#105 Jun 2015 Newfoundland - Unique and Distinctive

As we travelled towards the Maritimes we talked to many RVers about Newfoundland. Should we take the RV and have our own bed or book B&Bs and get to know more local people? We opted to take the RV, which meant we didn’t need to plan as far in advance and we could set our pace as we explored. That worked very well and our travel was relaxed and comfortable in our own bed.

As the ferry approached Port aux Basques, Newfoundland our first impression was of the very rocky terrain.

Up we went to the information centre, which stays open until the ferry arrives – regardless of the time. We were directed to Grand Codroy RV Park where we had a reservation. That office also stays open until all campers have arrived from the ferry. That was our first taste of local hospitality and a great start to our Newfoundland explorations.

Early June gave us long evenings and we began exploring neighbouring communities right away.

Churches and boats were everywhere.

Dusk was long and beautiful.

 

The next day our propane was not working. That was important as we were experiencing a taste of Newfoundland’s cool, rainy weather making the furnaces necessary.

In Cornerbrook we found a shop that checked out the propane system. They replaced the propane tank regulator and that problem was solved.

Next onto a Ford dealer to investigate the “check engine light”. The dealership was in a brand new building which was too small to accommodate the size of our RV. A technician came out to read the code but couldn't determine the cause. Ralph cleared the code with his reader and we crossed our fingers.

The dealership was on a narrow, dead end road. When we're towing the Suzuki we can't back up even an inch or two so Ralph unhitched in order to turn around.

Finally, we were off to our next stop in Rocky Harbour. The road was an adventure in itself. It was pockmarked with frost heaves and went from sea level to 1,000 feet and back again around sharp, often blind corners. Snow beside the road and heavy rain left Ralph exhausted when we arrived. 

Ralph’s comment was “It makes the Siskiyou Pass look like the highway between Surrey and Chilliwack“.

With sunshine the next day our world looked and felt much better. 

Nearby Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse is a treasure trove of history with many insights into the lives of lighthouse keepers and their families. It was a rugged, isolated life amid a small, tight knit community.

Before modern methods of communication signal flags were used to convey messages between land and sea.

Small, indomitable flowers survive despite the extreme weather from the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

In Rocky Harbour we experienced the fun and excitement of Newfoundland music and entertainment by "Anchors Aweigh" at the Ocean View Motel. We sang, hooted and laughed until our sides hurt!