2007 Newfoundland and Labrador

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR 2007

July, 2007 Our planned trip to Newfoundland and Labrador will begin August 1 and last until almost the end of September. Preparations have been ongoing for the past several months using travel guides from the Provinces and Frommer's. A large assist and thanks go to Rod and Margaret Keech who took this trip last year and provided a detailed blog of their travels along with the campgrounds where they stayed. They also provided a contact for a Labrador tour and we are planning to spend two days and nights touring that part of the Province, including one night on Battle Harbour. When we return from Newfoundland, a rally awaits us in Nova Scotia hosted by our friends, David and Shirley Whiston from Halifax. Having kept a journal of our previous travels in the Roadtrek, we will do the same this year and upload to the blog whenever we are able to connect (probably not too often in Newfoundland). We will also add some pictures when possible.

Wednesday, August 1 – It was hot and muggy as we left Huntsville about 8:30 am. Starting the refrigerator the day before was difficult and it only got down to about 45 degrees which is about right with the outside air temperature at 95 degrees. We made good time through Huntsville and Nashville and our first stop was the Kentucky Welcome Station. As we left, we saw another Roadtrek in the Truck Area, but could not tell anything about them. At Bowling Green, we stopped for lunch at a new Culver’s and had ice cream. We had originally intended to stop near Louisville, but we were a little early and the temperature was still in the mid-90’s, so we continued on to General Butler State Resort Park which is about half way between Louisville and Cincinnati. We had stayed there about six years ago, and it is a good campground with paved roads and sites, and lots of grass. We got a site about where we stayed before, and got set up in temperatures that were considerably cooler than on the Interstate. The campground is not full, but there are quite a few families with young children. We had supper in the Roadtrek and then walked around the area. Today we drove 366 miles and 366 for the trip.

Thursday, August 2 – After having breakfast, we drove to the Lodge and looked around some before heading out. We continued through Cincinnati and on to Columbus where we stopped at the most southern Tim Horton’s for lunch and donuts. The afternoon again saw temperatures up in the mid 90’a and the air conditioner was on all day. We decided to press on across Ohio and stopped at a Good Sam campground near Mercer, Pennsylvania that was out in the country near potato farms and cornfields. It did not meet our expectations after reading about it in the directory, but it will be adequate. We drove into Mercer and had a decent meal at a local restaurant and then returned for the evening. Today we drove 409 miles and 775 for the trip.

Friday, August 03 – Because of a concern with the house batteries (two 6-volt lead acid type) bubbling when hot, and even though a Roadtrek Dealer told us it was probably not a problem, we drove to Erie and found a Sam’s Club, and had them install an Optima 12-volt battery. This is something I probably should have done before leaving home, because we had seen this happen once before, and the batteries were 3 ½ years old, so we did not want to get deep into Canada and have a problem. After having the battery installed, we found a nearby Tim Horton’s for lunch. Continuing on I-90 into New York, we had to pay tolls to drive to Buffalo and again to drive east toward Syracuse before stopping for the night at a very nice KOA near Rochester. There was a lot of traffic on the highway and Buffalo was very congested. The KOA has a small lake and we are parked next to it. There are a lot of families and most are in pop-up campers, but it is very quiet out in the countryside. This is a big wine producing area and there are a lot of grape vineyards. We had supper at a very nice local restaurant and then sat by the lake until dark using the free Wi-Fi. Today we drove 265 miles and 1,040 for the trip.

Saturday, August 4 – We drove on to Syracuse on the Toll Thruway and paid our fee as a van instead of a camper. As we drove away from the Toll Booth, the lady in the booth exclaimed “it is a camper”, but we continued on. We got on I-81 and drove north to Watertown and then left the Interstate and drove a two lane road on north and east to Plattsburgh for the night. It was much more pleasant driving through the countryside on this road than driving on Interstates. Many small towns are in this area and we stopped at a McDonalds in the very pretty town of Canton for coffee. There were a lot of Amish stands along the road and we stopped at one and bought three ears of corn from a farmer and his two small boys. Passing through the town of Malone, we were delayed about 30 minutes by a line of cars waiting to get into the County Fair. There were also two Roadtreks in the line. We cooked hot dogs and the corn in the shucks on the grill for supper in the campground. When we checked into the campground, we asked about crossing into Canada tomorrow and were told that on Sunday afternoon it would back up for several miles and the wait would be long. We will ask further when we go to church in Plattsburgh tomorrow, but if that is likely, we will probably spend Sunday night in Vermont and cross into Canada on Monday. Today we drove 300 miles and 1,340 for the trip.

Sunday, August 5 – We went to a very nice small church in Plattsburgh – about 30 people and a young preacher who was excellent. After church, we drove north along Lake Champlain and stopped at Chazy at a Post Office for lunch. We continued on into Vermont, stopping at the Welcome Center for information on campgrounds. We found one at Alburg that was adequate, and we did a small load of laundry in the afternoon. The manager at the campground recommended the Alburg Golf Links Restaurant as a good place to eat and it overlooks Lake Champlain. We arrived about 5 pm and Jim hit some golf balls on the range while Barbara sat on the porch and read some of Random Passage, the book Margaret Keech sent her about Newfoundland. The restaurant was listed under “Fine Dining” and we had an excellent meal on the porch overlooking the lake. When we returned to the campground, a lady asked about the Roadtrek and Barbara talked with her for about 20 minutes. She is a retired Army nurse from Columbus, Georgia and loves to travel, so we gave her a brochure and a sales pitch for the club. Today we drove 73 miles and 1,413 for the trip.

Monday, August 6 – It had rained lightly during the night and then continued off and on most of the day. We mailed an anniversary card to David and Danielle, filled up with cheap ($2.95/gal) gas in Vermont, and headed for Canada. There was only one line at the Canadian check point and we waited about 20 minutes. After a few questions and examination of our passports, we were let through. A Welcome Station was a few miles into Canada and we stopped for information. We learned quickly that French is the preferred and predominant language, although some do speak limited English. After lunch at a Rest Stop, we stopped for coffee at a very busy Tim Horton’s and then proceeded past Quebec City and left the Limited Access Highway to drive the two-lane road along the St. Lawrence River. There were beautiful large farms and houses with pretty flower gardens. We stopped again at a Visitor’s Information Center where a young lady gave us information on camping and dining. We stopped for the night at Camping Pointe aux-Oies along the St. Lawrence in the town of Montmagny. Next to the campground is a building named “Center for Migration” and we think that is for the Snow Geese. Almost everyone in the Campground speaks French, but one man next to us from New Brunswick did come over and talk for awhile in English. For dinner, we went to the Voliere Restaurant in Montmagny, where they only had two English menus. We had a very nice meal – Barbara a French cheese omelet and Jim a pizza. After filling up with gas at $1.09 per liter (about $4.00 per gallon), we returned to the campground for the evening. Today we drove 253 miles and 1,666 for trip.

