It's that time of year again. The leaves have fallen and the days and nights have gotten significantly colder. So that's our cue to be at the ready for the annual migration south. Jeez I feel like a bird.
The rig is fixed or so we thought (that's another story), the truck (you remember Precious) is ready to go, all our appointments have been taken care of, so all that's left is to pack the rig with way too much stuff. Every year it's the same question, "do we really need this"? And every year it's the same old answer "of course" so into the rig it goes only to come back home in the spring in the same place we initially backed it. Sooooooo this year is going to be different, we are only taking the absolute necessities. I'm taking half the clothes and Sue is taking half her artsy stuff. That should leave the rig half empty. I will believe it when we are finally on the road.
The water to the park is shut off so we filled every container we could find in the park model, filled the fresh water tank in the rig, and had our last shower. So much for giving Precious a bath.
And of course someone always gets sick. Well this year it is Lulu and myself. Both of us sound like we have colds. I'm not the type of person that jumps to the vet every time one of the dogs gets sick but this sounds strange. So off we went. Some antibiotics and $150 we are good to go or so we think.
We make the last rounds, saying goodbye to family and friends. The truck and rig are connected and ready to pull out in the morning. The weather calls for rain and the dreaded "s" word. A word I can't say around Susan.
Now stay tuned for our trip south.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Time To Go Home
When I booked the ferry many many months ago for July 31 the departure time was 6 am. What was I thinking? The campground is ½ hour away from the ferry terminal and we have to be there 2 hours before departure. Again what was I thinking? Well the departure gods must have seen my dilemma because they emailed me with a change in time. Our new departure time is 1145 am, hallelujah, thank the ferry gods. Now we were able to get up at a descent time have coffee & breakfast, shower, and leave for the ferry in the daylight hours.
We got to the ferry terminal with no issues and entered the inspection area. You are not allowed to take potatoes or plants of any kind off the island. We had a few potatoes so out they go. Its cool and rainy so after we got in the line-up, we went inside the terminal for a coffee.
This ferry ride was not complicated, no backing on and off like before. We got safely aboard, and were off by 1140 am. The 6 hour 20 minute ride went by pretty fast. We slept, we ate, we played cards, we people watched, we ate some more, and finally we were in North Sidney, NS. The dogs did fantastic in the rig. Once we got off the boat we stopped in a large parking lot so they could relived themselves. We were yelled at by security for stopping. Well, back to reality and the real world.
Our first stop was only 3 km away from the ferry Arms of Gold Campground. It is just toooooo late to start driving. This park caters to ferry goers and comers and RV caravans. We counted over 60 rigs/motorhomes with the same caravan sticker.
The next morning we were up and gone with a stop in Antigonish NS for diesel and to get a few groceries. We arrived at Loch Lomond Campground in Amherst NS for the night. The campground was crowded with lots and lots of kids running everywhere. We put the air conditioning on and read a book.
Early the next morning we were on the road again getting closer to home. Now that Rogers has cell service in NS I'm able to call my mother. We make a quick stop for diesel and onward we go arriving at de la Republique Provincial Park in NB.
The following day we were going to drive to Montreal and stop for the night. But coupled with the anticipation of getting home and also the weather being fantastic we drove through to Kingston ON. Even though we got in late we are only a half days drive to home.
Being in no hurry to get moving we left Kingston at 9 am the following day, drove through Toronto and arrived home (NET Campground) by 1 pm. Its nice to be home only because I hate driving day after day with just overnight stops. Also we need to get ready for our winter excursions where ever that will be. We have not decided yet.
Thank you for following. It has been fun and challenging at the same time. If anyone plans on doing a similar trip contact me. I can try to help you out with suggestions, dos and don'ts, especially in Labrador.
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| Goodbye moose family |
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| Our ferry...the transport truck in front looks like a toy... and that was only half the boat I couldn't get it all in |
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| Waiting in the line-up |
Our first stop was only 3 km away from the ferry Arms of Gold Campground. It is just toooooo late to start driving. This park caters to ferry goers and comers and RV caravans. We counted over 60 rigs/motorhomes with the same caravan sticker.
The next morning we were up and gone with a stop in Antigonish NS for diesel and to get a few groceries. We arrived at Loch Lomond Campground in Amherst NS for the night. The campground was crowded with lots and lots of kids running everywhere. We put the air conditioning on and read a book.
Early the next morning we were on the road again getting closer to home. Now that Rogers has cell service in NS I'm able to call my mother. We make a quick stop for diesel and onward we go arriving at de la Republique Provincial Park in NB.
