Saturday, August 28, 2010

August 24th to 27th

Aug 24th - sunny this morning and our first stop is the Anne Murray Centre in Springhill, N.S. An excellent display of her life and career. On into New Brunswick. I just want to go on the record as saying New Brunswick has the worst roads in the country!! Stop in Moncton, the guys have to check out Magnetic Hill. Well for $5 I don't know... On to Hopewell Rocks and check into an RV Park. Purchase a pass to walk around the rocks another $7 per person and when we get there they are closed so have to park on the road with a hundred other people, and walk two miles to get there!!! Well it is cool and was worth it to get Bay of Fundy mud on my toes! Tides here are pretty amazing.

Aug 25th - Off to Cape Rage, sounds good hey! Quite the road but we get the big rig up there and into the parking lot, oh another $4 each to get out and enjoy the view and check out the fossil beach. Saw a procupine on the road, they are slow! Watched the tide roaring into the channels, quite a change from when we went in to Cape Rage to when we came out. On to Alma, bought some more lobster, then into Fundy National Park, stay at the first campground, very nice not very busy. Good spot to take Skippy for walks. (except for dogs!)

Aug 26th - Rained in the night so foggy and misty this morning. Drive through the fog to Saint John big Carnival Cruise Ship in the harbour. On to New River Provincial Park. After lunch take the hike out on the point and along the beaches. Awesome rocks! Fill our pockets again. Great sandy beach. Sun finally comes out again so we can have dinner outside.

Aug 27th - Sunny this morning and we are off for the US border. Stop on the Canadian side just to ask about all the stuff we have purchased, gifts, wine etc. Beautiful new building just finished last November! Excellent staff member, very nice, very helpful. Away we go to the US side. There of course, "Please stay in your vehicle, give us the keys, do you have any pets in there?" Well I told them we had two cats, and there were three of them so how Skippy got out!!! But Max and Robert were behind us and she saw the guys go in and then the door opened and Skippy came out! Three lanes of traffic, plus the one coming into Canada! and Skippy on the loose. Well bless their hearts they were concerned, and they stopped all traffic until Skip headed into the bush across the road, three guys came after me and him but stopped in the field and had a smoke! I finally caught Skip and got him back in the RV, my legs were shaking and my heart was pumping! That was a scare!! I don't think our fifth got inspected at all, I don't even think they opened the fridge door! On through Maine, N.H. and into Ma. No room in the State Park at Salisbury Beach so into an RV Park $60!!! wow the most expensive we've had. Take a drive through Ipswich and Essex as that's where our forefathers came to America. John Cogswell and Phillip and Mary Code were nieghbours here back in the 1700's I think it was. Found some Cogswell streets. Dark when we head back so stop for dinner then home, all tired we have gained an hour and a half so I guess it's later than we think!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

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.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Aug 11 to 15

Aug 11, off to L'anse aux Meadows, site of Lief Erickson's discovery in about the year 1000. Chilly today 13 degrees but at least it's not raining. Very interesting site, sits on what looks to us like tundra, peat, scrub shrubs, not very inviting but I guess it was easy to find when they made their trips. The sod buildings are well done and the depressions left are amazing! Back to the campground and away. We are heading back to Gros Morne then on to St. John's and will take our time working our way back. Nfld looks small on a map but everywhere you go is one way in and the same way back, so double the mileage. The trip back down is not very nice, lots of rain, but on the other hand it is not foggy so we can at least see what we missed coming up, great shoreline! Around Port au Choix the clouds start to breakup and the sun comes out on the water, very beautiful, it's calm flat water, just what I like! Arrive Cow Head in beautiful sunshine and stay at the Sea Breeze RV Park so that we can get wifi. Small park around 10 spaces all across the road from the bay. We saw saw five moose today.

Aug 12, cool, calm and sunny this morning. Skippy and I take a long walk, the air is so fresh and clean, invigorating! Off we go, will do one stop on the way to St. John's so we have a long day today. When you don't leave until 10:30 or so and stop at 3:00ish it's a short day to cover 300 k. Anyways our destination is Notre Dam Prov Park 389 k. The road (TCHwy) is pretty good, one of the best we've travelled. The landscape is grand and we have a good trip. The park is big and very nice, Skippy and I wander about the edge of the bush. Meteor showers tonight.

