Day Fourteen

Today was the day that I was going to finally get to see Newfoundland. My whole life I'd wondered what it would be like. I learned about it in school and how some of the very early settlers to the new world came here and started small villages. Coming from Ontario we used to make fun of the Newfy's because they were different I suppose. We always wanted to hear the latest Newfy joke. It was all meant in good fun but at last I get to experience their world. I have been told that the scenery is awesome, the people are warm and friendly and that I will have the best time ever.
The night before I had been invited over to my next door camping neighbor's fire pit for a nice chat. Amazing as it seems Chris and Susan were from North Bay, Ontario just a couple of hours north of Bracebridge. We had a nice evening until the rain came and it was time to call it quits. Needless to say it was a pretty soggy morning getting packed up to head up the highway to catch the ferry. It was extremely humid and overcast. I decided to stop on the way and fill my gas tank and pick up a couple of bags of ice for my cooler. Ferries always load bikes first and they are usually one of the first vehicles to disembark. I ran into a whole gang of other bikers waiting to get on and we kind of hung together after that. Here is a couple of pics showing deck three and my bike all cinched down for the 7 hour voyage.

It was a very nice comfortable ship with restaurants, gift shops, wonderful reclining seating with free WiFi and a USB port at each seat for plug in power, big screen TV's all playing different stations, clean bathrooms, the works. The sun was struggling to come out so I went up top to take a few shots from the upper deck (Deck #10). This first shot is simply a look back at the empty staging area for cars, bikes and semi trucks before they load.

These next few shots are showing the views form the top deck including their helicopter pad.

We finally got to "The Rock" about 7:30 pm. A thick fog had rolled in and I was concerned about the moose and it was getting dark. All the other guys were booked at local hotels and B & B's. I said my goodbyes and headed up the highway in the fog. Ten     minutes up the road and I spot a provincial park. I was driving along for awhile and then the road turned to gravel. There were no signs. It didn't even say it was a campsite. I was just about to turn around and keep going up the highway when I spotted a light. It was the booth where you check in and pay your fee. I was so relieved. I now have a pass for any park on the island and they have great campsites. I'm all settled in but unfortunately  it has started to rain. The weatherman is forecasting some nice sunny weather over the next few days so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.