August 16th to 23rd

Aug 16 - Raining this morning but we are on our way to Bonavista. Carmine and Gary call they are in Twillingate and heading for Fogo Island. As we travel inland the sun comes out and it turns warm again. Drive through Trinity, beautiful little fishing village, old, named from a Portuguese explorer who sailed into the harbour in 1501. Travel on to Elliston (terrible road!) and park at the Municipal Park $10 for water and power!! Linda and David are here! They tell us where we can go to see Puffins, just up the road! Everyone comes over to our place after dinner and we all have a good visit. Oh yeah we saw another moose today.

Aug 17 - Sunny and cool this morning but we are excited about Puffins! We walk up the road about a kilometer and out to the cliff and sit on the rocks and watch Puffins! Hundreds of them couldn't get a better view or better photos! Also saw guillemonts. After we are puffined out we head into Bonavista, first stop Dungeon Prov. Park, great arches in the rock where the surf comes in. There is a herd of goats here, they are looking for handouts but when they see we have nothing they are not interested in us. Then on to the point where John Chabot has a statue, supposedly he landed here in 1497. There are sheep, horses and cattle out here. On into town, lots of old fish drying racks still standing. Had lunch, I had Fisherman's Brewis (another one for you Heather!) I'm not sure this was as well made as it could have been but it was okay. Did a little shopping then back to the rigs and we're away. Next stop Terra Nova National Park. Luckily for us the road is rough and slow going as two moose step out on the road in front of us. Gave us a bit of a start! Terra Nova is beautiful park and we wish we had more time to explore it.

Aug 18 - Nice morning, the bunnies and squirrels are driving poor Skipper crazy! We're off by 10:00 heading for Dildo Run Provincial Park where we will meet Gary and Carmine. Some rain along the way but sunny and warm when we reach the park. Leave a note for G&C as they are off exploring. Have some R&R then do laundry, then decide to hike 4.4 k round trip out to Black Point. The trail is good but lots of roots and it's 24 degrees so we work up a sweat. Great view! After dinner we go over and visit with G&C tomorrow they will head east and we are heading west.

Aug 19 - Sunny morning and we are off to Twillingate. Drive out to the lighthouse and hike one of the trails - HOT - beautiful views and lots of wild blueberries. Oh I forgot to mention that they have a berry called bakeapple - found a few - not bad. Back into town to the Winery (Auk) and of course have to purchase a couple of bottles although it really isn't the greatest wine. Fish and chips for lunch then over to Foodland to look for Peanut Butter Kisses, I've never seen them anywhere but here in Nfld. so I stock up on a few bags. On our way back to the Park we do a few drive arounds one out to Kettle Cove - and there low and behold are fields full of Pitcher Plants!! I have been on the lookout for these, Nfld/Labrador's Provincial flower and they are amazing! I hike out into the moss/bog and snap a few photos, I am truely happy now! Out to Herring Neck and do another hike to a view point, we can see the fog rolling in, awesome. More wild blueberries. Stop at a Lobster pool and purchase 4 lobster for dinner. I guess I should tell you how Dildo Run got it's name - well years ago before there was the modern day dildo - dildo ment safe place, and the bay here was a safe run for the fisherman coming in from bad weather. Ummm is there any connection?

Aug 20 - Cloudy this morning and we are off to Springdale and another Municipal Park. Short trip. After lunch we drive out to King's Cove, there's a neat pottery store so we do some shopping then on to Coffee Cove where the ferry goes out to Little Bay Islands. The countryside here is different, the trees are taller and more deciduous. Saw a pair of grey jays in the campground.

Aug 21 - Cool and wet this morning. We are off to Stephenville. One stop at Cornerbrook for some Pelee Island Shiraz. Stephenville is quite nice and the drive out to Piccadilly Regional Park is awesome - huge cliffs falling into the ocean. The sun is trying to shine and it has warmed a little. The park is great and we get to park right along the beach! beautiful! Hike out to Blind Bird Point and have our dinner outside tonight. One thing about Nfld is there are no bugs! Sounds strange doesn't it but we have not been bothered by black flies or mosquitos! Also it seems like Nfld has just discovered vinyl siding, 80% of the houses have new vinyl siding so everything looks spiffy right now. It's funny because Nova Scotia is tearing all their vinyl siding off back to the original wood!

Aug 22 - Sun is trying to shine for Maurice's birthday! Bacon and eggs for breakfast then have our last walk on the beach. Away to J.T. Cheeseman Prov. Park 10k from Port aux Basque. Arrive to discover that we left our RV keys in the door and luckily for us they are still there!!!
Ride our bikes out to the beach (beautiful sandy) but it is very windy and there are some big black clouds threatening so we head back. I get waylaid as I see more pitcher plants in the fields so more photos. We just make it back before the rain hits. Change our clothes then head into town for a birthday dinner. Roast Turkey - well it was good! Tomorrow is our big ferry ride!

Aug 23 - Couldn't get through to the ferry by phone so don't know if they are on time or not. We are up at 6:00 and away by 6:45. Arrive at the ferry terminal at 7 and find out we will be one hour late. We will be leaving at 9:45 and we are on the Caribou. The crossing is excellent, flat but some fog so that slows us down but somehow we make up the time and arrive 3:45 Nfld time. This trip was more comfortable, less people more room and cheaper food! We make it to Antigonish and park at Wal Mart. Have dinner at McDonald's! It was good!! Do some shopping and too bed.