Last time we posted, we were back at the park in Dingwall, NS.  We had used the driving trip the day before to see which way would be best for the RV and Jeep as we drove the next day.  We had driven up the peninsula on the east side and now had tested the roads on the west side.  And even though the drive would be a bit longer, we picked the west side to get to North Sydney and the ferry to Newfoundland. The road going through the Cape Breton Park was smooth and almost perfect and would be much easier on the RV and the driver!

Our destination was an RV park in Little Bras d’Or on Bras d’Or Lake near North Sydney and just 5 miles from the ferry dock.  We got up early and arrived early.  No problems.  The park was right off Highway 105 and on same road as the ferry dock.  We got hooked up and decided to go have the Jeep checked for a nagging problem.

Periodically when we hit a bump (or nothing at all) all the dash warning lights start flashing and the radio goes out.  The engine keeps running so it doesn’t seem to be an emergency.  But it is troublesome.  It resets after stopping the engine but then can happen again.  We had a new radio and a new electric braking system installed, and I assumed it might be a short or loose wire in one of those harnesses.  We found a tire store/garage near the RV park and asked if they could check it.  Within a few minutes, they said everything was good except the battery terminal needed tightening!  I had seen it wiggle when I checked but I couldn’t get it to tighten and did not want to break anything trying.  Their fix worked and it has worked perfectly ever since!

Back at the park, we met several couples that were also leaving the next morning on the same ferry to Newfoundland.  Two of the couples were traveling together and asked where we were staying after arrival.  We told them and got to talking some more about their trip and plans.  One couple was from Ottawa and the other from Topeka and they met while wintering in McAllen, TX!  They were on their way to Newfoundland for 5 days, then back to Cape Breton and Cabot Trails, and then heading home. Both are very nice couples and about our age (although now I was the oldest in a group!)

We got them a reservation at Shark Cove RV with us and the next morning we were up and ready for the ferry.  As I mentioned, the drive over was only about 5 miles, and we were to be checked in 2 hours before departure at 11:45 am.  Easy drive over, easy check in, and then the wait.  We all got out and met with other “waiters”.  One turned out to be the husband of a Jeanneau Yacht broker from Montreal who was delivering a trailerable power boat to Newfoundland.   I had met him at the Annapolis boat show several times over the years but only in passing with his wife.  Such a small world.

Our new friends were just behind us in line, and we finally began loading.  They had reserved a cabin because one couple was traveling with a Chihuahua and didn’t want it in the kennel.  So, we agreed to meet later in the main seating area.  We got settled, took some photos, and we were off a just bit late.  The crossing is about 110 miles from North Syndey, NS to Channel-Port aux Basques, NL and would take about 7 hours.  (BTW- if you don’t know, Newfoundland and Labrador are one of the few places in the world where the clocks are 30 minutes off the normal time zones.  Yes, there are others.  Google it!)  We sat and talked among ourselves.  I worked on the last blog.  And we relaxed.  The weather for the crossing was perfect with light winds and small swells on the ocean. 

When the restaurant forward closed, we all moved up to the front sitting area and we whipped out a quick game of 4 handed Cribbage!  Girls against the Guys.  In the end, we each won a game in 2 of the best, closest, and weirded finishes of games we had ever seen.  And over the next few days we never did get to play the tiebreaker.  Oh well!  Next time.

We docked and easily got off the ship and headed to the RV park.  It was again only about 4 miles from the port, and we all arrived about the same time and got checked in.  We were staying 2 nights as our plan was to rest up from the crossing, explore around the area the next day, and then head out again the following morning.  There were other RVs in the park that had just arrived and others waiting to leave in the morning on the return ferry to Nova Scotia.  And in the morning, we were the only ones left!  Our new friends had such a short schedule, they were off early.   So, it was a bit weird to be alone but nice!

We decided to drive out along the southern cost on the Granite Coast Drive from the port area to Rose Blanche at the end of the road.  About 60 miles round trip.  Immediately, we could see why they called it the Granite Coast.  The landscape and topography were almost like another planet with barren hills and huge boulders.  But dispersed around, there were also beautiful mountain lakes and streams.  And waterfalls.  As we continued along the coast, things changed to be more forested.  We stopped at several very small fishing villages along the road with a stop at Diamond Cove as our destination.

We stopped at the Rose Blanche Lighthouse for a walk.  The entrance area, the concessions, and the facilities were closed for the season but the trail out to the coast and the lighthouse were open.  This lighthouse is famous as it is made of granite and is the only one like that in the Canadian Maritimes.  There is definitely a lot of granite around!  The coastline was very rugged, but the walk was relatively easy and interesting.

We next needed a restroom, and the best option seemed to be “city hall”.  It was small and quaint building with a nice lady working alone in the office.  And nice restrooms as well!

We turned around and headed back the Port aux Basques.  We made 3 stops along the way.  First was finally at Diamond Cove.  We were not sure where the name came from except there were veins of quartz in the cliffs.  We asked a local about the diamonds and he said that he didn’t have any!

Second stop was a walk to Barachois Waterfalls.  The walk was mostly down, and on a board walk, so it was easy.  The area was another highland marsh similar to the Bog in Cape Breton with the same flora.  We found out that the pitcher plant we first saw at the bog is the Provincial flower of Newfoundland.  The falls were impressive but very high so you couldn’t really get close enough to really appreciate them. The walk back wasn’t too strenuous with the smooth boardwalk.  Nice!

And finally, we drove around the small village of Burnt Islands.  Quaint and quiet but we were hungry.  The only thing available was a small grocery store where we got a sandwich and Cracker Jacks!  And Gail found that the new coffee creamer she had come to like was one of the two available.  She is hoping it will be as available in Miami when we get home.

Back at the RV park, we had gained a few new campers that were using it for the ferry as well. But it was cold and windy, and we stayed in ready to leave and explore more of Newfoundland the next day. 

One kind of sad and eerie note.  The hillside and small valley behind the RV park had the remnants of a small cemetery.  It was 95% unkept and most markers were broken or in disrepair.  Again, very sad.

And our next RV park was kinda’ sad too!   We headed out for a short leg to a park in Black Duck Siding (didn’t see any at all).  It promised full hookups, Wi-Fi, restaurant, ATV rentals, golf, lodging and more!  We pulled in and at first didn’t notice the For Sale sign.  At the entrance, we didn’t see any sign for the Office or instructions about where to go.  It was very weird.  Finally, I walked to a large house thinking it was the Lodge.  A man answered the door, and I explained we were looking to check in and no one was around.  He commented the lady in the office was probably trimming a dog (weird) and couldn’t hear us.  He said just to go pick a spot! 

We pulled in and the place was quiet.  No one was there.  Empty RVs all buttoned up for winter.  We did pick a spot and looked around.  We decided to just stay one night instead of two. 

And since we were not staying, we decided to drive out to Cape St. George that afternoon instead of the next day.  The drive is out along the coast to the tip of the cape and then back in a triangle.  We passed a huge quarry in operation on both sides of the road and down to the water.  Not sure what they were processing but it was the largest quarry operation we have ever seen.  We would learn more about the mining history of Newfoundland later. 

The cape juts out into the ocean and was very rugged again but still pretty looking west back across the St. Lawrence Seaway.  The cliffs were amazing but different than the sound coast.  We were glad we made the drive.

Finally, back at the park, it was almost dark.  There was still no one around!  We had been in touch with our new friends from the ferry and decided to make the drive up to Cow Head, where they were camping, and explore the Gros Morne National Park with them over the next few days.