US/Canada Travels for 5 June 2010

Barachois Pond Provincial Park was another cold night. It's bad when you are counting on the sun to defrost the windscreen. Had my cuppa and headed for Burgeo on route 480. Its 150 kilometers in and out, same road, no short cuts. Get there and the Provincial Park is closed. All of the travel brochures and visitor Centers have it open. The locals of Burgeo knew it's closed but for someone like myself, it's an unknown. Well it was a motel 6 for the night, hot shower (lengthy), email, watching the teley (125 channels) and writing a nasty email to the Provincial Manager of Parks.

Pancakes, coffee, juice, and being served with a smile. Knowing that I was returning to the previous Provincial Park, it was Geocaching back along Rt 480 and the following were found: GC1H19F, GC1TY41, GC1RYBD and GC1EKAH. Of course this doesn't count the one's I could not find in Burgeo. Tomorrow we head North-East then south again to another un-known, weather being unpredictable but anything is better then the mainland where Quebec and Ontario (41 degrees C) are suffering through a heat way.

Next morning it's out the door, wet and cold, going northeast to another Geocache. Rain and high winds follow me all day long and the forecast for the next few days does not look favorable. Down to a small town of Buchan, supported primarily by mining, where I found 1 out of 3 caches. The campsite for the night was open but trying to find the proprietor was another story. Finally just gave up and continued east to just outside Grand Falls –Windsor where a campsite was found. The kids are in school until the 24th of June and business that cater to families really don't open until then. Most of them would just as soon forget an old Greynomad who is good for $15-20.00 per night.

As I recover from drinking 2 cans of polish beer which is 10% per volume, you best find some place to sleep or as I would find out, me talking to the trees on a MT stomach.

Notes of little concern: some of the best classical music can be found in Maine on WBOCH radio station……..And for those that prefer the Rock on Rock, Newfoundland has a classical rock station that will put a smile on your face. Then we have Canada CBC radio, in Australia its ABC, England BBC, New Zealand unfortunately is Sheep Dip Radio and in America we have been blessed with Sara Palin and Fox News which keeps all happy with their un biased news.

Bad weather continues to dog me on my travels but with the Goatmobile smelling a bit better after getting my clothes washed at the motel 6. It is route 360 south to the Bay of Islands for 2-3 days running around looking for the elusive Geocaches. Today it was 4 out of 4: not bad considering that I must of just about ripped off the bloody fuel tank getting to one out there where even the bloody moose won't go.

Camping here on route 360 can be had at the jipujijkuei Kuesperm Nature Park, run by the Council of the Conne River Micmacs, site for $10.00 per night. The only thing missing here is showers but its secure, clean and a great access to the water. It has enough things to do to keep anyone busy. I consider showers the bare necessity but after 10 days even I have to bend to when the Goatmobile smells like rotten fish…………

We continue with our travels down the Burin Peninsula and its chasing Geocaches as we travel. Again I am blessed with rain, off shore winds of 40 knots, frost, and just freezing to the max. I look like a bloody twit crawling on the ground sticking my hand in holes looking for the elusive cache container. One of the caches was located at a manned lighthouse, after finding it, the lighthouse Stewart invited me in for a hot cuppa.

At the end of May we have covered just over 5000 (8000 kilometers) miles. Which we are still have the same bar of soap, washed clothes once, lost tooth bush but found pine nettles a better solution and overall have minimized my carbon footprint.

The Avalon Peninsula is on the horizon with St John's, the capital of Newfoundland, definitely a stop as the only Costco on island is there. The Avalon Peninsula has been one of the most enjoyable trips made yet. Besides the Geocaching , the scenery, weather all worked for this part of my travel.

Butter Pot (that's right) Provincial Park will be the home base during my travels to Bell Island and St John's.

Bell Island, foggy and wet it was for the first and last time , matter of fact it was wet all day any where in Newfoundland. Just where is summer.? And wasn't I the smart one with 6 pair of shorts and one pair of trousers for me journey. Went  to Wal-Mart and picked up a pair of 30 inch waist trousers. Thinking that I am still  thin as always, couldn't even get the first leg on. Needless to say it was back to Wal-Mart and I got size ………… 

I have finally made the turn north after exploring the south coast of Newfoundland. Matter of fact I start heading west tomorrow with Labrador on the horizon.
Stay safe all and aloha

Norm

The Greynomad