September 2015 – Page 3 – Steps to Anywhere

Blanc-Sablon, Quebec

Posted on September 20, 2015 by Edward Thorpe

It is now Sunday afternoon on September 20 and we are in Blanc-Salon, QC, but I am uncertain of the time. Apparently, Blanc-Sablon is on Eastern time, perhaps not even Eastern Daylight time. My GPS Switched to Atlantic time as soon as we disembarked the ferry. Our cell phones are on Newfoundland time which is probably a good thing since the ferry operates on Newfoundland time. Regardless of the time, we have respectable internet service so let me rewind to Corner Brook and yesterday morning.

We did not have a long trip from Corner Brook to St Barbe so, after stopping for coffee at the last Timmy’s until St Anthony, we diverted from Highway 430 toward the coast in Gros Morne Park and the area known as Woody Point. From there we drove through the “table lands” to the community of Trout River. DCIM100GOPROGOPR0171. The scenery in Gros Morne is quite spectacular. We enjoy the drive and found a place to have lunch. The remainder of the drive was uneventful but the day became more and more overcast as we neared our destination.

The Dockside Inn was only a few hundred metres from the ferry terminal and part of it also served as the ferry ticket office, how convenient for the morning. There was rain during the evening but we had nowhere to go and the hotel had both a restaurant and a bar. Gail had her choice of wine, white or white. She chose white. The food was acceptable and they served locally caught seafood, yummy scallops.

While we were in the bar some of the locals mentioned that the weather was becoming very windy and the trip across the Strait of Belle Isle might be cancelled as apparently has been in the past. We awoke Sunday morning to mostly sunny skies but it certainly was windy. By the time we finished breakfast the weather was sunny and warm so we walked around the area along a trail through the woods to the ferry terminal and back to the motel. St Barbe trail Soon after 11 AM I was able to convert our reservations into a ferry boarding pass so we finished packing up the car, checked out and took our place in line at the terminal. We still had time to walk back to the restaurant for a takeout coffee and return to greet the incoming ferry. MV Apollo

The trip across the Strait of Belle Isle was, as expected, quite rough, and after a calm start the ferry rocked and rolled for about 45 minutes and then suddenly, we were there. After about 20 minutes while they prepared for disembarkation we drove out of the ferry for the 5 minute drive to our accommodation for the next couple of days.

Surf at Blanc-Sablon We took a short drive along the Quebec shoreline to the west but the heavy rain and mist was too much for any sightseeing. So back to the room and then a visit to the local hamburger emporium for a quick dinner.

St Barbe

Posted on September 19, 2015 by Edward Thorpe

Made it to St Barbe today but internet is very difficult. Hopefully better tomorrow. The weather today started well but ended with a cool drizzle. We take the ferry tomorrow to Blanc-Sablon, QC for our brief time in Labrador.

No photos because of the internet speed–or lack of same.

Port aux Basques to Corner Brook

Posted on September 18, 2015 by Edward Thorpe

Today began with a beautiful sunrise in Port aux Basques.

We then turned a two hour travel day into an eight hour trip. We first set off to visit the Rose Blanche lighthouse east of Port aux Basques along Newfoundland’s southwest coast. The GPS had no problem locating the lighthouse and calculating a route. However, “Penny” had no idea how to get us out of the town and onto the appropriate highway. We followed her instructions twice and ended up in dead-ends on both attempts. Next we drove to the Trans Canada Highway at which time she computed a new and different route that actually worked.

The road was narrow and not in the best of repair but turned out to be a view of a gorgeous coastline and low rocky hills. After about an hour we saw the first signs directing us to the lighthouse. As we followed the directions the road became more and more narrow and less and less hospitable. The final few hundred metres were on gravel but as we came over the final hilltop to a parking lot the view was spectacular but there was no visible lighthouse although we had seen it in the distance only a few moments previous.

When we got out of the car there were two women sitting on the porch and a man leaning against a fence. One of the women announced that they were in the process of closing the site but we were free to walk to the lighthouse. They politely opened the washrooms for us, having not yet winterized the water supply, then we set out up the hill on foot. It was worth the trip but the photos really don’t do it justice.

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Our last excursion of the day took us off the Trans Canada Highway past Stephenville and out to Cape St George. This was apparently an area developed by French settlers and is quite pretty although not nearly as rugged as the southwest coast. The southern route to the cape was quite populated. The southern shore appeared to offer numerous hiking trails through much less populated areas. After completing the loop we stopped to pick up a few groceries for the next few day’s lunches then set out for Corner Brook.

Sydney to Channel-Port aux-Basques

Posted on September 17, 2015 by Edward Thorpe

Today began with an easy 15 km drive from our Sydney hotel to the North Sydney ferry terminal. Upon checking in we discovered only one of us was actually booked for travel. Once that was repaired we moved into our assigned position in lane 27 and left the car to go for coffee. There is no food service in the terminal but, how coincidentally, there is a Timmy’s right next to the terminal.

We were among the first vehicles to board the lowest level on the MV Lief Ericsson ferry. A cruise ship she was not. One hopes that they emphasize sea worthiness in their maintenance program because they certainly don’t emphasize much else. There was rust evident everywhere and the furniture definitely showed its age. The food was adequate and what it lacked in quality it made up for in quantity. However, the seas were quiet and the voyage was uneventful.

We chatted with travelers from all over the country. There was a couple from Washington state who were perpetual nomads, numerous hunters visiting for a week long hunt and others from nearer home. Everyone was willing to chat whether in the lounges or out on the open deck. The weather was superb, even hot out on the deck. Some folks seemed to spend the whole voyage outside.

As we neared Channel-Port aux-Basques it was evident that there was no fog and we would actually get to see the town. We stayed on deck until the ferry was docked and then we were called to our vehicles. Things looked much different on deck 3 then when we left the car in the morning. We had to negotiate our way around a line of 18 wheelers and squeeze between them and the line of passenger vehicles to finally arrive at the car.

Once again we among the first vehicles to move and start for our hotel. The GPS was quite confused as we left the ship. It still thought it was in North Sydney and selected a very long route to our hotel via Argentia, the other ferry terminal. Once outside the ship Penny (the GPS) figured out we were only 4 km from destination.

Once at the St. Christopher’s motel we had a very nice dinner at the hotel restaurant and had great dinner conversation with a couple from Lethbridge, Alberta. Now we are just relaxing in our room watching the Blue Jays.

A few shots arriving in Channel-Port aux-Basques.