Tuesday, August 7 – Under a clear sky this morning, we had breakfast and took a few pictures looking out at the St. Lawrence River before leaving the campground and heading up north on the two-lane highway. We stopped at an information center and bought some honey and a tote bag. We drove on to Saint-Jean-Port-Joli which is the sculpture and artworks capital of Quebec. We walked around some, looked in the church, and went to a bakery/restaurant and bought local cheese and pastries to eat later. We drove on and stopped at an ice cream shop for a snack and then went on to La Pocatiere where we parked at the college for cheese and crackers and a chocolate croissant for lunch. Also in that town was the fromagerie le mouton Blanc-Ewe cheese farm where we saw many sheep and bought some unusual ewe cheese. We stopped for the night in Riviere-du-Loup and a very nice Municipal campground on a hill overlooking the St. Lawrence with paved and secluded sites. Several other Roadtreks were in attendance. Today we drove 100 miles and 1,766 for the trip.

Wednesday, August 8 – It was cloudy this morning and started to rain just after we disconnected. We had planned to eat out for breakfast and went to the O’Gentilleries Restaurant and Barbara had a crepe filled with strawberries and Chantilly cream with whipped cream and maple syrup on top, and five fruits on the platter, while Jim had a more traditional breakfast of eggs, bacon and potatoes. We went to the Library to connect to the Internet, but found it did not open until 1 pm so we went on. By this time it had started to rain hard, and continued all day! This was probably the most rain filled day we have ever had in our travels. Simon got on the bed and slept until 3 pm. It not only rained but blew hard off the St. Lawrence. We passed potato farms, fishing villages, and neat houses with lots of flowers. We stopped for lunch at the Rimouski Visitor’s Center and ate in the Roadtrek. We continued north along the St. Lawrence and entered the Gaspe Region, stopping at the Welcome Center but not getting out because of the hard rain. However, it did have wireless internet and we were able to get a decent signal in the van, so we checked email and updated the blog although Jim was unable to upload any pictures. We turned inland at Mont-Joli and went into a Tim Horton’s in a pretty hard rain to get some muffins and coffee. From there, we drove southeast toward New Brunswick and stopped at an Information Center in Amqui about 4 pm and the rain had slowed so Simon emerged from the van. There were a lot of covered bridges along this route and we bought some postcards there. We drove on to Campbellton, New Brunswick and passed a Wal Mart with about a dozen RV’s camped for the night on our way to Sugarloaf Provincial Park, just outside of town. The rain had almost stopped and we got an electric-only site and fixed ham, eggs and biscuits for supper. Today we drove 219 miles and 1,985 for the trip.

Thursday, August 9 – We awoke to a clear and cool day. There was a wood stove in the recreation building and a woman from Pennsylvania cooked a full breakfast for her family. She told Barbara it took a long time but was fun. We stopped at a Grocery Store and then headed south for Bathurst. We drove on to Miramachi and ate lunch at the Visitor’s Center. There was an ice cream stand there, and we had that for dessert. We stopped in mid-afternoon at a very busy Tim Horton’s for coffee and a donut. We decided to try to get a camp site at Kouchibouguac National Park rather than driving on to Shediac, and were able to get a site without hookups, but in a grassy area overlooking the river, where lobster boats were docked. It was too windy for them to go out today, but there was lobster available in the Bon Accueil Restaurant, within walking distance from the campground. This restaurant is known for its Acadian dessert “La Poutine a Trou”, and of course we tried it after having a lobster roll for the main course. Both the lobster roll and dessert were excellent. There are a lot of families in the campground and there is a lot for them to do. People are riding bicycles along many of the trails in the campground. We bought a Discovery Pass at the National Park, which will give us access to all of Canada’s National Parks and Historic Sites, and there are several in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland that we will visit. Today we drove 164 miles and 2,149 for the trip.

Friday, August 10 – Last evening, we entertained ourselves by watching all of the people with tents try and set them up in the field behind us. Most were successful after a period of time. This morning we had a light breakfast, stopped at the Visitor’s Center for the National Park for a few postcards, and then headed for Nova Scotia. We stopped at the Provincial Visitor’s Center for a few postcards and a Nova Scotia flag and then drove on to Pugwash, home of Seagull Pewter, where Barbara bought a few items for gifts and for herself. We arrived in Truro about 4 pm and got a nice site in the pine trees. They have Wi Fi and we were able to update the blog and check email before Brad and Terry Fancy arrived. We went out to eat with them and ate at Murphy’s Fish and Chips in downtown Truro and it was quite good. Today was very warm (up to about 80 degrees) but it has cooled tonight and should be comfortable for sleeping. Today we drove 201 miles and 2,350 for the trip.

Saturday, August 11 – After a late breakfast, we went to the Farmer’s Market in Truro. This is a small market but very interesting to talk with the people. We bought some blueberry jam, honey, peanut butter treats for Simon and some goat cheese. We also talked with a lady who was interested in our Roadtrek and we gave her a brochure. We then did laundry at a very nice Laundromat that we had used 5 years ago, and then make several stops on the way back to the campground. We talked with Brad and Terry some and then cooked steaks for supper along with some corn we had bought, salad with the goat cheese, and cookies for dessert. The campground is pretty full tonight and there are many tents along the outside loop. Simon enjoyed walking around and seeing the activities taking place. We found out that the Fancy’s had two Westies also, and they really like Simon. Today we drove 17 miles and 2,367 for the trip.

Sunday, August 12 – We were successful last evening in reaching a lady from the church in Shubenacadie and she gave us directions. We found it without difficulty and were pleasantly surprised to find a very nice building and about 22 in attendance. The service was good and we met and talked with almost everyone. We stopped for lunch at a very busy Tim Horton’s in the area and then headed for Cape Breton, stopping briefly in Antoginish at a Grocery Store. We decided to take the eastern road around Bras D’Or Lake and stopped at St. Peters for the night in a reasonable campground with a view of the lake. We had supper at the Lake Bras D’Or Inn and it was very good. A lady at the next table came over and said her daughter worked at Roadtrek Motorhomes in Kitchener and she had admired our van. We told her we had been there twice and probably had met her daughter. She wanted to take a picture of our Roadtrek and we told her to go ahead. She also told us there had been delays in the ferry to Newfoundland the last several days because of high winds. However, she expected by Tuesday when we go it should be caught up. We hope so. Today we drove 193 miles and 2,560 for the trip.