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| Our site...with the sun setting behind us |
Being in no hurry to get moving we left Kingston at 9 am the following day, drove through Toronto and arrived home (NET Campground) by 1 pm. Its nice to be home only because I hate driving day after day with just overnight stops. Also we need to get ready for our winter excursions where ever that will be. We have not decided yet.
Thank you for following. It has been fun and challenging at the same time. If anyone plans on doing a similar trip contact me. I can try to help you out with suggestions, dos and don'ts, especially in Labrador.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Journey To The Ferry
Leaving Bonavista we made three short stops before reaching the ferry to head home. The first was the town of Grand Falls-Windsor where we decided to use the next 3 days to get caught up on housekeeping, shopping, and maybe a little sightseeing. Grand Falls-Windsor (GFW) was incorporated in 1991 when the two former towns amalgamated. GFW is located on the TransCanada Highway in the middle of Newfoundland. Therefore from here you can virtually go any direction. After being here a couple of days the housekeeping is done, shopping is all looked after so that leaves sightseeing. Well there’s not a lot of sightseeing opportunities here. GFW has a salmon interpretation center which is much like the one in Torrent River. The Exploits River is the largest river in Newfoundland. Again fly fishing is the only type of fishing allowed. Atlantic salmon is now in season but on the Exploits you are only allowed to keep 5 for the whole season.
We left Grand Falls-Windsor and drove to Deer Lake where we stayed for 2 nights. We were unsure as to what to do since all the housekeeping has been done…for now. Quickly realizing that Gros Morne National Park was just up the road and so is our favorite seafood market, away we go. This time we took the cooler for the lobster and cod. They might have some they might not I never know what is in season.
This time we chose The Tablelands 4 km trail to hike. The Tablelands mountain range was formed when two continents (Africa & North America) collided 500 million years ago. The mantle which usually lies below the ocean was thrust upward to the earths surface. Peridotite rock that usually lies 12 km underground is present everywhere here. During the last ice age, glaciers carved the shape of the mountains and many of the canyons along the trail.
Our final stop on the island was in the town of Doyles at the Grand Codroy Campground. The campground history is much like the rest of Newfoundland unique. In 1966 10 acres of land was donated by the Downey family to the province for the development of a provincial park. Cost $1.00. However, in 1997 the Newfoundland government downsized their parks system so the family was able to purchase the land back. Today the park has been upgraded to include all amenities. Since it is not far from the ferry they tend to cater to those coming and going from Newfoundland.
We decided to do a little sightseeing but shortly after we left the campsite the weather deteriorated very fast.
On the way back we found the Codroy Fish Plant and wondered if they sold fresh fish to the public. I know we just bought some but I figured that you can't have toooooo much fresh fish. So we stopped and got more lobster and cod. The prices were amazing. This time we forgot the cooler but its just a short drive back to the rig.
After we dropped the lobster and cod off I was getting real hungry. A small place just down the road was recommended Hynes Chicken Villa so away we go. Susan asked what I was having and I though it was pretty much a no brainer. If I have to leave this island I want my last meal here to be cod of course so we both ordered pan-fried cod. It was the best cod we had on the island. With our bellies full and know where to be we head back to the rig for an afternoon beverage.
It just happens that a caravan of 27 rigs was pulling into the campground as we were enjoying our beverage. That proved to be our entertainment for the day. Later we found out they are on the island for 8 days. What can you see in 8 days? We just spent 5 weeks here and didn't see half of the island. People just don't realize how big this place really is.
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| The Exploits River |
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| Grand Falls |
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| Note the sign...its 25-30 feet above the river right now |
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| Atlantic salmon are attracted to the fishway because of the churning water supplied by underground piping |
This time we chose The Tablelands 4 km trail to hike. The Tablelands mountain range was formed when two continents (Africa & North America) collided 500 million years ago. The mantle which usually lies below the ocean was thrust upward to the earths surface. Peridotite rock that usually lies 12 km underground is present everywhere here. During the last ice age, glaciers carved the shape of the mountains and many of the canyons along the trail.
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| The Tablelands Mountain Range |
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| Which way home? |
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| That water was cold |
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| Winterhouse Brook Canyon...its the end of July and yes that is snow in them there hills |
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| Yellowish coloured rock is Peridotite |
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| Gros Morne Mountain in the background |
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| Taking in the sunshine and view |
Our final stop on the island was in the town of Doyles at the Grand Codroy Campground. The campground history is much like the rest of Newfoundland unique. In 1966 10 acres of land was donated by the Downey family to the province for the development of a provincial park. Cost $1.00. However, in 1997 the Newfoundland government downsized their parks system so the family was able to purchase the land back. Today the park has been upgraded to include all amenities. Since it is not far from the ferry they tend to cater to those coming and going from Newfoundland.
