Newfoundland II

Glad to be back to Newfoundland, we began our journey toward the ferry to Nova Scotia. It took us awhile to decide whether to return the way we’d come or take the eastern seaboard journey to Argentia. We opted not to back track all the way and be adventurous, so we took the Central/Eastern Seaboard Route. We did backtrack from St Barbe to Deer Lake, but that was the only way to join up to Canada Highway I, cutting across central Newfoundland and on down to Argentia.

The weather was just beautiful! The sun sparkled diamonds on the water. The emerald green contrasted sharply with the blueness of the sky. Breathtaking to say the least. We were treated by another of nature’s wonders when we slowed down and then stopped with the rest of the traffic to see a mom and two baby Moose make their way across the road, then back, then back again to disappear into the forest around us. It wasn’t really all that far away from where we saw the eagles scarcely a week before.

We stopped by a roadside vegetable stand close to Gambo, where they had some very interesting looking vegetables for sale. Besides the normal stuff, the had this (see the picture) - it was pretty, in a Star Trek sort of way.

On August 12th we stayed in Beothuck Family RV Park, in Grand Falls-Windsor where Les did some automotive work while I went for a walk and met a lady from Portland, Maine, camping by herself. She had a brain tumor and decided to take a trip to do some hiking and thinking - evidently it was not her first tumor and this time she just packed up and left, not telling her adult children of the reoccurrence. She was a nice gal and she told us of this coffee shop that offered live local music on Wednesday night. We made plans to meet up with her there and we were glad that we did. The music was awesome and the deserts to die for!

We stayed at Grand Falls-Windsor for a couple of days. We took a side trip to see the falls at Grand Falls-Windsor, but was unable to see it because it was in the middle of a nature preserve and we were not in the mood to do much hiking. Later that afternoon, we arrived at the Walmart parking lot, where we did some shopping and decided to stay the night. Les struck up a conversation with a couple from Colorado who were having some trouble with their rig. A lucky stop for them, I'd say, as they avoided more costly repairs and possibly an unfortunate accident on the road by some timely advice from Les. (See Readers Digest Version)

More pretty landscape and then we were in Argentia, where we waited for the Ferry. While I was wandering around the Ferry terminal I thought I got a glimpse of a familiar face. The next morning, before the Ferry left port I saw him again. It was Ben, the young man I met on the beach by the Ferry Terminal in Nova Scotia. We talked. It was nice to see him well.

Soon, we were on our very long Ferry ride back to Nova Scotia. Nice ship and all, but the sleeping arrangements were marginal, but in a way it was still cool. They had live music and we met a couple of people we'd seen before - at the restaurant we ate at in Labrador. Then we were back in Nova Scotia.

Les' Readers Digest Version:

-We put the Jeep and Camper on the Ferry at Blanc Seblon and went across Straight of Belle Isle to St Barbe Newfoundland.

-Drove down the west coast of NEWF to Deer Lake then across Hwy 1 to Gander.

-Determined the rear brake pads on the Jeep needed replacing. Bought new ones and replaced them in the Campground. Love my Jeep, replaced both sides in 45 min.

-Later stayed in a WalMart parking lot and met a couple from Colorado. His PU camper was listing to Starboard. Closer inspection showed me his frame on the PU was Fatigue cracked almost all the way thru. Advised him to get it attended to, now. He emailed us later and indicated my advise was sound and he had it welded and gussets installed on both sides of the PU. A big, "You're Welcome".

-Took the Ferry from Argentia NEWF to Sidney Nova Scotia. Somthing like 13 hours on the boat.

-Next Nova Scotia, part 2