Monday, August 13 – We slept late, had a big breakfast of sausage, biscuits and eggs and then drove along the east side of Bras d’Or Lake toward North Sydney. We arrived at the campground around 1 pm and got a nice grassy site. After a light lunch, we drove into North Sydney, stopped at a Hardware Store and bought a new stove top coffee pot to replace our old one which had failed when we used it at the National Park in New Brunswick. It was raining lightly when we went to supper with the Fancy’s. We ate at the Captain’s Table, just up the road, and the meal was good, the dessert better. We learned that the ferry we are to take tomorrow is 2 hours late leaving Newfoundland to return here, so we expect a delay in the morning. Today we drove 81 miles and 2,641 for the trip.

Tuesday, August 14 – We left the campground about 7:30 am and headed for the ferry terminal to join the line of cars and RV’s waiting to get through the toll booths. The ferry had already arrived from Newfoundland and after we paid our fare and proceeded through the toll booth, they started loading. We turned off the propane and refrigerator, told Simon goodbye, and headed for the passenger deck. The ferry was not completely full and we learned later that one reason they were behind schedule was a bomb threat about two weeks ago. We also talked with some people in Newfoundland trying to get back who had to wait over a week to get reservations. The crossing was very smooth and no one had any difficulty. We shared a large sub for lunch and used the facilities in the day cabin that the Fancy’s purchased. We arrived at Port aux Basques about an hour late because of fog, but it was clear when we docked. Simon was asleep on the drivers chair and was glad to see us. We stopped at the Visitor’s Center for information and then proceeded on to the Grand Codroy Campground and got a site next to Brad and Terry. We had a very interesting supper at the Wreckhouse Haven Tea Room a short distance from the campground. It was near closing and they did not have a large menu, only fish cakes and soup. They only had enough fish cakes left for two meals, so each couple shared one and we each had a bowl of very good vegetable beef soup along with a large roll. The last piece of blueberry pie had gone to a couple in the next room, so we did not have dessert, but overall it was an adequate and enjoyable meal in pleasant surroundings. The landscape in this part of Newfoundland is very rugged with steep mountains and rolling valleys, and very few homes. The main highway,
TCH-1 is a very good road, but the side roads require slowing to avoid the uneven surfaces. We are all tired from an early arising and somewhat stressful day, so we will turn in early. Today we drove 34 miles and 2, 675 for the trip.

Wednesday, August 15 – We wrote and mailed postcards to Grayson and Gabrielle and then drove north along the TCH to Stephenville. We stopped at a bakery for bread and also bought a blueberry pie for supper. We drove out the Port au Port Peninsula and stopped for lunch in the Roadtrek at an alpaca farm and craft shop. They had ice cream so we had a cone for dessert. The lady gave us a map of the peninsula and told us some interesting places to stop as we drove around. The coast is very rugged with steep cliffs and swiftly running water rushing into the sea. We returned to the TCH and continued on to Corner Brook where we headed west to our planned campground, Blow Me Down Provincial Park. It is near the end of a peninsula and the road to it was not very good. However, we got a site across from Brad and Terry, who had already arrived, and cooked supper in the Roadtrek, sharing the blueberry pie for dessert. After supper, we walked to the beach and talked with a couple from Montreal with two children who had been in a home in Twillingate, Newfoundland for a month and were on the way home. They had an older yellow lab and were interesting to talk with. The bathhouse was good and following our showers, we did a little reading before turning in. Today we drove 263 miles and 2,938 for the trip

Thursday, August 16 – We drove into Lark Harbour and stopped at Marlaine’s for coffee and a sweet roll. The rolls were very good and we had a view of the harbor where they told us whales were sometimes seen. She had locally made crafts and we bought a couple of items. There was a family from Wales, England in there also, and they were staying at a local Inn. We drove back to Corner Brook and stopped at a Sobey’s for groceries, an Exxon for gasoline, and a Tim Horton’s for lunch. We rejoined the TCH and proceeded north to Deer Lake, where we turned onto the Viking Trail for Gros Morne National Park. There was a roadside stand with local raspberries and we stopped for a carton. We continued on toward our planned stop, Trout River Campground in the Park, and passing through one of the small villages, we came upon a moose grazing beside the road. We stopped and by the time we had our camera, it had slowly proceeded back into the trees. We stopped at the Park’s Discovery Center and learned that the Trout River Pond Boat Tour was leaving at 4 pm, so we bought our tickets and drove on to the campground and area for the boat tour. The Fancy’s were already at the campground and they decided to pass on the boat tour, so we went ahead. It was a 2 ½ hour tour along the sides of Trout River Pond with very dramatic scenery including flatlands, rock formations, waterfalls, and beautiful forests. We enjoyed the tour even though we did not see any wildlife. We returned to the campground and cooked steaks for supper. As we were finishing, Brad and Terry brought us some muffins, and while we were distracted, Simon grabbed the remains of Barbara’s steak off her plate and had it devoured before we noticed. It was a pretty good sized piece of meat, but guess it will not hurt him. Today we drove 128 miles and 3,066 for the trip.

Friday, August 17 – After breakfast of a cinnamon roll given to us by the Fancy’s, we drove to the Gros Morne Discovery Center and spent over an hour watching the film about the park and looking through the exhibits. Barbara bought a jacket with the Park Emblem, the Artic Hare, and a few other items before we left and headed for Rocky Harbour. We stopped at a few overlooks but did not spot any wildlife; however, the scenery was spectacular. We arrived at the Rocky Harbour KOA about 2 pm and after hooking up, proceeded to do our laundry and check our messages. We rode with the Fancy’s to Norris Point and ate at a local restaurant for supper; both of us having fish dinners. Today we drove 59 miles and 3,129 for the trip.

Saturday, August 18 – We left the KOA and drove to the Ocean View Motel in Rocky Harbour to purchase our tickets for the Western Brook Pond Boat Tour at 1 pm. Since this is a Saturday, a lot of people had already signed up, including Brad and Terry Fancy. We stopped at the Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse, but first we missed our turn and in the process of turning around, spotted a red fox sitting on a rock about 24 feet from us. It was light brown in color and not afraid at all. We got the camera out and took several pictures. We looked around in the lighthouse and saw a short video. This is still an operating lighthouse, so we could not go up the steps. We drove on to the parking area for the boat tour and had a short lunch before starting the 3 kilometer (1 ½ mile) walk to the boat dock. Part of the walk was on a gravel path and part on a boardwalk over a bog. The tour was similar to the one we had two days ago, but this part of Newfoundland is even more spectacular, with many high waterfalls, cliffs, rock slides and some grassy areas. The concession stand at the dock had a few souvenirs, but they also had very good hot dogs and we had a couple to fortify ourselves for the long walk back. We continued north to Port au Choix and stopped at the Oceanside Campground which has sites only a few feet away from the Gulf of St. Lawrence. We were the only two RV’s in the park until a truck camper arrived about 8 pm. It had started raining during the boat tour and continued the rest of the day, getting harder in the evening. We had a good supper of soup, cheese toast, and blueberry pie with ice cream for dessert. After supper, Simon had the first opportunity to utilize his yellow rain slicker for the evening walk. Today we drove 109 miles and 3,238 for the trip.

