Wednesday 15th July
After bringing up the truck and camper from the bottom of the road we load up our remaining belongings, say goodbye to Merritt Hill Road (where Carol’s sister Jean and husband Tim live) and head out on the highway with Steppenwolf in our ears).
First stop for a propane fillup at a nearby RV dealer and then we’re really out on the highway.
It’s all divided highway now to Moncton and on into Nova Scotia. It’s a long way through Nova Scotia to Sydney at the very northern tip of Cape Breton and the divided highway disappears just before Antigonish.
Beautiful scenery all around but we’re on a mission - we’re booked on the next day’s ferry.
The North Sydney Walmart parking lot is close to the ferry but not too RV friendly - shared parking lot on a heck of a slope, so we make the extra 30km trek to Sydney and a much more conducive spot.
Thursday 16th July
Breakfast courtesy of the big M and on the road back to North Sydney and into the lines of vehicles waiting to board the ferry.
The ferry we were to travel on is the MV Blue Puttees (?)
Eventually we boarded and left the truck (with Buddy) down below.
We left exactly on time and before the crowds moved in we ate surprisingly reasonably priced Newfoundland baked cod, green beans and chips in the restaurant.
It was a pretty uneventful crossing with just a little roll to the ship and after 5-1/2hrs at 6 (local time) we got our first view of Newfoundland.
Since you drive on, drive off the ferry and we entered through the bow (pointy end) the whole thing swings around in the bay to back into the dock.
The JT Cheeseman Provincial Park and campground is just a few kilometres out of Port Aux Basques and once you’ve bought a yearly pass it’s only $11.70 a night for ‘dry’ camping which means no electricity, water or sewer but there are toilets and showers.
Also comes with obligatory scenery.
Friday 17th July
The weather was sunny but cool, ideal for hiking. I walked part of the trail (my knee still isn’t 100%).
They don’t call it “The Rock” fer nuthin’.
Saturday 18th July
Buddy finds the camper a little cramped.
On his morning walk we got really close to a bunny and he would have chased him I think.
He was less impressed with the waterfall.
On our way to Corner Brook and yet another Walmart parking lot.
Sunday 19th July
Not a quiet night - lots of trucks arriving/leaving and idling.
Carol felt she might be getting bronchitis (sorry Cheryl, we both got it) so we had a stop by the local hospital before continuing on to Gros Morne National Park.
At that point we (I) made a major mistake, missed a turn and ended up driving 30 odd km in the wrong direction and then having to come all the way back on a road with end-to-end roadworks. How could you do that with a GPS? Let’s not go there.
Turns out National Parks are not nearly such a good deal as Newfoundland Provincial ones.
However, we finally arrive at Trout River Pond campsite for the night.
Monday 20th July
Its a sunny day and good for a hike. Carol still isn’t feeling up to it so I go alone.
First I walked down to “The Pond”. Newfoundlanders have a different definition for a pond than I have.
There’s still patches of snow up on the mountains (these are the Tablelands for obvious reasons) everywhere you look.
The road climbed for quite a way but I never got to the top.
I did find this enigmatic sign at the entrance to a firewood storage area.
Tuesday 21st July
No hiking today, just recuperating.
Wednesday 22nd July
Moving on to find some propane. Turns out the place that was recommended doesn’t do it anymore so we decided to stop at a commercial campsite with power.
Lots of wind here on the edge of the lake at Birchy Point.
Thursday 23rd July
Rainy and cold - pretty much what I expected of Newfoundland but the locals say this is not usual for July.
Friday 24th July
Supposed to be rainy today too but it cleared up even if it didn’t warm up much but it sure looks more inviting outside.
It’s nice to have electric heat so we stayed another day. We’ve found a place for propane so tomorrow we move on.
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