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| Our site...lots of space |
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| Cape Anguille Lighthouse |
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| Cape Anguille Inn |
On the way back we found the Codroy Fish Plant and wondered if they sold fresh fish to the public. I know we just bought some but I figured that you can't have toooooo much fresh fish. So we stopped and got more lobster and cod. The prices were amazing. This time we forgot the cooler but its just a short drive back to the rig.
After we dropped the lobster and cod off I was getting real hungry. A small place just down the road was recommended Hynes Chicken Villa so away we go. Susan asked what I was having and I though it was pretty much a no brainer. If I have to leave this island I want my last meal here to be cod of course so we both ordered pan-fried cod. It was the best cod we had on the island. With our bellies full and know where to be we head back to the rig for an afternoon beverage.
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| Enjoying the afternoon with a beverage |
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Lockston Path Provincial Park
We have just spent 3 wonderful days at Lockston Path Provincial Park touring the Bonavista Peninsula. It’s hard to find a provincial park in Newfoundland that has both hydro (20 & 30 amp) and water, Lockston Path has both.
Most places we have been so far, there’s a boil water notice in effect. This park was no different. We choose to buy bottled water instead of boiling it. The campground gets a B+ in my opinion. It has great 30 amp service and good water pressure. The washrooms were very clean as were the showers which we have to use. Most sites are very private with lots of trees between them. There’s a fresh water lake for swimming, fishing, and kayaking.
The biggest downfall for this park is the 5 km drive in from the highway. The 5 km is okay but the gravel road is soooooo dusty. The interior park roads are also gravel. With no rain in days everything inside the rig has 2 inches of dust on it. People drive very fast making it worse. Because of the lack of rain there is a campfire ban province wide including Labrador. No campfire tonight.
Why I choose sites on a hill I have no idea or maybe it’s because I didn’t know when I reserved it or maybe I think RVing is not enough of a challenge in itself. Pushing the rig back up a hill is not an easy feat, with a drop off on one side and a hill on the other. OMG. However in saying that once we got into our site we really liked it.
We have made the turn and are now heading to the west side of Newfoundland again. Hopefully the parking will be easier.
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| Our site #50...nice but hard to get into |
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| Beautiful area |
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| The beach...dogs are allowed |
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| Susan checking out the boat |
Why I choose sites on a hill I have no idea or maybe it’s because I didn’t know when I reserved it or maybe I think RVing is not enough of a challenge in itself. Pushing the rig back up a hill is not an easy feat, with a drop off on one side and a hill on the other. OMG. However in saying that once we got into our site we really liked it.
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| A friend came to visit every morning |
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| A Gray Jay came to visit each night |
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Bonavista, NL
We started our day heading back up the Bonavista Peninsula to explore the town of Bonavista and the surrounding area. It is here in Bonavista where John Cabot was thought to have first spied land in the New World in 1497. At the very top of the peninsula is Cape Bonavista Lighthouse. The lighthouse was constructed between 1841 and 1843. In 1962 the lighthouse was decommissioned when the light was automated and placed on a steel tower. Today the lighthouse is a provincial historic site.
A short distance down the road is Dungeon Provincial Park. The relentless wave action of the North Atlantic against the rocks has formed this rugged coastline. Unfortunately we did not continue down the road far enough to see the collapsed sea caves but still managed to see some amazing rock formations.
Along the shoreline of Bonavista there are scattered remains of fish flakes and stages. I’ve mentioned flakes before but not stages. They are the primitive wooden buildings that were essential for the cod fisherman for salting and drying their fish. After various periods under salt in the stage, the fish was washed a final time and placed on the flake to be dried by the sun. Depending on temperature, sunlight, and precipitation this process could take days. It was very time consuming and usually performed by the women in the fishing family.
Bonavista has approximately 1000 heritage buildings dating back to the early 19th century. The Mockbeggar Plantation was built in 1733 and is the oldest surviving building on the coast. It served many functions such as a saltfish store, a salmon packing house, a barter shop, and a temporary church just to name a few.
Overlooking Bonavista’s inner harbour is the courthouse which was constructed in 1897-1900. The first courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1897. Formal justice came to town in 1729.
The Ryan Premises National Historic Site commemorates the rich history of Newfoundland’s cod industry. It was once the home of James Ryan Ltd one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s largest salt fish mercantile firms. At one time boats loaded with salt cod left the tiny village of Bonavista and sailed to ports around the world.
