew to Saint John’s, Newfoundland after an arduous 9-day Atlantic crossing. Needless to say, tensions among cadets had grown high with it being 2 months into cruise with the same people and few opportunities to see land. Some even suggested that they wished we could just skip St. John’s and go straight home. These delusions disappeared once we were in eyesight of the mouth of the St. John’s harbor, which the locals call “The Narrows.” As far as port arrivals go, our arrival to St. John’s was probably our most exciting yet. When we finally entered The Narrows, the view was spectacular. On our starboard side, one could see Signal Hill, a castle towering ominously above, and to port, a quaint Canadian lighthouse guided ships away from the sharp granite below.

When our port liberty started, cadets poured off the ship to take in all the sights and sounds that St. John’s had to offer. In our student-led port brief days before, we were informed of the extensive trail network throughout Newfoundland which has plenty of opportunities for hiking and taking in the views from the various scenic overlooks, so many of us took the opportunity to go for a hike. My group, for instance, comprising MMA cross-country runners, chose to embark on an intense 12-mile run through the Newfoundland Eastern Trail where we discovered numerous ocean views and even a secret spring-fed pond atop one of the hills we climbed.

Later in the day, we joined our shipmates in exploring the town and stumbled upon an outdoor movie hosted by the town. We shared stories from earlier in the day, including how someone had become an official Newfoundlander by being “screeched in” via a local ritual involving kissing a codfish.

In other news, this port has begun to remind us a lot of home. With all of the locals speaking our native tongue (even with a cool accent) and the streets looking similar to just about any Maine coastal town, many of us are becoming aware of how quickly this cruise has gone.

Post by: MIDN 4/C Cooper Parlee, MSE-5

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