Sunday, August 19 – It was a dark and stormy night. The wind howled, the rain blew, and the Roadtrek rocked. It was still raining and blowing in the morning as we fixed oatmeal for breakfast, disconnected and headed out. We stopped at St. Barbe and checked out the ferry that we will take to Labrador on Thursday, and also the small RV Park that is just across the street from the terminal. Everything looks ok and they told us the weather forecast for Thursday looks better. We continued on up the coast past lobster shacks and many lobster cages stacked along the road. We assume the season is over and these are left there for the winter. We also saw lots of firewood stacked along the road. We turned inland and headed for St. Anthony, the most northern small town (about 3,000) in Newfoundland. We saw two moose along the shore road and four more along the road to St. Anthony. When we stopped to take a picture, they ambled into the woods. We arrived at the Triple Falls RV Park in St. Anthony about 1 pm and found it a nice park with a good bathhouse. We had passed a lot of large RV’s on the road heading south and found out that a tour had stayed here and left this morning. After lunch and deciding with the Fancy’s where to eat supper, we drove the short distance into St. Anthony, home of the famous Dr. Grenfell, who spent most of his life in this part of Newfoundland caring for the people and establishing hospitals and medical centers. We looked at the murals in the Rotunda of the Hospital, visited the Visitor’s Center and Museum, and examined the crafts in the gift shop. After buying gas at about $4.50 per gallon, we met the Fancy’s for dinner at the Lighthouse Restaurant at the point of land overlooking the ocean. As we arrived, the rain slowed and a rainbow appeared, a good sign. We had an excellent meal in this restored light keeper’s house, took a picture of the lighthouse, and returned to the campground for the evening. As Jim was walking Simon, he talked with the Frenchman we had first seen in Nova Scotia before coming over on the ferry. We had seen him and his non-English speaking wife at several stops here in Newfoundland and found out they are also going to Labrador this week. They are in a van with a pop-up roof. Today we drove 151 miles and 3.389 for the trip.

Monday, August 20 – It was a clear night but raining lightly when we woke up. It continued raining most of the morning as we drove into St. Anthony, checked our email at the Library WiFi, stopped again at the Grenfell Visitor’s Center, and bought a few groceries. We then headed north to the very tip of Newfoundland where the Vikings were thought to have landed over 1,000 years ago. This National Historic Site, L’Anse aux Meadows, was discovered in 1960 by a team of Norwegian archeologists and was taken over by Parks Canada in the 1970’s. They have a very interesting Visitor’s Center and guided tours of the site including several reconstructed structures. Our guide was Mr. Colburn, who was born and raised, along with ten other children, on the point of land that is still called L’Anse aux Meadows. He still lives there and used to play on the mounds before 1960 when they were discovered to contain remains of the Viking Settlement. He said all of the children worked hard every day and used dog sleds in the winter to get around. Today they use snowmobiles and 4-wheel drive trucks. He was very knowledgeable not only about the Viking Settlement, but also about the land in general, including the berries and the fishing in these cold North Atlantic waters. After the tour, we watched the movie about the discovery, and as we were leaving the site, spotted three moose in the fields around the park. We spent the night at the Viking RV Park in Quirpon, and had a good meal at the Northern Delights Restaurant a few miles away. Today we drove 40 miles and 3,429 for the trip.

Tuesday, August 21 – It was a clear night but started raining shortly after we got up. We left the campground and drove into the village of Quirpon to look around and take a few pictures. It is a small fishing village with an Inn and a few Bed and Breakfasts. On the drive back to St. Anthony, we stopped at a roadside stand for some partridgeberry jam and then at the Dark Tickle Company where they make several kinds of preserves. It is a business that uses heritage craft techniques. Barbara got a wool cap and we also had lunch at their coffee shop. Further along the road, Barbara spotted a male moose just a few feet off the road, but by the time we could stop, he had wandered back into the trees. They will not hold still for a picture. We continued on into St. Anthony, checked email at the library, bought a few items at Tim Horton’s, and headed for the campground. It had stopped raining at this time (more would come later) and we got a site next to the Fancy’s and did one load of laundry. While the clothes were drying, the manager came in to collect the coins and told us that an iceberg had been spotted off the coast. We picked up the Fancy’s and headed for Fisherman’s Point, the end of the road at St. Anthony. It was raining hard when we left the campground, but had almost stopped when we reached the coast, and we were able to see the large iceberg in the distance. A lady who works for the Coast Guard drove up and told us it was very unusual to see that large an iceberg at this time. She also had a Newfoundland dog in the back of her car and we got to see one for the first time. His name is Keeper and he weighs about 175 pounds. We drove to the Haven Inn and had a good sandwich in their restaurant along with some partridgeberry pie. The campground has two tour groups; one an Adventure Tours and the other a Tracks Tour. There is one Roadtrek with each group and the rest are large Class A Motorhomes. We talked with one of the Roadtrek owners, a single man from Ohio with a new 4X4 Roadtrek 190. He said he also had a Class A but lost his wife last year and did not want to travel alone in it so he bought the Roadtrek. He was glad to learn that a lot of single ladies travel in Roadtreks and attend the rallies. Today we drove 61 miles and 3,490 for the trip.

Wednesday, August 22 – It was a clear morning when we woke up and no rain all day! After checking email at the Library, filling up with gasoline and Tim Horton’s coffee, we started our drive toward St. Barbe and the ferry to Labrador tomorrow. We took a different route back and stopped at the small village of Roddickton for lunch at the Public Wharf overlooking the bay. Barbara spotted two moose along the road as we drove. We continued back to the Viking Trail at Plum Cove and then headed north for St. Barbe. When we arrived, we found out they did not have sites with power, so we parked in front of the Fancy’s for the night. There is also the Adventure Tour group of RV’s parked in the area and they are all going to Labrador tomorrow on the bus. We talked with the Roadtrek owners from Texas and they had been to the Nashville Rally several years ago. We walked down and looked at the ferry and then had supper across the street at the Dockside Motel. It was a good meal of cod and scallops with strawberry cheesecake for dessert. Today we drove 149 miles and 3,639 for the trip.

