Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (Brandon Manitoba to Souris, Regina, and Moose Jaw Saskatchewan)

August 19th: Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America, Brandon, Manitoba, and Souris, to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

It was an uneventful day of driving and exploring a couple of the smaller towns. Mostly our thoughts were on our friends and family currently under evacuation orders in the wildfires of BC. A long period of drought, then dry lightning, and high winds created the perfect conditions for a firestorm.

Cheers, Lynda and The Sparkinator

Souris Manitoba

Souris Manitoba

Kyla, co-pilot on the swinging bridge

Swinging Bridge Souris Manitoba

Souris Manitoba

Queen Elizabeth Park, Regina

Queen Elizabeth Park, Regina

Legislative building Regina

Architect Walter Scott

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 (Ingonish & Fortress Louisbourg Nova Scotia)

June 30th: It was a 'moving on down the road' day. We had an early start when the sounds of seabirds, waves, and fishing boats leaving the harbour in Ingonish, Nova Scotia, woke us at 5:00 a.m.

First, I took Sparky to a nearby beach for his morning sniff and snoop, then we stopped at the Keltic Lodge, on Middlehead. It's an intriguing place visible from my cottage on the other side of the bay. The grand old property is owned and operated by Parks Canada in conjunction with GolfNorth.

Part of Keltic Lodge, Ingonish NS

Part of Keltic Lodge NS

Great place for breakfast! Terrific staff, too.

My next stop was the Main Street Cafe and Bakery. I only intended to purchase a take-out latte until I discovered their patio is doggie-friendly. While I was waiting for my breakfast, four tourists from Ontario sat next to us and started a conversation. My take-out latte turned into two lattes, breakfast, a lot of laughter, and an exchange of contact information. 

Ferry between Jersey Cove & Englishtown, NS

My plan for the day was to drive to Sydney, about a two-hour drive, and hope for an early check-in at the hotel. En route, I happened upon a 3-minute car ferry that runs between Jersey Cove and Englishtown in Cape Breton. 

A gas stop in Boularderie East alerted me to the potential gas shortage in Nova Scotia over the Canada Day long weekend. The government was set to implement a 12-cent per litre (about 50 cents a gallon) price hike, and the stations were running low on fuel. Fortunately, I don't have a lot of driving to do before we board the car ferry to Newfoundland on Sunday, July 2nd. 

It was still much too early to check into the hotel, so I continued driving toward Fortress Louisbourg on the south (I think) coast of Cape Breton. Lawrie and I visited it in September 1986. I was so impressed that I wanted to see it again. 

Except, I couldn't get in. I have my four-legged travel partner, and he is not allowed on the grounds. They said if I left him in the car, someone would frequently check on him. Nope! The weather was cool and foggy, but anytime the fog lifted, the temperature jumped from 18 °C to 28 °C in minutes. I realize it is a common rule for federal parks, etc., however, so many people travel with their pets these days, I think it might be time to rethink that policy. 

Fortress Louisbourg, photo from NS webpage

WIKIPEDIA: The Fortress of Louisbourg (French: Forteresse de Louisbourg) is a tourist attraction as a National Historic Site and the location of a one-quarter partial reconstruction of an 18th-century French fortress at Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Its two sieges, especially that of 1758, were turning points in the Anglo-French struggle for what today is Canada.

The original settlement was founded in 1713 by settlers from Terre-Neuve and was initially called Havre à l'Anglois. Subsequently, the fishing port grew to become a major commercial port and a strongly defended fortress. The fortifications eventually surrounded the town. The walls were constructed mainly between 1720 and 1740. By the mid-1740s, Louisbourg, named for Louis XIV of France, was one of the most extensive (and expensive) European fortifications constructed in North America.

By 2:00 p.m., we were settled in our hotel in Sydney. 

Cheers, Lynda and The Sparkinator

Poppies at the Keltic Lodge Ingonish

Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (Ingonish Nova Scotia)

June 29th: Did I mention the sun is shining? Yep! It's a beautifully sunny and warm day, and I am really enjoying the view from my private deck in Ingonish. 

The Sparkinator and I are taking it easy today. I had a list of things to accomplish: wash the car, do laundry, and wash Sparky. But amenities are few and far between in this part of the island, so everything can wait. Instead, I've spent most of the day reading and staring at the ocean.

We did a grocery run to the nearest store, 30 kilometers away in Neil's Harbour. Then on the way back to our cottage, I bought a bottle of wine at the Nova Scotia Liquor Store and a latte at The Main Street Cafe and Bakery. 

Now, back to reading my novel.

Cheers, Lynda and The Sparkinator

North Bay, Ingonish Nova Scotia

Main Street Cafe and Bakery, Ingonish NS

Love the colour combo - Neils' Harbour NS

Driving secondary road - view of Cape North 

Dozens of dead jellyfish on the beach

Last night's sunset

Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (Saint Johns NB to Maitland Nova Scotia)

June 17th: Sparky and I stayed overnight in an okay Holiday Inn Express in Saint Johns. Not bad. Not great. Just a place to sleep, then we hit the road early in the morning, traveling towards Nova Scotia. It's been nearly 37 years since Lawrie and I were in Nova Scotia. I'm happy to be back here again. 

