The Marine Atlantic Ferry to Newfoundland  from North Sydney in Nova Scotia is a 8 hour journey and for the 18.6Ft EV the cost was C$187.00.

Arrived at Port aux Basques around 6pm, turned East towards the 1873 Rose Blanche lighthouse in an effort to catch that in the fading evening light.

Interesting historical note: It was designed by the father of Robert Lewis Stevenson of ‘Treasure Island’ fame.

The 45km road crossed a stark glacial carved landscape. Stunted trees and exposed granite rocks.

Dotted along the coast, small fishing villages making a commercial living from fishing off the Grand Banks

On the setting sun we found an camp site up an old road. Bill’s alternator belt had also just broken so just enough light to fix that before a late dinner.

Camp 196:   Glacial Lake Camp

Cost: Nil

N47* 36.846 W058* 55.060

Today : 110 Kms.   + sea crossing

Trip Total :75,872 Kms

Wednesday 23rd May:

NEW PLANS: Passing back through Port aux Basques we call into the tourist information centre and they talk of a new dirt road through the remote areas of Labrador back down to Quebec.

So that becomes our new 1725km plan: St Barbre ferry to Blanc-Sablon- Red Bay, Battle Harbour, Goose Bay, Churchill Falls, and on to Baie-Comeau on the St Laurence River then follow it south. Sounds GREAT, all new ground and it will save considerable backtracking.

Having a hot chocolate in Tim Hortons ( local coffee shop chain) we are approached by Katherine who invites us to drop into the historical Battle Harbour - this is just getting better by the minute!

Until 1975 an old train line used to run north of Port aux Basques across the island to St Johns.

The winds north of Port aux Basques often reach speeds as high as 200kph and for a fee of $20/month old Lockie MacDougall would warn trains if the winds were too strong. Over the years many trains were delayed, once when a conductor didn’t heed Lockie’s warnings 22 carriages were blown off the tracks.

Note the snow plough on the front of the loco.

All day it rained and often we were in deep fog with visibility down to 100 metres.

At our lunch stop Lyn noticed this large beaver dam. At least 2 metres high.

Camp 197:   Deer Lake Municipal Park Camp

Cost: C$12.5 (1/2 shared with Bill & Gay)

N49* 10.826 W057* 27.167

Today : 320 Kms.  

Trip Total :76,192 Kms

Thursday 24th May:

Headed north to the Gros Morne National Park. A world heritage area listed along side the Great Barrier Reef and the Galapagos Islands.

Then:

Life is about change:

Just had a call from home and my Mum is seriously ill, so we are returning NOW.

A quick 1775km drive south to Boston, store the vehicle and Fly.

There is only one Mum but many adventurers !

Drove south to catch the midnight ferry to Nova Scotia - 451Kms

Friday 25th May:

Off the ferry at 8am and continued for another 839Kms.

Internet on the ferry crossing allowed us time to organise flights and start looking for vehicle storage in Boston. Being Memorial weekend it is proving challenging on all counts.

Later that day we find out we have to be in Boston by Saturday afternoon so we can arrange storage before everything is closed for the long weekend.  The answer...keep driving!

Saturday 26th May:

Away early and 544Kms later arrived in time to arrange everything. - The Guys at Extra Space Storage were very helpful and now all is organised.

The plan is we will return in late August, drive south to Dallas, meet up with Bill & Gaylene, John and Elizabeth and head south for 3 months through Central America.

With hopefully my Mum OK, in the meantime I can fact track my Iveco Expedition Camper project and other Iveco 4x4 based projects.

END