Aug 13, make reservations for Pippy Park in St. John's and we're off. Saw a black bear in Terra Nova National Park, would be nice to explore this park a bit but no time this time. Lovely spot though. Just west of Clarenville my phone starts to beep, how exciting! Pass by "Come by Chance" and "Little Heart's Desire" great names. Arrive Pippy Park at 3:00 and get setup in the overflow area for tonight, tomorrow we'll get pull through sites. Unhook the truck and head to the waterfront. Walk about Water Street, take photos and do some shopping. The harbour is quite small to what I had pictured, and a very narrow entrance, I guess you'd say a perfect harbour! Have dinner at Bianca's excellent!!!!

Aug 14, all out this morning enjoying the sunshine, even Missy who decides when we're not looking to go for a walk about. Takes the five (Skippy too) of us, half an hour to find her sitting under a tree watching us! Just like her. The guys drive down to the office and get our new spots which are not empty yet so we decide to head for Signal Hill and Cape Spear. Signal Hill is awesome for the view and how many times the English and French fought over it. Great spot! Oh yes Marconi too for all of you historians. Then off to Cape Spear to see the most eastern tip of Canada. Great views again and see more whales off shore. We could sit up here all day but Robert has an appointment for an oil change on the motorhome so we have to head back. We go and get settled while M&R go to the appointment. this is a chance for me to get some photos on my blog and facebook and write some postcards. So just hang out until 7ish then off to the mall for a movie. Saw "Inception" with Leonardo Di Caprio.

Aug 15, Our last day here so away to Witless Bay. Take a tour boat out of Bay Bulls. It is windy, cool and lumpy!! But the sun is shining. We see several humpback whales right alongside the boat. The boat just travels along beside them at their speed (couldn't do that at home) and of course who cares if we are wallowing in the trough of the swells, there are whales to see!! Then off to one of the Islands in the Ecological Reserve to see Puffins. There are thousands of puffins, they are so cute!! An awesome day!! The trip back is pretty chilly but once we are back to shore the sunshine kicks in. Away we go to Water Street area again to wander about and have dinner, this time at Blue on Water, another excellent restaurant. All except Maurice have lobster! So good, we're going to miss it!! Hate to admit it but on the way home we make a stop at WalMart! got to buy a couple more movies to watch at night! Ha Ha some things never change!!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

August 5 to 10th

Aug 5 - Rain has stopped and the sun may even shine. Hear from friends from home, Gary and Carmine that they are in a campground in Bras de Or so we decide to head there instead of Louisbourg. They are taking the ferry tomorrow for Nfld. We meet a great couple at Battery, Linda and David from Peterborough, Ontario. They give us a few suggestions for Nfld as they are headed that way again for the 4th time! They have a cat named Cassie, same as Gary and Carmine so I tell them if they meet a couple from BC travelling in a Eurovan, with a cat, to go up and ask if Cassie is home. You never know! Have a good drive along Bras de Or lake and arrive early in the afternoon. Do some laundry then Gary and Carmine return so we visit then decide to head into town for dinner, I think there is only one restaurant in North Sydney but it is a good one, I have lobster again!

Aug 6 - Gary and Carmine are off, sunny this morning so we head off to Fort Louisbourg. Awesome place, very well done. In 1961 the government decided rebuilding the Fort would be a good way of putting coal miners back to work on Cape Breton Island. I wonder how much that bill was, but it is a great piece of history. They fire a couple of cannons and their pea soup is good, not sure about the bread though! Did a little shopping on our way home tomorrow we catch the ferry to Nfld.

Aug 7 - Sunny again, should be a good crossing. We call in to check that our boat is sailing on time and of course it isn't. We were supposed to depart at 9:30 but it will now be 11:00. Still have to be there by 8:00. What a gong show loading this ship! Takes forever!!!! and we hear that they over booked so have turned away three or four semis, anyway we finally get aboard and we're off by 11:45 or so. We are on the Vision, new boat for this line, like a small cruise ship with many cabins and not much seating. Carmine calls as we are loading, they are at Barachous Point Prov Park so we will see them there. Find a seat in the Bar and have a glass of wine - terrible stuff - but a place to sit. Max and Robert find a good spot out on the deck so we join them there. Good crossing and fast, we are doing around 41 knots. We arrive Port aux Basque around 4:30 but again it's a gong show getting off. You are not allowed onto the car deck until the boat is completely docked. The stairwells are packed with people, kids yelling etc. Away to the campground just south of Cornerbrook. Saw a momma black bear and little cub, run across the road in front of us, so cute! Arrive the campground just after 7 pm, Gary and Carmine right behind us, they've been out exploring. David and Linda are here too, Carmine had to tell me about these people coming over to ask about Cassie - so it did work! We all sit around and visit, Maurice even got out the little propane fireplace.