Thursday, August 23 – We woke up at 5:30 am and drove aboard the rather large ferry for the 1 ½ hour trip to Blanc Sablon, Quebec, and just a few kilometers from the Labrador border. It was a smooth crossing and we shared a breakfast on the way. Carmen was waiting for us and we followed her to the Gateway to Labrador Visitor’s Center, a Gothic Revival style church. After viewing the displays, we proceeded to the Jersey Trail and walked the 2 mile round trip that portrays a fishing business started along the coast in 1774. Carmen was instrumental in researching and establishing the crushed rock trail, and in bringing in archeologists to uncover the actual stone building foundations. Following the walk we stopped by Carmen’s home in Forteau, parked the Roadtrek, and all rode in her van to the Motel/Restaurant owned by she and her husband where she picked up picnic lunches for us to eat overlooking the Cove of Love near L’Anse Amour. We continued on to the Point Amour Lighthouse where several of us walked up the 128 steps to examine the Fresnel lens and experience the spectacular view of the Strait of Belle Isle. After a quick stop for coffee, we drove to the end of the paved road at Red Bay, where we visited the Red Bay National Historic Site that depicts the story of the Basque whalers in the 16th century. Carmen’s husband, Bradley, and two of her three sons, William (8 years) and Daniel (6 years) met us and continued on to Mary’s Harbour on the gravel road. This drive took about an hour. Mary’s Harbour is the gateway to the Battle Harbour National Historic District of Canada. We boarded a small passenger boat for the 1 ½ hour ride to the island. Simon rode in the cabin with us along with Maggie, a 3 ½ year old black lab belonging to Susan and Ryan, friends of Carmen and her husband. They later shared a cabin with us on the island. We were welcomed to the Island by Mike, the curator of the Heritage Site, and then had an excellent dinner of roast turkey. Our cabin that we shared with the other couple was a restored Fisherman’s Cabin with two bedrooms upstairs and the kitchen, living room and bath downstairs. They had a late “Kitchen Party” but we were too tired to attend. Today we drove 24 miles and 3,663 for the trip.

Friday, August 24 – We went to Carmen and her family’s cabin for a good breakfast of pancakes, sausage and fruit. She had arranged a whale watching boat ride and Barbara and several of the others of our party went on that. They did see a puffin but no whales. Lunch consisted of Navy bean soup and various kinds of breads and pastries. After lunch, a local resident of Battle Harbour conducted a guided tour around the various buildings and structures on the island. Our ferry for the return trip to Mary’s Harbour left at 4 pm and it was another smooth ride. The return drive to Forteau and the Sea View Motel took about 2 hours and we were able to retrieve the Roadtrek from her home and bring it to the Motel. We bought some items in the General Store and then had a very good dinner of Caribou and vegetables in the Restaurant. Today we had less than one mile on the Roadtrek.

Saturday, August 25 – We left the Motel about 8 am in the rain and drove the short distance to Blanc Sablon, Quebec, where we bought our ticket for the ferry and waited for it to load. Carmen brought Brad and Terry to the dock and we said goodbye to her and thanked her for a wonderful Labrador experience the last two days. The ferry was on time and the crossing smooth. We drove south a short distance to Plum Point and the Restaurant that was recommended to us by a lady at church in Nova Scotia. We all had a very good meal and then continued south on the Viking Trail, stopping at Palmer’s Point at a small bakery and then proceeding to Rocky Harbour and the KOA where we had stayed on the way north. We found a Hospital in nearby Norris Point and the nurse on duty gave Jim two tubes of ointment for the heating pad burns on his chest and back. We had a light supper in the Roadtrek. Today we drove 153 miles and 3,816 for the trip.

Sunday, August 26 – We slept late this morning (8 am) and got gasoline and stopped at the Gros Morne Visitor’s Center before leaving the area about 11 am. It was raining as we left and continued on and off most of the day with the temperature in the mid 60’s. We stopped at a very busy Tim Horton’s in Deer Lake and then started east on the TCH (Trans Canada Highway). The road was good and we arrived in our planned destination, Grand Falls Windsor about 4 pm. The campground, Sanger Memorial Park, was good and we had a site next to Brad and Terry, who arrived several hours earlier. We went into town and stopped at a Sobey’s for groceries and then ate at a recommended local restaurant, Big Mouth, and the food was excellent. Today we drove 195 miles and 4,021 for the trip.

Monday, August 27 – We decided to press on to St. John’s today and then visit several of the peninsulas on the return trip west to catch the ferry back to Nova Scotia. Our first stop was at Gander and we filled up with coffee and muffins for tomorrow morning at the local Tim Horton’s. We passed the site of the Silent Witness Memorial to the American soldiers killed in the plane crash in 1986 and decided to stop on the way back. We stopped at the entrance to Terra Nova National Park and had lunch and also stopped at several other Visitors’ Centers for breaks along the way, arriving at the Pippy Park Campground about 4 pm. Our site was next to Brad and Terry and the park is essentially full owing in part to an Airstream rally in progress. We drove into town for gasoline and supper, but gave up trying to find the restaurant and returned to the campground for supper in the Roadtrek. Today we drove 283 miles and 4,304 for the trip.

Tuesday, August 28 – We left the campground and drove into St. John’s and found the Basilica Parish of St. John the Baptist, built in the shape of a Latin cross, and dates from 1841. We declined the one hour tour and looked around at this very large and ornate building, taking several pictures. We then found our way to Signal Hill, stopping at the Visitor’s Center to view the exhibits and the film on its history. We drove to the top of the hill and a spectacular view of St. John’s and its harbor. Returning to the downtown area, we stopped for lunch at Moo Moo’s ice cream store and a large waffle cone. We then drove to Cape Spear Lighthouse and the most eastern point in North America. Waves were crashing on the rocky shoreline. We continued south past Bay Bulls and Tor Harbour, stopping for the night at a small motel/campground overlooking the ocean and several small islands. There were only 12 sites and we had another good view of the sea. We ate at a recommended restaurant, The Captain’s Table, and had an excellent meal. Returning to the campground, we did laundry and checked email before turning in. Today we drove 66 miles and 4,370 for the trip.

Wednesday, August 29 – We decided to drive south around the Irish Loop today and look for caribou along the south shore. We passed a lot of small fishing towns and villages and stopped often at Visitor’s Centers and other picturesque spots. At Portugal Cove South, Barbara bought a hooked rug made by an 80 year old Irish lady. Barbara spotted two moose in a field. We drove off the main highway to St. Shotts to look for caribou, but did not find any. We continued north along the shore and stopped at the Irish Loop Resort where we got one of the last sites available. A lot of people have come early for the upcoming Labor Day weekend. We were tired and decided to have hot dogs in the Roadtrek for supper. Today we drove 155 miles and 4,525 for the trip.

Thursday, August 30 – We drove on the TCH to Clarenville and after stopping at the Visitor’s Center, picked up supplies at the Tim Horton’s and the Sobey’s. We turned onto the Bonavista Peninsula and saw the Fancy’s stopped at the Cabot Trail Campground about 1 pm. They planned to drive around the peninsula today and then leave tomorrow. We wanted to spend more time so continued on to Trinity and got a site at the Trinity RV Park. It is rather basic but does have grass for Simon. We drove into Trinity and looked around, noting the many mussel buoys in the bay where mussels are harvested on ropes. It is called the God’s Cove Mussel Farm. We ate at the Dockmarina Restaurant and had a good meal including Seafood Chowder. Barbara saw a quilt she liked in the Gift Shop and bought it. It was made by an older local lady who makes and sells quilts to get money to buy material for more. Today we drove 155 miles and 4,680 for the trip.

