Working Our Way East

As we depart Gros Morne, the rain has ebbed enough that the Tablelands are clearly visible this morning.

 It became a beautiful day for a drive as we worked our way east to the thriving metropolis of Laurenceton, NL.

Camp Lewisporte

The tree that wont give in

The views are just epic

It rained again over night- that's day four for those of you keeping score at home.  A dragon fly didnt want to leave our tent.  Taking a major diversion away from the TCH , we pointed ourselves north towards Musgrave Harbor and along Iceberg Alley.  Although we did not see any icebergs or moose we had an excellent lunch in the Old Store in the town of Newtown.  BTW it was raining.

Tonight was a motel night as we prepared for our assault on France and negotiating non-refundable ferry tickets to St Pierre as well as securing lodging from the limited supply on the island.

View from the Old Store

still a working port

Hare Cove

Gros Morne- the Great Canadian Washout

You'd think with three days in Gros Morne it wouldn't rain all of them.   You'd be wrong.
Even in the rain we could tell this place was special.

Harbor in the morning fog

a shark through a pole?

that overhead door is how we get out- second to last vehicle off the ferry too.

On the road to Gros Morne

the clouds seem to ooze from the mountains

Gros Morne in the distance

the Corner Brook caribou

the landscape changes the closer to the park you get

Camp site for the next few nights

the rain starts soon

dinner- local beef with peppers and onions 

a brief break in the rain

the trees seem to cling on for dear life

stunted spruce trees along the cliffs

wild babies breath?

We made two attempts at the Western Brook Pond boat ride but it was raining so hard that we chickened out.  Found out later, the boats weren't running anyways due to the low cloud ceiling [below the mountain tops]

Instead, we opted for a couple of board games at the Sunset Cafe which now stands as the benchmark for which all future fresh cod dishes will be measured.  It is that good.   That being said, the service has a lot to be desired.  Jean wanted to get up and help the wait staff that's how bad it was.

Rain again over night just to finish off the visit here. 

Ferry day

Up early and out the door just before sunrise, we're off to the ferry.  It was a very foggy morning as we roll through the wild blueberry fields alone the Airline Road [ME-9].  Our border crossing into Canada goes without a hitch and we are dumped onto some of the most beautiful sections of limited access highway we've ever been on.  The road looks brand new as it hugs the Bay of Fundy's west coast and finally merges with the Trans Canadian Highway near Salisbury, NB where the Silver Fox resides.

One thing we've noticed are the large numbers of phantom construction zones along the highways but unlike the ones of New Jersey which are set up to create speed traps, these are just signs with no apparent work getting done.  The other thing that stuck us was the non-existent use of turning signals; we swear everyone was born in Maryland as nearly every vehicle would put their indicators on either as or after they had made their turn.
Also prevalent are suicidal crows that patrol the shoulders searching for anything that may have been tossed from a car.  Unlike the States, there is almost no roadside litter in Canada so the crows seem to be more daring.
Wandering through some beautiful countryside on our way to Sidney with a stop for burritos and a margarita.  Alas, the restaurant was closed on Monday.  Around the harbor to North Sidney we find a little Italian joint for a couple of plates of fresh mussels, a quick stop in the Walmart for sparkling water and a rug for inside the tent [left at home] and were in the queue for the ferry.

She pushed back on schedule as we were falling asleep in our cabin.

Sunday August 4 - a day of the Olson Clan

After the drama of the lack of rooms in Concord, we settled in for a nice breakfast at the Red Barn in Manchester.  A converted 1918 diner car, the original wheels and trucks are still under the floors according to the owner.   On our way out of the Barn, we see Jim Abbott crossing the parking lot in a futile attempt to surprise us for breakfast. 
The dangers of the Internets is people can find you wherever you are and having the satellite tracker just makes it easier. 
A few selfies with Jim, we decide to take the short drive back up US-3 to the motel that ended Jean's "Rick must stay in a motel when out on his rides" rule.  It has changed hands since his stellar visit in 2002, but it still looks  just as dated; the payphone is no longer across the street at the Dunkin Donuts though.

Best Meat in Town and Fine Wines

Sticking to mostly back roads and only using a couple dozen miles of interstate, we stopped in the Muddy Rudder just past the old DeLorme HQ, now Garmin, building and the home of their giant globe Eartha.  Probably the most expensive lobster rolls in history were secured; buttery, over stuffed on the perfect flat sided roll served with cole slaw and a pickle.  They were awesome. 

Dropping on ME-3 near Augusta and onto the coast.  Fuel is about the same as at home so far, but we know that it will be more expensive in Canada as they use liters and have a higher road tax than we do here in the states; as we'll find out, they have much better roads than we have the states.  I guess you get what you pay for. 

After checking into our motel in Ellsworth, we stop at Helen's for a pie to take up to Happytown Farm where almost the entire Van Pelt clan has congregated; Betsy and Tim's daughter Maddy is at grad school until Wednesday. 

It was good seeing Rick's cousins; it had been a long time, too long in fact, since we all met up.  We must do it again and sooner rather than later.  We had to call it an early night as there is a long travel day to make the ferry in North Sidney, NS.

Day 1- Moving Day

First load in of the trip.  It'll get better once we figure it out.

Today is a travel day.  Stopping to visit a few "things" on the way.

 On our way up I-83, we passed a bunch of classic cars that appeared to be heading to a show somewhere- mostly 50's chrome barges plus an AMC Pacer- woodie edition.  We wondered where Wayne and  Garth were.

Stopped off at the other Newfoundland; heck of a lot closer than the one in Canda.







Major flooding on the  Delaware River, even  this far north.  There were some rafters out there braving the big currents.






Tried to stop in Concord, NH without a reservation;  again, the town bit us in the  ass as there were no rooms to be had.  Luckily, we found a motel just down the road.

660 miles.

1 Day countdown

One day to go.  Today is filled with oil changes, truck washed, doggies to camp, and the like.  Packing is pretty much done and the load in takes place tomorrow, early for the first leg of the journey: East Holden, Maine to meet with Rick's cousins and aunt with an overnight stop somewhere along the way.

It's going to be quiet around the house tonight without our doggies.