Aug 8 - We are all six of us heading for "Blow Me Down" Provincial Park. Sounds good what? Finally get to see a little of Nfld. a very majestic landscape! Rugged, and desolate looking. Head out to the coast and Blow me Down park in the picnic area on the beach so we can all be together. Very WINDY! of course. We take the hike up the hill, 423 steps, 150 meters. The view is breathtaking! then back to the beach to pick rocks - we are rock hounds! Big yacht comes into the bay, into York Harbour, where Blow Me Down Days are being held. Name looks like Caraid? Beautiful ship but looks out of place.

Aug 9 - Still blow me down windy this morning but sunny. We are off to Cornerbrook for supplies and will meet up with G&C in Gros Morne. Get stopped in some road construction and had a great chat with the flag guy, when he sent us off he said "Look out for bullwinkle" so far we have not seen any moose. There was a sign when we got off the boat that said there have been 22 accidents so far this year - moose/vehicles. Stop at the visitor centre in Gros Morne and they send us up to Shallow Bay Campground. The scenery is just beautiful. I have some great photos but unfortunately not enough internet time to get them on, will keep trying though. Gary and Carmine fit in our space with us so we save a few $$. Put out the awning to keep the showers off for happy hour then it really starts to rain and it is windy too so everyone heads home for the night.

Aug 10 - Windy and rain in the night but a bit better this morning, we have a long way to go, 301 km to St. Anthony or Pistolet Bay Provincial Park. Foggy and misty all the way to St. Barbe Bay so we don't see much. Then the clouds break and the sun shines! Yahoo! We ran over a little mouse today and Robert's words of wisdom were "Better a mouse than a moose!" Arrive the campground around 3:00 and decide to head into St. Anthony right away so leave a note for Gary and Carmine and we're off. First stop Tim Horton's for coffee and a snack, Gary and Carmine spotted us on the road so they come in and join us. Then we drive out to French Bay and look for icebergs, no luck but we see whales! Max actually seen one broach, we think they are humpback they are BIG! Gorgeous spot and the sun is shinning - it is cold though! A couple of oddities are small gardens (vegetable, mostly potatoe) along the road, each one with it's own little fence and sometimes a scarecrow! and also all the piles of firewood along the roadside. The young lady at the campground tells us that when they put the road in they dug up good soil in places and the residents came along and took little plots for their gardens. As for the wood, they get their permit and in winter drag out the wood with these small sleighs and skidoos or whatever to the roadside, in summer they cut it up to dry. We decide to check out Raleigh and Ship Cove, little fishing villages, or used to be. Saw two moose!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

July 23 to Aug 4

July 23, we are off to Upper Sackville KOA for a couple of nights. Time to get the oil changed in the truck, do laundry and do a final shop before Jenny and Caden arrive tomorrow.

July 24, haircut this morning then head into Halifax around noon, find Cogswell Street and head to the waterfront. Beautiful day! Walk about, have a Starbucks, shop! Excellent! Then we are off to the airport to pick-up Jenny and Caden who arrive right on time! 7:20 pm. They had a good flight but long! We are so happy to see them. Caden is more interested in the John Deere riding lawnmower exhibit!

July 25, woke to rain. Off to Peggy's Cove, warm but misty and foggy. Beautiful spot but would be even better in the sunshine! Managed to spend a little money then we're off again heading for Risser's Beach Prov. Park. Lobster for dinner!

July 26, sunny this morning and we are off to Lunenberg. Take the cable ferry at LeHave $5. Have a great day walking about, going for a horse and buggy ride, shopping, tasting vodka etc. Beautiful spot! Back home again via the cable ferry, hot dogs for dinner. Made some calls today, found out Uncle Harlan is in the hospital so we are praying for his speedy recovery!

July 27, pack up and head across the road to the beach, beautiful sandy beach but cool water and windy. Max and Robert bought Caden some beach toys, shovels and buckets etc so he has a wonderful time digging and playing in the water. The outside showers on the RV's are a blessing! We are off again to Lockeport nice little campground with a pool. Caden loves the pool! After everyone has a dip we drive into town to have a look and check out Crescent Beach, another beautiful sandy beach!

