Last week, I wrote about some of the events that took place during Winterset in Summer in Eastport, Newfoundland. This year, Winterset also partnered with Terra Nova National Park to hold workshop readings with award winning children’s author, illustrator and musician Martin Springett.
Martin has an impressive resume that goes back more than thirty years and includes illustrating the covers for Guy Gavriel Kay’s iconic trilogy The Fionavar Tapestry. His most recent venture is a children’s book based on the real-life friendship that developed between an abandoned fawn and his sister Isobel’s great Dane, Kate. The result is a heartwarming book using his sister’s photos called Kate and Pippin: An Unlikely Love Story.
I met Martin when he checked in to the same B&B I was staying in. The owner was making me a ham sandwich and Martin sat down for a cup of tea. He proceeded to entertain us with hilarious tales of a city slicker’s adventures in Terra Nova National Park.
Now, I’m working off my failing memory here, but this is how I remember part of the lighthearted story.
When Martin arrived in Newfoundland he was told he’d be staying in a cabin in Terra Nova. Now, for Newfoundlanders, the term cabin can have a lot of meanings. It could be a square wooden structure with no heat, no light, no cable. Or it can a mansion complete with a butler and maid. In Martin’s case, I think he was expecting something like a hunting hut and was delighted to find himself in an modern two story home.
Which he had all to himself in the middle of the park.
For a city slicker from Toronto, the complete absence of street sounds and street lights had to be just a bit weird. Learning that there were bears in the woods behind the “cabin” must have been fodder for a few dreams. It certainly put a dent into any plans to go for a late night stroll around the property.
So, for five nights, Martin found himself alone inside this huge house surrounded by bear-infested woods with only the stars for light outside. He occupied his time writing and playing his guitar. At some point, he discovered that there was a sweet spot in the house where the acoustics were perfect.
So, he set about composing a song about his time in Terra Nova Park.
He called it The Terror Nova Blues.
I’m happy to report that Martin survived and the bears went without dinner.
😀
I’ve stayed in a lovely cabin in the park near Deer Lake- just for a night. A few more and I could’ve hammered out a story!