BASECAMP 10.11.15 ... " Last Camp and a Big Sleep "

We've been spending a lot of time over the past few weeks, putting 'our property' to bed for this coming winter, brrr! Another work day's over. It's happiness hour and I've just made friends with a pleasant Pinot Gris in a stemless tumbler. I'm relaxing in front of a warm wood fire and I'm composting ... err, I'm composing this post (now that was confusing!). 

 CHEERS!

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT: 325 Days In 2014 / 2015

This year we travelled from ... as far south as the State of Quintana Roo on the Yucutan Peninsula of MEXICO, then north along the south and eastern USA from Florida to New York and finally, northeasterly from Ontario on a circle tour of the Atlantic Provinces in CANADA.

The map below is interactive; you can expand, zoom, pan and click  for additional detail.

Our Last Night in LOAF - The Sounds of Silence

After driving almost 700 km today (with at least half through violent gusty cross-winds and head winds) we decided to stop in a beautiful village (which will remain nameless) in Quebec. It had a campground, with a lovely sounding name, still open, so we pulled off the TransCanada Highway. Our concern was that it would be too close to the highway and the sounds of the many tractor trailers would keep us awake.

Nothing like a gurgling fountain to make you relax.

                    

Hiking The Bay of Fundy

The WORLD'S Highest Tides 
and 
A Meal At Nova Scotia's BEST Restaurant 2015

Home to the highest tides in the world, the Bay of Fundy is a 270 km (170 mile) long ocean bay that stretches between the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia on Canada’s east coast. Each day 160 billion tonnes of seawater flows in and out of the Bay of Fundy during one tide cycle ... MORE than the combined flow of all the world’s freshwater rivers! 

We hiked at several locations as we travelled around the Bay of Fundy; in the bay at low tide, above the bay along the coastal trails and in adjacent forest near the bay. We also had one of our best restaurant meals E V E R ... anywhere !

Lighthouse Route & The Evangeline Trail: Peggy's Cove to Grand Pre

The Lighthouse Route and Evangeline Trail 

In a loop, south west from Halifax to Yarmouth, Digby and on to Wolfville and ending at Halifax ... follows Nova Scotia’s South Shore, where the past is a part of everyday life. You’ll find it along quiet country roads, where ox teams still haul lumber, and in coastal villages where fishermen still row wooden dories out to sea.  Explore towns like Liverpool and Lunenburg while taking in majestic coastal scenery, featuring 20 lighthouses - from the dramatic beauty of the Peggy's Cove lighthouse to Yarmouth's towering Cape Forchu lighthouse to the harbour fishery in Digby and on to the vinyards of the Annapolis Valley.  

Traveling With Raisins - Part II

In November 2014 we did a wonderful (but frustrating) trip with 'The Raisins'. 

For those of you who missed our first post on the joys of traveling with Raisins, the term 'Raisins' is a term of endearment for people of a 'certain age'. In this case it refers to my wonderful father & his bride (a.k.a. my evil or wicked step-mother - whom, by the way I love dearly). Again, I must stress this is a term that they introduced me to. If you missed Part I, please feel free to read it here. (or for those that did - please feel free to refresh your memory and re-read it) - I think this is important to truly understand the real frustration of traveling with 'the Raisins'. 

The Raisins' View From Their Hotel Room

Bluenose II

 We were fortunate to be passing through Lunenburg, Nova Scotia at a time when the BLUENOSE II was accepting cruise passengers to sail Lunenburg Harbour. How lucky is that and how could we not go?

The original BLUENOSE was launched as a Grand Banks fishing and racing schooner on 26 March 1921 in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The Two Masted Schooner was designed by William Roué and built by the Smith and Rhuland Shipyard.

Hope For Wildlife

Many of us have watched the Canadian television show filmed in Nova Scotia, called 'Hope For Wildlife'. 

This short post is about a whole lot of good, that is being done there, for some of the other creatures that we share this planet with!