July 28, Maurice and I head out early for Shellburne to visit Jim and Ruth Banguay who used to be our neighbours in Ladysmith. They live on Dock Street, the house Jim was raised in. It was built in the 1770's and Jim's dad found two cannon balls in the walls of the house! They are across from the old govt dock. When Max and Robert and Jenny and Caden come we go for a walk about, then we're off for Yarmouth. Nasty campground, lots of mosquitos, Maurice slices open his forehead on the slideout trying to hook-up the water and keep away from the bugs!

July 29, misty morning and foggy as we drive through Yarmouth and on to Digby. Pretty scenery along the way, a few fields etc where it has been mostly forest, scrubby forest compared to BC. Call my friend Heather's sister Sandy, who lives just down the road and Moe and I drive over for a visit. They are building a new home two k up the road so we go over for a tour. Sandy and Tony, very nice people, have a great visit and take some photos for Heather. Once back at the campground we all head into Digby for some famous Digby Scallops. They are good but I like lobster better! and our westcoast prawns are even better!

July 30, decide to drive out Digby Neck but are disappointed as it is not at all what we expected. We were looking for sand dunes and beaches. Found a couple of beaches and think we saw a whale. So drown our sorrows at Diary Queen in Digby!

July 31, heading for Blomidon Prov. Park. On the way drive into Annapolis Royal to look up Cosby House! It is the oldest recorded wooden house in N.S. Beautiful area, many lovely old homes and Fort Anne! 13 battles were fought here. Very interesting and the setting is lovely. Do some shopping, find a German Bakery! Yum! Head off the main road at Greenwich, great farmland, dyked! Apples, onions, broccoli, carrots, corn! Good corn too! Blomidon Park is full so they put us in the Group Area, couldn't be better! Private and quiet, we love it and stay two nights. Blomidon is a huge headland jutting out into Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy, the tides here are up to 50 feet!

Aug 1, after breakfast head to Scot's Bay Beach, great for rock picking. The tide is waaaaay out, very cool, and as it comes in over the rocks the water heats up! Very warm, like your bathtub almost! Stopped at the Look Off for a grand view of Annapolis Valley and Minas Basin! Into Wolfville for a look around and shopping. Tonight I let Jenny color my hair! Wait till you see it!!

Aug 2, takes awhile to get going this morning but soon we are on our way, drive through Gran Pre but don't stop, wish we had. On past Avonport no stopping here either, sorry Heather. Through Windsor and on up to Noel where we turn south and head back to the airport. We have decided to cancel our reservations at KOA and find something close to the airport as Jenny and Caden have to be there by 6:30 am. End up at Dollar Lake Prov. Park for the night. Our last play time with Caden.

Aug 3, late getting away and then Maurice realizes he's left the keys in the RV door so we have to turn around and go back. Adds half an hour or so to our trip into Halifax. We arrive the water front again and discover chaos! No parking! People everywhere. We head back uptown a bit and find parking then walk about, shop and have an early dinner. There is a yacht at the dock, called "Destination Harbour Too" odd name, beautiful boat owned by the guy who owns Tim Horton's. There are two tanker trucks here filling the fuel tanks, apparently another two are on the way! On the way back to pick up the RVs we are looking for two cooked lobster for Jenny to take home, well that wasn't easy! We are late getting back to the RVs and we have to hook up and head back to the airport, we are parking behind the Petro Can station for the night.

Aug 4, cool and cloudy this morning. We are up by 5:45 and we all hop in the truck and take Jenny and Caden to the airport. Get them checked in and get in the security line which is almost out the door. Maurice and I stand in the line while the rest head to Tim Horton's to get her a coffee and bagel. Then they are gone! How sad! Caden is such a bundle of energy but he has been an awesome traveller!! We will miss them greatly but not as much as Max will! Back to the RVs and we are off, our earliest morning yet. Head up to Truro, and across to Antigonish and back over to Cape Breton. Stop in Port Hawkesbury for a McLobster - yes at McDonalds - we had to try one but we won't have another! Not so good. On to St. Peters and Battery Prov. Park. A beautiful park but it is blowing and raining and just plain nasty! Have a great view of the Atlantic, white caps etc. Robert makes shepherd's pie for dinner, nice comfort food! Jenny has called and she is home safe!