My dad's Irish ancestors immigrated to Canada in the 1720s and landed in Nova Scotia. They were farmers, and eventually my great-grandfather, Joseph Lyons, became a shipbuilder and a shipowner in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, on the Bay of Fundy. My dad's French ancestors immigrated first to Illinois in the 1820s and then moved to Canada in the 1860s.

In 1986, I found the Lyons family home in Parrsboro, and Lawrie took a photo of me standing on the front steps. However, that photo was a casualty of moving to Mexico in 2008.  I tried to find the house again this time, but wasn't sure if  I was really looking at Captain Lyons' house. So, in the end, no photo.

At the Harbourview Restaurant in Parrsboro, I had the BEST OMG scallops and fresh fish. The Harbourview is a funky little place that looks as if it has been there since the 1930s with the same clientele. The ceiling is low. Additions have been made over the years. The prices are affordable. The food is fabulous! Basic and so good.

We arrive at Cresthaven by the Sea, in Maitland, around 3:00 in the afternoon. It's situated on the Bay of Fundy, home of the world's largest tides. Our home for the evening was pleasant and comfortable, with the additional entertainment of a thunder and lightning storm starting at midnight and ending around 2:00 in the morning. Sparky slept through the entire performance.

Cheers

Lynda and The Sparkinator

My dad with a ship model built by his granddad Parrsboro, NS

My dad again visited Parrsboro later in 1920s

Parrsboro, Nova Scotia

Parrsboro, Nova Scotia

Parrsboro, Nova Scotia

Best OMG scallops, ever!

Mazda and the big chairs at Parrsboro, NS

Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (Grand Manan to Saint Johns NB)

 June 16th: I have a few days to catch up with blog posts. At times, I just want to do a massive photo dump on Facebook and stop there, but my OCD heart needs to document the experience in better detail. Besides, I know when I look at the photo dumps of my FB friends, I frequently wonder, "Where was this photo taken? And why?" 

The Sparkinator and I caught the 9:30 a.m. boat from Grand Manan to the mainland of New Brunswick. I had a reservation for a much later crossing, but once I am up and organised, I want to be on the move. I stopped at the ticket booth in North Head, Grand Manan, and asked if I could change my reservation. 

"Sure. No problem!" And then we were on the boat. 

Unfortunately, it was another foggy morning, and the ship's captain was required to sound the fog horn at frequent intervals. So, now my pooch is well and truly terrified of travelling on car ferries. He shook and shivered the entire 90-minute crossing. I'll have to drug him for the 7-hour crossing on July 2nd to Newfoundland.

We landed in Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick. It's a cute area that I couldn't see on the way to Grand Manan because of the heavy fog. Our next stop was beautiful Dipper Cove, a short detour on Highway 790, off Highway 1. I could live there! It's tiny, sheltered, and right on the ocean!  (And, I might say that a few more times about other Maritime communities in the coming months.)

By 2:00 in the afternoon, we were at our okay-average Holiday Inn Express on the west side of Saint Johns. I didn't feel like exploring anymore and napped instead. My travel partner was okay with that!

Cheers, Lynda & The Sparkinator

Cheeky seagull Grand Manan NB

Seal Harbour Grand Manan

Leaving Blacks Harbour, NB

Leaving Blacks Harbour, NB

Dipper Cove, New Brunswick

Dipper Cove, New Brunswick

Dipper Cove, my Mazda gets around

Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (exploring Grand Manan Island NB)

 June 15th: We started this adventure on May 1st, so today is our 46th day. It's been interesting, entertaining, educational, and occasionally hectic with many more adventures to come.

It's raining lightly on Grand Manan, but the fog has lifted, and I can finally see the ocean. I am sitting at the kitchen table of my vacation cottage in Seal Cove, near the southern end of the island. Sparky is napping - again. I am wearing out my travel buddy.

This morning, we drove to North Head to see the lighthouse at Swallow Tail and Net Rocks. The ferry happened to be passing at the same time. Even though we were on the ferry yesterday, the fog was so thick that I couldn't see the shoreline or even the boat that we were on. The boat's captain continually activated the ship's fog horn during the entire voyage, and for the first time ever, Sparky was shaking with nerves the entire trip. He's never been afraid of boats, cars, trucks, or airplanes. The constant noise was too much for him.

Earlier this morning, I noticed a cute cafe a short distance away that opens at 10:00 a.m., so that's where I am headed now.

Tomorrow morning, we are headed to Saint John, New Brunswick.

Cheers, and Happy Thursday!

Lynda and The Sparkinator

Seagull in the fog

Seal Cove, Grand Manan, higher up from my cottage

The lighthouse at Swallow Tail Point

View from near the lighthouse

The lighthouse pathway 

Lighthouse Keeper's car license

The ferry to Grand Manan

Typical street in North Head Grand Manan

Net Rocks Grand Manan

I's wet. Does you have a towel for me?