Friday, August 31 – Today was the day for Puffins and a Champion Newfoundland dog named “Brogan”. We drove first to the site of the Mini Series “Random Passage” film set and Barbara looked around and bought a few postcards. She is still reading the book loaned to her by Margaret Keech. We made another stop at East Trinity and a jewelry store “Trinity Rocks” where Barbara bought a few items for gifts. Continuing north to Elliston, we stopped at the Visitor’s Center and were told where to go to see puffins. We parked and walked along the cliffs several hundred yards to view Bird Island, where hundreds of Puffins were nesting and flying into the water to eat. It was quite a show. It is one of the few islands that are not all rock, and they are able to dig holes in the turf for their nests. We were told they will be gone in another week and will spend the winter east of here in the Atlantic Ocean. This town is also called the “Root Cellar Capital” of the world, and we saw many of them, some still in use, along the road to the Puffins. After lunch and an ice cream cone from a local lady who also sold us some Partridgeberry Jam, we drove north to Bonavista, the point of land where John Cabot was reported to have made landfall in the 1400’s. We visited the Lighthouse and then drove along the other shore on our way back to the Cabot Trail Campground, where the Fancy’s stayed last night. We saw lots of people stopped along the roadside picking berries. We arrived at the campground, cooked a hot dog for supper, and Barbara spotted a Newfoundland dog walking by. We dropped everything, got Simon ready, and headed after him. The owner said he was very friendly, about 3 ½ years old, weighs about 135 pounds, and is a Canadian Champion named “Brogan”. Simon was not afraid of him and we got several pictures of them together. Today we drove 100 miles and 4,780 for the trip.

Saturday, September 1 – Today the rain returned after several nice days of sunny and warm (up to about 80 degrees). It started raining as we left the campground and continued all day and into the evening. We stopped first at Terra Nova National Park, the other National Park in Newfoundland and nearer the center of the Province. We went to the Visitor’s Center and bought a few items, then had lunch in the Roadtrek. The campground in the Park was full, but we had not planned to stay anyway. We continued on to Gander and stopped at the Visitor’s Center where we learned there was only one campground in town. Since it was continuing to rain hard, we decided to spend our first night at Wal Mart, and checked it our in mid afternoon. There was a Barber Shop nearby and Jim was able to get a haircut. We returned to town and had supper at Ches’s Fish and Chips, a somewhat famous Newfoundland Restaurant. We thought they were good, but not quite as good as Joey’s Only, the Restaurant that is popular in Western Canada and we even found one in Florida this past winter. We returned to Wal Mart and joined several others in the parking lot and then went in the store to buy a few items. It is still raining but supposed to be better tomorrow when we head north to our last peninsula. Today we drove 133 miles and 4,913 for the trip.

Sunday, September 2 – It was very windy during the night and still raining lightly when we got up. We started the generator to make coffee and then headed for a restaurant we noticed yesterday for breakfast. However, we found it closed and instead went to Tim Horton’s and got a breakfast sandwich, which was quite good. After mailing a few cards, we headed north along the Road to the Isles and our destination of Twilingate. The rain stopped and a clear sky appeared. We passed over quite a few causeways and along rocky shores as we drove north. We stopped at a Visitor’s Center for information, checked our email, and bought some preserves. We arrived at the campground in Twilingate about noon, got a good site, and ate lunch. It is a nice campground on a hill overlooking a bay with several rocky islands, and there were only a few campers present. However, when we returned after supper, there were about 20 including a large Motorhome from Florida with a Hummer tow car. After lunch we drove to the lighthouse for a few pictures and a few postcards and then returned to town and the Twilingate Museum. Barbara bought a couple of items for the kids in the gift shop. We then went to the Anchor Restaurant overlooking the bay for supper and had a good meal. Walking around the campground with Simon, a man came by in a pickup selling blueberries and we bought some for our cereal. Today we drove 92 miles and 5,005 for the trip.

Monday, September 3 – It was very windy and quite cool when we woke up this Labor Day morning. We found out later that Labor Day is a major Holiday in Canada and even the Wal Mart in Grand Falls/Windsor was closed. We stopped at the Visitor’s Center where we had noticed a sign for Newfoundland dogs, and the lady called to see if we could stop by and see them. The owner said ok so we drove a few miles to Fairbank and ere able to find her kennel. She had about six dogs including one black and while she had acquired from North Carolina. Three of them were loose and we were able to watch and pet them. Simon was excited to see them, but we did not let him out of the Roadtrek. We stopped at a roadside stand for vegetables and the garden was right behind the stand. We bought some potatoes and carrots to eat with the steak in our freezer. We continued on to Lewisporte and ate lunch overlooking the docks. Then a stop at Tim Horton’s for coffee and we continued on to Grand Falls/Windsor and stopped at the Beothuk RV Park for the night. It is their last night to be open and the park where we stayed on the way east to St. John’s closed yesterday. We drove into town for supper at Big Mouth’s, where we had eaten before, but it was closed for the Holiday, so we went to a Mary Brown’s Famous Chicken, a chain throughout Newfoundland. Both the chicken and the taters were very good. Today we drove 118 miles and 5,123 for the trip.

Tuesday, September 4 – The temperature this morning was about 65 degrees and it stayed that way most of the day as we drove through an occasional shower. We saw a “Quilt Sale” sign by the road and drove down a short paved road to a very nice home overlooking a large lake. Barbara went in and found just the quilt she was looking for and we also bought a wall hanging done by another lady. We stopped for lunch at the Visitor’s Center in Deer Lake and then continued on to Corner Brook where we got a camp site in a small park along the Trans Canada Highway. We drove into Corner Brook and did laundry at a Laundromat and then went for supper at Jungle Jim’s Restaurant, a chain throughout Newfoundland. The meal was pretty good. We walked around a little at the campground before turning in for the night. Today we drove 180 miles and 5,303 for the trip.

Wednesday, September 5 – We woke this morning to a light rain which intensified some during the day, but then tapered off in late afternoon. We drove first to the Visitor’s Center in Corner Brook and then to a nearby Motel where we had Wi Fi. A couple of days ago, Simon strained something in his left rear leg and the anti-inflammatory medication we gave him did not help too much. So we tried to see a Veterinarian in Corner Brook and they called back and said we could come at 11:30. The diagnosis was about as we thought: a left cranial cruciate tear and he said we were doing well to let him rest as much as possible and continue with the anti-inflammatory medication. He seems a little better today. He had a similar problem last year with the right rear leg and eventually got over that ok, so we are hopeful. He will get a lot of rest tomorrow on the 6 hour ferry ride back to Nova Scotia. After stopping for groceries and lunch, we continued on to Doyles and the Grand Codroy CG, which is only 30 minutes from the ferry terminal, where we have to be tomorrow at 8 am. The Fancy’s were already there and we had dinner together at the Wreckhouse Haven Tea Room, where we had our first meal in Newfoundland several weeks ago. The ham dinner was very good along with the bread pudding for dessert. Today we drove 134 miles and 5,437 for the trip.