Today, we had an opportunity along our drive, to visit their facilities and do a short walking tour. Hope took in her first rehab animal, a robin that had been attacked by a cat, in 1995 while working as a Manager at the Dartmouth Veterinary Hospital. The veterinarians at the hospital did not know what to do with the injured bird, so Hope took it to her home in Eastern Passage and starting doing research on caring for injured wildlife. Skip ahead 15 years ... the Hope for Wildlife Society has grown to over 100 volunteers and now rehabilitates over 2500 animals per year from all over the province. Funding still comes primarily from donations, as well as corporate and government grants, community groups, and annual fundraisers.

For the complete story visit the official website: Hope For Wildlife

The Wildlife Centre

The Fortress of Louisbourg

  The Largest Historical Recreation In North America

The Fortress of Louisburg is a National Canadian Treasure. 

If you are interested in early Canadian history and want to learn something, then Read On.

The restoration carpenters, recreationist staff and Parks Canada should be commended for the job they have done at this site to preserve an important and pivotal part of our history ... kudos to all!

If You Are From Newfoundland and Labrador ... You Should Be Proud!

We'll soon be leaving Newfoundland & Labrador. 

But, before we do, here is some helpful travel information for anyone that might be planning a trip to this Province. Most of this is gathered from official Canadian government records, local myth & legend and tourist brochures. I haven't bothered to verify any of this, but I also haven't made anything up.

Isle aux Morts

A typical village scene in this beautiful province.

Along The Viking Trail: Part Two - Port au Choix south to Deer Lake

Moving southerly now ...

HAWKE'S BAY

Rainy weather dictated our activities somewhat on this first days drive along the southern half of the VIKING TRAIL. At this time of year, some seasonal business operations, small town museums and points of interest are shutting down. We missed out on a couple of places we would have stopped to investigate ... like the Nurse Bennett Heritage Home.

We were able to visit the Torrent River Salmon Interpretation Centre and Fishway. Years of logging and other resource developement in the area had an adverse effect on the Atlantic salmon and before 1965 only a small population survived. The Fishway is a  success story that combined the initial efforts of the local community and the eventual participation of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Along The Viking Trail: Part One - St. Anthony south to Port au Choix

If you are intrigued by the lives of the Peoples that combined to form the earliest history and culture of Canada, then you won't be disappointed by what you can learn in this part of Newfoundland and Labrador. The drive we are now on, follows the path of a brief Norse habitation along the North Atlantic coast of North America... and it's fascinating!

The VIKING TRAIL

Newfoundland and Labrador Route 430 is a 415 kilometer (258 mile) long paved highway that traverses the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador. The route begins at the intersection of Newfoundland and Labrador Route 1 (The Trans Canada Highway) in Deer Lake and ends in St. Anthony. 

We will travel it in the opposite direction. Officially known as the "Great Northern Peninsula Highway", it has been designated as the "Viking Trail" since it is the main auto route to L'Anse aux Meadows, the only proven Viking era settlement in North America. It is the primary travel route in the Great Northern Peninsula and the only improved highway between Deer Lake and St. Anthony. It is the main access route to the Labrador Ferry terminal in St. Barbe.

whOOse watching yOOur property ?

Many of us that travel, rely on friends to watch over our home  while we are away. 

It's always a relief to know that everything back home is in good hands.

I recently recieved a Property Check Report from The DARK Side ... our watchful neighbour.

"Just a little miffed.

So I was over at your place today, trying to open the windows from the outside.  Can't be done unless you can find a good hand sized rock.  Of course Mr. Neat & Tidy has gathered them all up and created a nice attractive pile..............somewhere.  Only thing left are these big ass stones and I left my Egyptian slaves in Egypt. 

Sooo I head over to the garden.  No squash, no beans, no carrots, not a damn rutabaga in sight.! There was one, you can count it, don't even have to take off your socks, One teeny tiny red tomato. So I took it! And now there are no tomatoes.  And then I found many many acorns.  So I took them!  The garden was ashamed that there was so little.  The forest was proud.  I told the garden I would return.  

I am now at home making Margo an acorn salad.....ummmmm yummers"

Crusty ... feeling relieved, I think?

Less Stuff, More Life

My Favourite Direction is North

Well no, maybe I should have said ‘my favourite direction is remote’, instead. 

