After a big rain and wind storm last night I set off in search of my morning coffee. I found a motel/restaurant just east of Bishop's Falls and did an impromtu talk with a bunch of kids loaded on a school bus for a trip to a water park. Boy, those water parks are tough to compete with. The kind motel owner gave me a free breakfast in support. Nice guy with a blissful smile and the peace of a contented man. Very rare.
Battled with the strong starboard winds for the 70-odd kms of wilderness to Gander. Then on toward Gambo - another 46 km east. Stopped just short of Gambo - and a big hill climb - at Square Pond.
The fabulous owners of the Square Pond RV Park let me camp for free and talk to a large group of kids at this very family campground during a special ice cream evening.
The owners even invited me to a special Newfoundland dinner in their wood cabin for owner, Kevin Byrne's 40th birthday party. I sat at the head of the table and dug into the super chocolate birthday cake. Wow. That's hospitality!
Later as I set camp, and walk around the park, I collected my own posse of kids on bikes who wanted to hang out and talk about cycling and camping. A good time and I remembered what it was like to be a kid, start instant friendships with no more importance than passing a summer's day having fun. Nobody asked me what I did for a living.
Tomorrow, Clarenceville, if I'm lucky. There the blackout should lift.
End Ship's Log entry.
-- Major Dude.
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
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2 comments:
Sure wish I could see your arrival in St. John's on Wed. Was NFLD the most difficult province to travel across?
LWood
LW,
Newfoundland has been tough in the same way PEI was tough to cross. They're both very hilly (or mountainous) contrary to my expectations.
There have been many times, on The Rock, that + wished I was back in BC. The hills are steeper and more frequent in Nfld.
I remember reaching the top of a mountain on the west coast of the island, thinking, "It MUST be all downhill from here". When I reached the crest all I could see to the horizon was. Endless hills and mountains. I actually got out of the velo and sat down by the side of the road. Had to mentally pull myself together for the first time.
In BC, highways often follow river valleys. In Newfoundland, the highways go overtop of everything and precious little dynomite was used to lower the climbs.
That said, the paved shoulder in Nfld is consistently good (about 5' wide). In BC, it's more dangerous because there is often no shoulder on narrow mountain passages with sharp turns to surprise speeding truckers.
-- Major Dude
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