Thursday, September 6 – It was down to about 38 degrees this morning, but the sky was clear and the 30 minute drive to Port aux Basques was on a good highway. We checked in at the Ferry Terminal and learned that we would be crossing on the Leif Erickson and the weather was good. It was an excellent and smooth crossing and took the required 6 hours. We had breakfast as we got underway and then a sandwich before arriving. Simon did ok in the Roadtrek. We drove with the Fancy’s to the Arm of Gold Campground where we had stayed the night before crossing to Newfoundland. After sitting outside in the sun for about an hour, we rode with them to dinner at the Captain’s Table, which is a small but good restaurant where we also ate several weeks ago. Jim made an appointment for an oil change in the morning, so we will not leave until around 10 am. Today we drove 31 miles and 5,468 for the trip.

Friday, September 7 – We had made an appointment yesterday for an oil change this morning at 9 am, and they did a good job. We had about 5,500 miles on the oil and I probably could have driven home ok, but feel better about having it changed and the cost was not great. After getting gas and stopping at a Bake Shop next to the restaurant where we ate last night to pick up some bread, cookies and a butterscotch pie, we left North Sydney at about 10 am and drove west to pick up the Cabot Trail. We decided to drive around the Trail and end up at Cheticamp this evening. We stopped for lunch at the Keltic Lodge and ate in the Roadtrek overlooking the bay. This is a very upscale Lodge with a golf course, and Simon enjoyed walking on the green grass. We continued north and then across the mountains to the picturesque coast of Cape Breton. At one stretch on road, we saw a number of vehicles parked and upon stopping, we saw several moose in a nearby field, but too far away for a picture. We stopped to take a few pictures along the coast and then continued to our Good Sam Campground in Cheticamp, where the Fancy’s were already waiting. We talked for awhile and then went for supper at the Acadian Restaurant where we had eaten four years ago. It was again very good and they also had a craft/gift shop and Barbara and Teri talked with a lady making hooked mats, and getting a picture of her. We returned to the campground, walked around some and gave Brad and Teri some of the butterscotch pie. Today we drove 169 and 5,637 for the trip.

Saturday, September 8 – We returned to the Acadian Restaurant for breakfast this morning, and Barbara also visited the small Museum in the building, saying it was very interesting. We drove down the Cabot Trail and stopped at the Cape Breton Visitor’s Center for lunch. We then continued on to Truro where we did laundry prior to eating supper at Fletcher’s Restaurant, where we ate four years ago. It was very good. We went to the Scotia Pines Campground and got a site for the night. Today we drove 219 miles and 5,856 for the trip.

Sunday, September 9 – We drove to Halifax and found the church on Convoy Avenue that we had attended four years ago. There were only about 25 present and the lesson was on a TV, but the service was fine and the people friendly. We drove south out of Halifax and stopped at a Visitor’s Center for lunch and then proceeded to Mahone Bay. We were somewhat surprised by the large number of people walking the streets, but it was a warm and sunny day and there was an outdoor market, so a lot of people came. We spent a little over an hour and then drove on to Lunenburg, where we got a site in the campground overlooking the town. Chris and Susan Mitchell were there along with the Seaveys and another couple from South Carolina. All are going to the rally on Tuesday. We cooked a steak and had the potatoes and carrots from Newfoundland for supper and then walked around the area. Today we drove 124 miles and 5,980 for the trip.

Monday, September 10 – After breakfast, we drove down the hill to Lunenburg and walked around looking in some of the shops. We bought a few items in the Bluenose shop and Barbara found a whale oil lamp in one of the Antique Shops. We continued on to Bridgewater and drove on to Lahave where we stopped at the bakery and bought some bread, muffins and a small pizza for lunch. We drove to a point of land overlooking the water and ate the pizza and then walked around, talking with a man who worked on a Research Ship in Bridgewater. We continued on to Liverpool, stopping at the Visitor’s Center and then proceeding on to the Fisherman’s Cove Campground where we got a site on a hill overlooking the water. We walked on the hiking trail and found some blackberries growing there. We went to the recommended restaurant for supper but found it closed on Monday, so we went to the Quarterdeck Restaurant at a beach resort a few miles south of the campground. We had salmon and scallops and both were very good. There is a long sandy beach there and the Motel had rooms overlooking the beach and water. Today we drove 82 miles and 6,062 for the trip.

Tuesday, September 11 – It was raining when we woke up this morning and we stopped at Sobey’s in Liverpool for groceries before heading west toward Parker’s Cove and the rally. We stopped at the Kejimkujik National Park Visitor’s Center for lunch and then continued on and arrived at the Cove Oceanfront Campground about 2 pm. We were assigned a nice site on a hillside overlooking the Bay of Fundy, where the tides can approach 50 feet. We talked with David and Shirley Whiston, our hosts, and other people for awhile before preparing our contribution for the pot luck supper. The meal was fine although there are about 55 of us in a fairly small room for the meals. After dinner, a local group played and sang for about an hour. Included among them was a fiddler who had won the Nova Scotia and Maritimes championship and he was very good. It started raining and continued quite hard during the night. Today we drove 90 miles and 6,152 for the trip.

Wednesday, September 12 – It was very windy when we woke up but the rain had stopped and it cleared nicely during the morning. We updated the blog and put a few pictures on it in the morning and then left for our tour of the area after lunch. Our first stop was Port Royal, a reconstructed fort first settled in 1605 by French explorers. Our guide was dressed in period clothes and provided an excellent overview of the history of the fort. We stopped at the Tidal Power Generating Station, one of only three in the world. Here the large tides of the Bay of Fundy provide a power generating source of up to 21 megawatts during the time the tides are descending twice a day for about 11 hours total. We continued to downtown Annapolis Royal (named for Queen Anne of England) and had a short walking tour before supper. Our meal was provided in the Royal Canadian Legion building and was an excellent turkey dinner. Following the meal we assembled at the Fort Anne Historical Site for our Garrison Graveyard tour. We were given lanterns to carry and were let by a guide, a tenth generation Acadian descendent named Allen Melanson, dressed as an Undertaker of the period. He let us through the graveyard and stopped at various markers to tell stories about the deceased. The oldest English grave in Nova Scotia is in this graveyard, and it was a 37 year old woman who died in the 1700’s. We also learned that Mr. Melanson’s wife was the guide on the bus and she is from Dallas, Texas. They met 16 years ago when she was leading a tour in this area, and were married nine months later. Also, his brother, Wayne Melanson, is the guide at Port Royal who spoke to us earlier today. They were all very good in relating stories of the history of this area. Today we drove 31 miles and 6,183 for the trip.

