Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (sad to leave Newfoundland, The Rock)

Our last night on The Rock

July 29th: I know, I've skipped a few days! 

I haven't done a whole lot besides sleep and drive since July 27th. For some reason, my energy level has bottomed out, and I am taking it easy until I feel perkier. Sparky, on the other hand, is bored silly with my lack of enthusiasm for his exploratory walks.

I have now driven over 18,000 kilometers since leaving Penticton on May 1st. The odometer clicked over just as we were coming into Pasenda, Newfoundland, where we stopped in for a cup of tea and a sandwich with Bernadine and Stewart Cochrane. They are new friends with an Isla Mujeres, Mexico connection.

Fishing at Bishop's Falls, NL

Today, we caught the noon ferry from Port Aux Basques and sailed away to more adventures back on the mainland of Canada. 

I really enjoyed the 4 weeks that The Sparkinator and I roamed around Newfoundland. It was everything I thought it would be, and more. Some of my best memories were meeting the locals, chatty, friendly, helpful, and always smiling. I occasionally struggled to understand what they were saying, and I'm sure some of the folks couldn't understand me either. Everyone, young and old, of any gender, has called me honey, my love, sweetie, darling, and my darling. It's startling at first, and then it becomes charmingly normal.

One gentleman in Corner Brook chatted with me for a good five minutes, nicely telling me why I shouldn't drive the wrong way on a one-way street. He sent me on my way with a smile and 'you have a good day now.' spoken rapidly in his Newfie dialect. To be fair, it was only the entrance to the Greenway Hotel, and I thought I could get away with a quick zip into the parking lot, instead of driving around the block. He politely disagreed with my decision!

Codroy Provincial Park, NL

This is a vast province, much larger than I ever imagined, and I didn't even attempt to explore the larger mainland section of Labrador. (The full name of the province is Newfoundland and Labrador.) Sparky and I roamed several of the indented peninsula's exploring tiny hamlets, villages, and towns. We covered over 5000 kilometers in Newfoundland, and we have only explored half of the area. 

It has stunning scenery everywhere you go, but as you have probably gathered from my photos, I am in love with the ocean, boats, and colourful buildings. The mountain ranges, massive forests, tumbling brooks, and numerous lakes are beautiful too, but they just don't catch my eye the way the coastline does.

A man walking his cat, Port Harmon

So, I'll leave this with a few of my favourite photos of Newfoundland. (I have several hundred photos, but they won't all fit in this blog!)

I hope many of you have plans to explore this beautiful, and still wild, part of the world.

Cheers, Lynda and The Sparkinator

Icebergs at Twillingate, NL

Jelly Bean Row St. John's (covers many streets)

Puffins at Cape Bonavista, NL

Colourful boats, Winterton, NL

Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (Port aux Basques to Woody Point)

July 3rd: The coastline of Newfoundland is 17,542 kilometers or 10,900 miles long! 

Woody Point, Newfoundland

I have spent the last two months driving across North America and have logged 13,050 km or 8,109 miles, but in comparison, I haven't come close to circumnavigating the coastline of Canada's 10th province. 

Did they teach us this stuff in school? I have no recollection of learning much about Newfoundland, other than it was governed by Britain and didn't join the Dominion of Canada until 1949.

And growing up we heard a variety of 'Newfie' jokes because they 'talked funny.'

https://www.vice.com/en/article/avjxj5/10-newfie-jokes

Mountain range just past Port aux Basques

A Newfie walks into a lumber yard and says, "I's building an 'ouse bye' and needs me some a dat der too be far." The clerk says, "You mean a 2 by 4?"  The Newfie answers, "Yes, bye', dat's da stuff." The clerk asks, "Well, how long do you need it?" The Newfie responds, "Well bye', I's buildin an 'ouse wit it so I's gonna need it for a while." 

So far, I've met hard-working, friendly, kind, funny, cheerful people who are happy to stop and chat and give directions or suggestions. I've been called, sweetheart, honey, darling, and sweetie a dozen times by men and women, and I have only been here 24 hours. People wave as I drive past, or when I'm walking Sparky. 

Same location as the previous photo

Today Sparky and I traveled from Port aux Basques to Woody Point, on Bonne Bay, inside the Gros Morne National Park. On the way we stopped for a visit with folks whom I've chatted with several times via Facebook, about our shared passion, Isla Mujeres Mexico. 

Bernardine and Stewart Cochrane have lived and worked in Newfoundland all their married life. They love their town, Pasadena, and their province. We shared a yummy lunch made by Bernardine and had a fun visit, talking about life on Isla Mujeres and life on Newfoundland. 

I'm loving this place!

Cheers, Lynda and The Sparkinator

On the #431 road towards Woody Point

Woody Point Public Library 

Colorful garbage containers

Fishboat on Bonne Bay waiting to offload catch

Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (on to Newfoundland, finally!)

July 1st: We hung out at the hotel in Sydney, and later in the day moved to our next hotel in North Sydney, close to the terminal for the Newfoundland ferry service. That's all that I accomplished on July 1st, Canada Day.

The Big Fiddle, Cape Breton musicians

Remembering the merchant seamen lost during WW2

Sydney Nova Scotia harbour

July 2nd: Finally, our day to cross over to Newfoundland has arrived. Don't get me wrong, our entire trip has been a fun adventure, but I am excited to finally explore the one Canadian province that I have never seen. I made a reservation for a pet-friendly cabin a year ago in anticipation of this trip - and I am very glad that I did. I felt sorry for the pooches who either rode on the top deck, locked in kennels, near the fog horn, or on the car decks, locked in cars with numerous other car alarms sounding when the movements of the ship jostled the vehicles. The weather was foggy and reasonably cool during the crossing, but on hotter days, the pooches in the cars would be hot and stressed. (On BC Ferries, the onboard announcements remind drivers to only lock their vehicles and not set the car alarms to help reduce the stress of the dozens of pets riding in family vehicles.)

One of the ferries on the route between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland

In our pet-friendly cabin, Sparky and I pleasantly passed the seven-hour journey relaxing in the comfortable berths and enjoying a tasty late lunch (the onboard restaurant does takeout). Followed by wine for me, and water for The Sparkinator. The cabin was fitted with a television, a full bathroom including a tiny shower, and a small table with a stool. After eating, we both fell asleep for three hours.  

As we were preparing to dock, I was able to snap a couple of quick photos of Port aux Basques through the window in our cabin, and then the fog closed in again. The weather is supposed to clear in 4 or 5 days from now. In the meantime, my photos are grey and sometimes blurry. 

Cheers, Lynda, and The Sparkinator 

Our pet-friendly cabin

Explaining to Sparky how lucky he is.

Port aux Basques, Newfoundland

Port aux Basques, Newfoundland

Port aux Basques, Newfoundland