The discovery of Canada and North America and how it relates to us working today. Pride...

Bonavista The John Cabot trail of 1497 continues. Having located the boat in Bristol England, Tomorrow I get a private audience with the boat Matthew housed in NewFoundland where it first landed, with the Mayor of Bonavista, Betty.

The accents here are still so Gaelic. This land has stood still. This is monumental. This is was pre navigation. Cabot thought he was heading to Asia. Instead of spices, he found North America and Bonavista is the oldest port in America, famous for its fishing as well. This is what makes me proud to work at someone's house in America today. I respect the surveying process of height and direction because now we have the knowledge and technology not only to get clients yards correctly graded, but to honour the integrity of those who found this land by chance. All should visit. When it's warmer. Though seeing it now highlights the brutality of the early settlers. The boat is housed in the blue hanger behind me. Can't wait for day break.

A private audience with Cabots boat Matthew. Followed by a trip to one of the oldest if not the oldest lighthouse in America. It is bloody freezing. Coldest windchill I've ever been in. I don't know how these families braved the crossing 400 years ago.

Dawn breaks. Abnormal freeze. Possibly the coldest wind I've ever encountered. John Cabots boat is housed behind me in a triple story hangar. I'm awaiting the mayor of Bonavista, Betty Fitzgerald, to meet with me as this is a private showing and a great honour for me.

Inside the hangar, Matthew is hoisted above the icy water that is cruelly eating and eroding her structure over the years. A massive repair fund is under way so she can sail the seas again.

The mast on the crows nest has to be removed for this vessel to come inside for the winter.

The journey begins...

Cabot and a crew of 18 ( including a bosun who manned the sails, and a carpenter who could perform instant repairs if damaged ). The rest of the crew slept in the hull with livestock for food ! No beds. travel from England on their way to Asia. They travelled in a tiny boat with no sleeping accommodation. 3 tiny rooms for Cabot, looking for silk and spices they discovered an abundant new industry instead. Cod. They salted their catch and an industrial town was born. Bonavista.

Land Ahoy........ Bonavista. Just beautiful.

Sadly this vessel has structural issues and needs rebuilding. I pledged today to raise funds so this piece of American history can remain intact. This boat draws tourism to this area. Since it has been hoisted for the last 3 years the population of this early town has dwindled from 5k to 3.8 k as the young are leaving the fold to find employment in other areas of the globe. I owe my trade and my life to these early settlers. I will find a way to help and make this boat sail again.

John Cabot statue stands nearby overlooking the port by possibly the oldest lighthouse in America.

I literally was hanging on for dear life for this photograph. The winds were claiming me, my nose and fingers.

Somewhere out there is my mum in England.

My next stop is a remote port hundreds of miles north of Quebec to establish mean sea level. This benchmark is confirmed as mean sea level and is the starting point and cornerstone of the vertical measurements that are evident in any building in North America. As a surveyor this is part one of the three chapters for me. Cabot and discovery. Harrison and longitude ( coming really soon ) Elevation and the development of North America. ( starting tomorrow ).