Thursday, September 13 – Today was a free day at the rally and after breakfast, we drove into Annapolis Royal and toured Fort Anne. The guide we had last evening for the graveyard tour, Allen Melanson, was there and he described the large tapestry that depicts the history of the Fort and the town. We drove then to the Annapolis Royal Historical Gardens and walked through this very beautiful area along the Annapolis River. After Barbara looked in a few shops, we returned to the campground and did a load of laundry before supper. The meal was catered by the campground and consisted of baked ham, beans, potato salad, and ginger bread for dessert. Following dinner, the Town Crier of Annapolis Royal read a proclamation and inducted people that were not already members as we are into the Order of the Good Time in Nova Scotia. We then watched a very brilliant sun set into the Bay of Fundy. Today we drove 13 miles and 6,197 for the trip.

Friday, September 14 – After breakfast, we said goodbye to David and Shirley Whiston, thanking them for an outstanding rally and inviting them to travel south to see us sometime. We also said goodbye to Brad and Teri Fancy, our traveling companions in Newfoundland and Labrador, and we did enjoy our time together. We drove to Digby and stopped first at a Tim Horton’s to spend most of our Canadian money for gifts and other items, including two more soup bowls that they were willing to sell us. We also bought a couple of shirts for Grayson and Gabrielle at one of the shops before heading out to the ferry dock. There were six Roadtreks from the rally lined up to board. We boarded the ferry about on time and had a smooth crossing to Saint John, New Brunswick. It took about an hour to drive south to St. Andrews and arrive at the Kiwanis Oceanfront Campground where we had stayed several times before. We were able to get a site overlooking the bay, and it was quite cool and windy. We had soup and cheese toast for supper. There are three other Roadtreks here from the rally. Today we drove 101 miles and 6,298 for the trip.

Saturday, September 15 – We drove to the Tim Horton’s in St. Andrews and had the Breakfast Sandwich for breakfast. We also spent most of the rest of our Canadian money on coffee, hot chocolate mix and other items. Proceeding to the border crossing at St. Stephen, we waited about 15 minutes and were quickly cleared to return to the USA. The rain started shortly after we entered Maine and continued most of the day. We stopped at a Rest Stop near Bangor for lunch and then drove on to New Hampshire and the Lantern Campground where we stayed several nights last year. Barbara particularly likes this campground because they have a bathtub in the restrooms. We got a deli sandwich at the local market and enjoyed our supper as the rain stopped and the temperature started to drop. Today we drove 300 miles and 6,598 for the trip.

Saturday, September 15 – We drove to the Tim Horton’s in St. Andrews and had the Breakfast Sandwich for breakfast. We also spent most of the rest of our Canadian money on coffee, hot chocolate mix and other items. Proceeding to the border crossing at St. Stephen, we waited about 15 minutes and were quickly cleared to return to the USA. The rain started shortly after we entered Maine and continued most of the day. We stopped at a Rest Stop near Bangor for lunch and then drove on to New Hampshire and the Lantern Campground where we stayed several nights last year. Barbara particularly likes this campground because they have a bathtub in the restrooms. We got a deli sandwich at the local market and enjoyed our supper as the rain stopped and the temperature started to drop. Today we drove 300 miles and 6,598 for the trip.

Sunday, September 16 – We drove a few miles to the Water Wheel Restaurant for breakfast. This is where we had breakfast last year and it was very good. The restaurant was very crowded and we had to wait about 30 minutes, but it was well worth it. The breakfast including eggs, hash browns, bacon, toast and pancakes was outstanding. We also bought a couple of Whoopie Pies for later. We went into Vermont, drove south and stopped at the Simon Pearce store where Barbara bought a couple of items. As we arrived, a couple with a Westie was out in the field near the store. We talked with them and found out they lived within sight of the area and the female Westie was 10 years old. Simon enjoyed getting in the grass and greeting the other dog. We then drove west to Rutland and then on to Dorset and the Dorset RV Park where Bill and Dottie spend the summer. They were still there and we went in and talked with them for awhile. Bill is doing very well – 80 years old – and Dottie had knee replacement surgery last winter and is still recovering. After a light supper, we rode with them to Friendly’s Restaurant in Manchester and had dessert. We enjoyed the visit with them. Today we drove 202 miles and 6,800 for the trip.

Monday, September 17 – We said goodbye to Bill and headed out, passing through Manchester and heading into New York. We passed through Albany and stopped at Oneonta, where we had bought chicken for supper last year and intended to do so again. Alas, it was closed on Monday, so we decided to continue on to the very nice KOA campground in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania and have supper in their restaurant. We stopped for a light lunch at the Pennsylvania Welcome Center, a new and very nice building, and then stopped at a Sam’s Club for Barbara to buy a book. We arrived at the campground around 5 pm, got a very nice site, and had a good supper in their restaurant. Today we drove 365 miles and 7,165 for the trip.

Tuesday, September 18 – We stopped at a Farm Stand near the campground and bought a few apples and some jam. Then we headed south past Harrisburg and into Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia. We stopped for lunch at a Motel parking lot because the Virginia Welcome Station was closed and a new one under construction. We continued on to Walnut Hills Campground near Staunton and got a nice site near the lake. After resting and checking email, we drove to Mrs. Rowe’s Restaurant for supper. As we were driving into Staunton on US 11 instead of the Interstate, we saw a small young deer just a few feet off the road. Guess he or she made it back into the woods ok as when we returned there was no sign of it. Mrs. Rowe’s had only one sticky bun left from the bake shop and we got that for breakfast. We had a good meal and then returned to the campground for the evening. Today we drove 284 miles and 7,449 for the trip.

Wednesday, September 19 – We drove south today through Virginia and into Tennessee, stopping at the very nice Tennessee Welcome Center. It was a sunny and warm day and we ran the a/c in the afternoon. We passed through Knoxville and stopped at the KOA in Sweetwater, Tennessee. A Cracker Barrel is only two miles up the road and we went there for supper. Today we drove 390 miles and 7,839 for the trip.

Thursday, September 20 – After stopping at the Cracker Barrel for a pancake breakfast, we drove south through Chattanooga and on into Alabama, arriving home about noon. Our trip was long but very enjoyable into a part of the world we had never been to. Certainly Newfoundland and Labrador are unusual destinations and there are still a lot of places there to see that we may be able to do later. The Roadtrek performed well and despite quite a bit of rain, we had a wonderful time. On our last day, we drove 171 miles and 8,010 for the trip.