I haven’t been to the extreme southern latitudes, so I can’t really comment with any authority. I would probably like the southern tip of South America as much as I like the north of North America (NA). 

This current road trip through Labrador took us to North West River a few days ago; a small, fishing village at the junction of Grand Lake and Lake Melville. It’s the most northeasterly place in NA that you can drive to. Population a few hundred, small tidy homes, place smells like fish, old HBC outpost, it’s a friendly spot. Clarence, the resident town greeter informed me that he often relaxes by watching sea trout jump out along a nearby point at the towns' shoreline. Clarence is in his early 60's and has lived here all his life. He fished commercially for 25 years, worked janitorial duties in the local Grenfell Hospital, was stationed as an armed polar bear security guard in a government operated camp further up the Labrador coast at Nain and he is an authority on the history of the town.

Battle Harbour, Labrador

We sailed on Iceburg Hunter, 16.8 kms one way from Mary’s Harbour to Battle Harbour.

Water was calm, weather was clear, some cloud, some wind and quite warm. Dolphins and humpback whales on the voyage over and humpbacks on the return trip.

EXPEDITION: The Trans-Labrador Highway

Featuring Guest Author: Nancy Shepheard

_____________________________

The TRANS-LABRADOR HIGHWAY (Highways 500 & 510) begins at the Labrador border, just past the town of Fermont, at the end of Quebec Route 389. The main highway, (not including side trips to coastal communities) cuts through Central Labrador for approximately 1183 kilometres before terminating near L’Anse-Au-Clair, once again, at the Quebec border. 

Wikipedia: Trans-Labrador Highway

Overland to The Rock: Quebec City to Baie Comeau to Fermont, QC

August 15

The drive from Quebec City to Tadoussac is through the Charlevoix Region of Quebec. Lots of grade change (12% max), fairly mountaineous, a windy highway at times, many sections with views of the St.Lawrence shoreline, small villages, a popular area with lots of traffic - cyclists, bikers, RV’ers, truckers. The area is big into whale watching tours and sea kayaking throughout the spring to fall. We stopped at the Shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre for a short tour of the area - spectacular building, smaller chapels, monastaries, museum, cemeteries. Once past Tadoussac the terrain flattens somewhat and there is much less grade change until the Baie-Comeau area.

What you'll see ...

Overland to The Rock: We Have NO Itinerary and We're NOT Far From Home ... to Quebec City, QC

AFTER an unexpected delay of several weeks and due to a situation completely out of our control, we've finally embarked on Trip #138 (see our Trip Index) ... it's our latest. Even though we'll be travelling from our home in Ontario and through several provinces before returning, our focus will be on the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Affectionately referred to as 'The ROCK'. Our previous visits here, were a 1996 road trip with Mae & Earl (The Outlaws) and a 2010 trip to hike several sections of the East Coast Trail with a group of friends. We plan on being away, this time, until early October ... for 6 or 7 weeks.

                                                                                                                     Karen Ron Rhonda Cliff Carol Helen Gerry

1996                                                       2010

BASECAMP 07.28.15 ... " Living In A Truck Camper "

SERIES Truck Camper Life - PART 4: Pre-trip Preparations

Living in a truck camper can be challenging ...

Short driving trips are easy to plan and pack for but longer ones often require greater effort. We travel in a very confined space in a TC (which most of us share with another person). It is necessary to try and maintain a sense of humour, but I think the most important thing is to be comfortable at all times. This has to feel like home since for several weeks or months at a time, it is. In order to accomplish this, pre-trip preparations are an absolute necessity.

There are many ways to be comfortable; the 'truck' part of your truck camper set-up has to have the things you need. If we spend long days driving we want nice music, snacks, comfy seats, cold drinks, GPS, perhaps portable Internet. You need to know the rig is safe and you are confident in its' abilities. You want to be ready for any emergency (roadside recovery kit, spare tire, flares, fluids, communications devices ...).

BASECAMP 07.26.15 ... " From SEA to SEA to SEA "

... and all those places in between, we shamelessly promote travel and adventure in CANADA!

The Gate, South Nahanni River, NT