Port Hope Simpson wild bay

historical fiction based on year as vso volunteer in Port Hope Simpson, Labrador, Newfoundland, Canada 1969-70 and coming back out to The Town of Port Hope Simpson's Coming Home Celebrations in July 2002; also based on holiday travels; Richard ap Meurig's sense of purpose, peace, quietness,returning to awe-inspiring wilderness of The Labrador, spiritual retreat & renewal...http://porthopesimpson.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, July 20, 2004

34. possible meeting with Luke would have to wait.




He had much more enjoyable travel arrangements to make. Richard thanked Oscar for his time and left feeling considerably better than he had done on the last occasion. “Mind ya get those hips properly fixed up do ya hear? I want to see you running about on them like a headless chicken the next time I see you.” Richard heard Oscar chuckle as he left.
He went back to his hotel room and made a call through to Air Canada about availability for this coming Saturday. In two days time. He was fortunate to obtain two bookings at such late notice on flight AC745 departing 0645 hrs for Faro International, Portugal. His luck also held when he called Air Labrador. After one change at St. Anthony and about an hour’s wait their flight would land at St. John’s about 1800 hrs, Friday night. That night whilst he was waiting for Shanolla he reflected about what had happened. It was then that he started to formulate the questions that might ultimately put his own life in grave danger. His hunter’s instinct told him that he was on the right track. Why had somebody tried to warn him off? Why had Shanolla convinced him to take her to Portugal?
But Shanolla seemed to be rushed and flustered. As if she was confused about what she was doing. She was probably still trying to come to terms with breaking her Grandmother’s wish thought Richard. She knew that it had to be done. If not for herself then for her mother’s sake. After a comfortable uneventful flight to Faro, they booked into a spacious hotel in the modernised pedestrianised city centre. After drinks and dinner they returned to their room.
Early next morning they started off on the famous Portuguese train journey that took them the length of the country. Leaving the hot, dry Mediterranean lands of virtually continuous sun, they travelled past fields of bright