August 2026 - St. John's NL
Aug 23 Sunday 13,000 steps
We didn't get up until 8:45!! For breakfast we decided on having a big one that would serve as lunch too.
We switched our plans around since it was going to be a nice sunny Sunday, so we lazed around until we headed out at noon, with no particular plans than wandering and taking pics.
We headed down to Water Street, with a stop at Harbourside Park. As you may guess, the park offers some lovely views of the harbour as well as various interpretive displays about Newfoundland’s ‘founding’ and Newfoundland dogs.
For Jinjer!
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The Atlantic Shrike is a bright orange platform supply vessel (PSV) operated by Atlantic Towing, docked here in the Port of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Built in 2017, it made history as one of the first offshore vessels in Canada to integrate a hybrid battery-powered energy storage system.
A Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) functions as the ultimate delivery truck for the ocean.Its primary role is to provide logistics support by transporting essential goods, equipment, and personnel to and from offshore oil, gas, and wind installations.
A shrike is a small, fierce predatory bird known for its distinct hunting habits.
In the context of the vessel Atlantic Shrike, it follows the maritime tradition of naming offshore support fleets after resilient coastal or predatory birds.
It's a little big!
The large green-and-white vessel docked in the harbor is the F/V Calvert, a state-of-the-art offshore factory freezer trawler owned by Ocean Choice International (OCI).
The F/V Calvert is noted as a "green class" vessel and was a major milestone delivery for Canadian fisheries as a modern groundfish trawler.
We also had impressive views of Signal Hill 2022.
This psychedelic space-themed artwork was created by local artist Sean Alexander Cunningham.
The courthouse, the jail is also in there, so if you're told that someone is under the clock, they are in the jail.
Existing plaque: 194 Water Street, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
The St. John's Court House, built 1900-1904, is by far the most striking and elaborate court house in the province. Set into a steep hill it commands a dramatic view of the harbour. The Romanesque Revival building was designed by W.T. Whiteway and constructed of local sandstone and granite. The site, scale and design all give an impression of solidity and power, considered appropriate for its legal and other functions. The building has housed the supreme court, jail, police court, law library, judges' offices and the Colonial Secretary's office. For a time the legislature also met here.
Barb, the guide, tried to tell us that this was a billionaire's ship! We didn't buy that, it looked like a war ship.
The gray warship docked is the USS Wichita (LCS 13), a Freedom-class littoral combat ship of the United States Navy, which arrived in port on August 19, 2026, for provisions before supporting multinational Arctic exercises.
It is a logistics stop for fuel and food before participating in Operation NANOOK-TUUGAALIK 2026.
Operation NANOOK is the Canadian Armed Forces' signature annual military operation designed to defend Canadian sovereignty, train troops in extreme environments, and secure North America's northern border. The specific maritime segment underway right now is Operation NANOOK-TUUGAALIK 2026, which runs from August through October.
Key Objectives Maritime Surveillance: Patrol and monitor Canada's Arctic waters and the Northwest Passage.
Allied Interoperability: Train closely with joint naval forces from the United States, France, and Denmark.Domain Awareness: Build tactical proficiency in navigating the complex and harsh conditions of northern routes.
The exercise is led by the Royal Canadian Navy (featuring Arctic patrol vessels like the HMCS Robert Hampton Gray). It operates alongside the Canadian Coast Guard, other Canadian federal agencies, and international allies—including the USS Wichita.
The Murray Premises are historically significant because of their association with the mercantile activities tied to the fisheries industry of Newfoundland. Originally, the buildings were a group of connected warehouses constructed in 1846, from which salt cod was exported and provisions were imported. They are the oldest collection of mercantile buildings in the province related to the fishing industry.
It now houses the 69-room Murray Premises Hotel, alongside a selection of restaurants, boutique retail shops, and professional office suites.
Short side streets running from the main business area down toward the harbour were historically called "coves" because they were built on top of filled-in streams or natural indentations along the shoreline.
There's a moose in the window!
Titled "Making Fish", created by Newfoundland artist Jim Maunder and installed in 2001. It depicts women carrying salt fish on a traditional wooden barrow, representing the historical labor of women in the province's cod fishery.
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We have dinner reservations at Cohones tonight.
We've been to the original Dildo Brewing.
We decided to have a beer in the Shamrock Pub, not realizing it is not in the best area.
I chose the Quidi Vidi Day Boil, the tap with the diver.
We went back to the hotel and relaxed before heading back down to Water St. I tried to picture the hills here but this doesn't really reflect it.
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Dinner reservations at Cojones and a big disappointment. It is packed most nights, but this was Sunday and nowhere else was busy either. However, I would describe it as a university spot, cheap food and cheap drinks. Small portions!! Their salsa was blah until we asked for some hot sauce!
In Cod We Trust - cod was good but the toppings made everything so wet!
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