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| Cape Bonavista Lighthouse |
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| Looking out to sea |
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| John Cabot Landfall Statue |
A short distance down the road is Dungeon Provincial Park. The relentless wave action of the North Atlantic against the rocks has formed this rugged coastline. Unfortunately we did not continue down the road far enough to see the collapsed sea caves but still managed to see some amazing rock formations.
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| Horses and cattle roam the provincial park |
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| Rugged coastline |
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| Dramatic rock formations |
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| Caves formed by the continuously pounding surf |
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| Fish flake and stages |
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| Crowded Bonavista Harbour |
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| Mockbeggar Plantation |
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| The courthouse...yellow building in the middle sitting atop the hill overlooking the harbour |
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| Proprietor's House |
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| Retail Shops |
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| Salt Store |
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Root Cellars & Puffins
What do Root Cellars & Puffins have in common? The answer…Elliston NL. We left the park early so we could see all the sites we wanted to see. As usual we stopped at the visitor’s center in Elliston to get some ideas. The demise of the salt cod industry in the 1950’s combined with the cod moratorium in 1992 decimated the community of Elliston. In 1994 the community could no longer pay their utility bill with such a small tax base therefore their lights were turned out. The town was literally in the dark. Elliston however has two major assets, the Puffin Site and Root Cellars which draw thousands of tourists a year from all over the world. Two large tour busses were coming into town when we were there plus lots of cars. Hence, the town is now doing just fine.
The ladies in the center where so proud of the newly erected memorial about 200 yards down the road we had to check it out. During a vicious winter blizzard in 1914 the lives of 78 men were lost when they became stranded on the ice while seal hunting. The same season another 173 men went down with their sealing ship, the SS Southern Crossing. The Sealing Disaster memorial was erected in their honour.
Elliston is home to the world’s most accessible Atlantic Puffin breeding site. Puffins usually nest on islands off shore. The Elliston site is no different with one exception the island is next to an area accessible by people. These puffins can easily be seen with the naked eye. When the area is quiet I’m told the puffins land and strut their stuff within a few feet of you. Remember the two busses, well we weren’t so lucky and it wasn’t very quiet. I got some good pictures and had fun watching the PPF’s. Oh I guess you want to know what that means. Well in Newfoundland the people call puffins PPFs which stands for piss poor flyers because they can’t fly worth a darn.
Elliston is also known as the Root Cellar Capital of the World. There are hundreds of root cellars around the town. The most common type of cellar was built in the side of a hill with the door facing east (easterly winds are frost-free). They were originally built using mortar, rocks, tree boughs, and wood. Sod and/or sawdust were used for insulation. One of the oldest dates back to 1839 and is still in use today. People that settled this area back in the day grew their own vegetables such as beets, turnip, cabbage, potatoes, and carrots. The cabbage would be pickled and the remaining vegetables would be stored in root cellars until the next year’s crop. Meat, fish, and dairy products would also be stored in the cellars but for shorter periods. A well-built cellar would stay dry and kept a constant cool temperature all year round. I walked into several and it was like walking into an air conditioned room. Nice on a hot day.
The small village of Maberly lies a short distance from Elliston. Once a thriving fishing village now tries to draw tourists to their town with unique gift shops.
Leaving Maberly and Elliston we drove past Sandy Cove Beach with its clear blue water and sandy beach. Watching the waves crash into the rocky coastline was so mesmerizing that we lost track of time and it was time to head home.
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| Entrance into Elliston |
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| Town of Elliston |
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| Seal Disaster Memorial |
Elliston is home to the world’s most accessible Atlantic Puffin breeding site. Puffins usually nest on islands off shore. The Elliston site is no different with one exception the island is next to an area accessible by people. These puffins can easily be seen with the naked eye. When the area is quiet I’m told the puffins land and strut their stuff within a few feet of you. Remember the two busses, well we weren’t so lucky and it wasn’t very quiet. I got some good pictures and had fun watching the PPF’s. Oh I guess you want to know what that means. Well in Newfoundland the people call puffins PPFs which stands for piss poor flyers because they can’t fly worth a darn.
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| Atlantic Puffins contemplating flight |
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| Puffins return to the same burrow each year |
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| Puffin that just caught some capelin |
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| Long way down if you fall |
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| Root Cellar |
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| Inside root cellar |
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| Another one still in use |
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| An upstairs/downstairs root cellar |
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| Trying to attract tourists...and it worked |
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| Fish flake/salt sheds...from a once thriving fishing village |
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| Maberly's beautiful coastline |
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| Sandy Cove Beach...water was tooooo cold for me |
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| Watching the crashing waves |
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