Newfoundland #8 (NL #8): Bailieboro to Bergs

Roadside View

This is a new feature, named for our new Roadtrek Motorhome. It will feature a view FROM or OF our MoHo. This time, it’s a view of our first iceberg as we travelled north near Green Island Cove on the Viking Trail:

Day 1: June 15, 2017

It has been a tough year of health-related issues which are now mostly resolved. We had a shortened Fall trip and no Winter trip, so we were delighted to leave for five weeks in our special place, Newfoundland and Labrador. And, we are in our new Roadtrek. We’ve had two short trips (to Presquile, Long Point and Algonquin Provincial Parks in Ontario), but this is the first “biggy”

Day 1 featured a smooth, mostly traffic-free ride all the way to de la Republique Provincial Park near Edmunston, New Brunswick (Site #105, No Services, $25.20 Senior). David said the MoHo was easy to drive and easy on fuel.

Day 2: June 16, 2017

it was a sunny, fast, smooth drive through New Brunswick and Nova Scotia: no traffic and no Moose (though four Deer). We saw our first East Coast Lupins near Perth-Andover and, again, laughed at the “No Trespassing” and “Please Close Gate After Use” signs along the Moose Barrier fences. We got to St. Peter’s Canal, a favourite free campsite, and settled in for the night, watching the locals fish for Mackeral. At one point, I looked out, and there was David being coached!

He caught three on his first cast. and no one caught any more, especially after I showed up with my camera. This wounded Gannet hoped for more!

Here’s the view of our campsite:

Day 3: June 17, 2017

We were up early and had an easy drive to North Sydney, directly into the Ferry Terminal. There were more of the usual chats with those lined up near us, especially the motorcyclists. We boarded and left on time in a ship about 1/2 full. We met Cathy and Dave from Manitoba, on their first trip to Newfoundland, and enjoyed their company and the chance to recommend some favourite places for them to visit.

We landed about 6:30 in the rain, found our favourite Port-aux-Basques boondock and breathed a sigh of relief to be safely in this beautiful place.

Day 4: June 18, 2017

What promised to be a miserable day turned in to being a mix of sun, clouds and drizzle. There was even snow in the mountains.

We took advantage of our free 150 Anniversary National Park Pass and visited the Lobster Cove Lighthouse:

and the Broom Point Fishing Exhibit:

These place which preserve the lives of former Newfoundlanders really touch me. And, at the Broom exhibit, we also saw a colony of Common Eiders and other water birds:

A quick trip further north found us at The Arches where we chatted with a Saskatchewan couple who has a business selling Snowy Owl Photo Tours to the rich of Europe and, especially, China. Hmmm… I was accompanied on my post-dinner walk by two Pine Grosbeaks:

…and we enjoyed this quiet view from my chair:

Day 5: June 19, 2017

it was a dreary morning, so we decided to forgo some visits and head towards St. Anthony.

We passed 14 Motorhomes in a “Yankee On Tour” Caravan (nothing could appeal less!) and decided to stop at Port aux Choix for another “free” National Park visit. But it was so foggy and the road was so bad that we decided to turn around and head further north. We did stop in Port Saunders for some fishing wharf shots:

Our lunch spot near Castor’s River South featured beach, fog and snow: another typical Newfoundland sight! and we met another Saskatchewan couple. the Wild West is invading the Wild East!

The ditch gardens were mostly dug along the way, and the woodpiles are mostly complete for next winter. I’ll get some photos on our way back.

Typically, we got to St. Anthony in the fog, having seen one Moose (our current count is two Moose and one Mink). We saw one iceberg before the fog came in:

…and decided to head to Pistolet Bay Provincial Park (#21, No Services, $58.70 for two nights, including a Park Pass, Senior).

The view from my chair promises Moose or Caribou sightings (ha!):