Happy Holidays and Welcome 2016

After a record breaking Christmas Eve; a balmy 17 degrees Celsius here in southern Ontario, we awoke to a cooler 6 degrees this Christmas morning. 

Our next travel destination is San Miguel, Cozumel, Mexico where residents are also waking up to 6 Celsius (suspect the day time highs may be a 'wee' bit different though). So for today we'll pretend we are already in Mexico.

We want to wish everyone a safe, healthy and happy holiday season and a fabulous 2016.

 Thanks for following our adventures. 

Click the video ...                                                                                         

Wry & Crusty ...

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.

Road Report: 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

BLOG Layout

A number of text files that I had created to improve navigation in this Blog Layout have disappeared. Those files were located on the left and right sidebars. Apparently, text gadgets, unlike other types of gadgets are NOT automatically backed-up by the BLOGGER application ... something I just found out.

The only solution presently, is to recreate all those text files as new gadgets and this will take some time. I apologize to anyone following the blog. Anyone who is using BLOGGER, take note and create your own backups of text documents in case you need to restore ... I know I will be!

UPDATE 1: The problem has now been reported through a blogger community forum and I understand has been escalated to a development team. Hopefully a solution can be found.

UPDATE 2: Text gadgets can be created once again. However, I was unable to recover any of mine. I have recreated them all, saved them as Word files in case the problem re-occurs and restored the original Blog Layout. Big, thanks to the blogger techs!

Crusty ... feeling better now

BASECAMP 06.26.15 ... " Pre-trip Trans-Labrador Highway "

WE'RE going for a drive to ...

We've completed some service and upgrades on the truck and camper. Helen's preparing the food supplies and packing while I'm assembling any gear we'll be taking with us this trip. We have a few responsibilities to attend to, but I expect we'll get away within the next 10 to 14 days. 

BASECAMP 06.24.15 ... " My THIRD Epiphany "

WE took occupancy of an unfinished home in August 2007 and in May 2015, after painting out the trim in the Audio Video Room, we had officially completed it ... close to  eight years later! 

New Facebook Group - Canadian Truck Camper Owners

We love to travel in our truck camper, to share our travels, experiences and ideas with others. 

We have joined various truck camper associations/groups/meetings and thoroughly enjoy being part of the discussions. However, we feel the need for a group with a more Canadian perspective on travelling in a truck camper/RV.

Did you know that Canada is the second largest country in the world (2nd only to Russia), yet has a population of just under 36 million (less than the population of California at 38.8 million). Therefore, owning and travelling in a truck camper is very different than elsewhere. 75% of our population live within 161 KM (100 miles) of the Canada/US border, leaving vast areas of under-populated wilderness to explore. These facts alone change the way we live and travel in our truck campers.

Seeing Things: Part 2B - PEOPLE (Children)

This is the a continuation of my blog series dedicated to taking the time to stop and see the amazing things that go on around us, this time it is children. 

I have always found children fascinating to listen to and to watch.  I love the honesty, the curiosity, the imagination, the laughter and the trust.  Going through our photo collection the other day, I came across many pictures of children, that made me remember other times, situations or made me chuckle.  Here are a few that I think are worth sharing.

The Dreamer  When my niece was 5 years old we had a family gathering in Tennessee.  While everyone else went hiking, I took her and her older sister & friend,  to Dollywood (yep, the home of Dolly Parton).  After riding the 'big people' rides, I asked Trestin if she'd like to go to the 'younger kids' section.  Off we went to the carousel, where she carefully eyed all of the horses, elephants & assorted creatures going round and round.  She picked a beautiful blue dragon to ride.  As I stood beside her, she looked at me with these huge eyes and declared in a very serious voice "I have dreamed of riding a dragon my whole life".  At five, her life was now complete.

Homestretch

On November 8th, 2014 ... I  S t o o d , sheltered and protected, in a small grove of tall, majestic Eastern White Pine.

I was just outside the front door of our house.

It was late in a Canadian Autumn ... I was understandably nervous.

 And ... I was alone.

A solitary snowflake floated innocently past my left eye. 

And ... I panicked!

I quickly shut that eye and stumbled (almost) blindly into the house. 

.

.
I re-emerged 12 hours later ... but, I was cautious!

Thankfully, LOAF was already fully serviced and outfitted. We left CANADA, early that morning. It was a clear day, we slowly worked our way south and we left that snowflake well behind us. We followed the suns' warmth and wandered, mostly in Florida, for the next 107 days.

 

SCUBA Diving & Snorkelling on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef

Journal Entry: Tuesday, March 03 - Wednesday, March 18
Taxi from Akumal to the ferry dock in Playa del Carmen, a ferry to San Miguel and then a taxi to Hotel Cozumel & Resort on Cozumel Island.

 Cozumel Ferry Dock

Brief Stays On MEXICO's Yucatan

Journal Entry: Monday, February 23 - Tuesday, March 03
Nancy and Jim drove us to the Orlando Airport. We landed in Cancun, MEXICO and from there, took a hotel van shuttle into Playa del Carmen. We'll spend three nights there and visit with my brother Tom and wife Peggy, who are renting a condo in the area. There's also a chance for us to see Phil & Rose Fawna when we are there ... I haven't seen Phil since an Algonquin PP canoe trip, probably 30 years ago! 

At Papa Charlies', Playa del Carmen (clockwise lower left) ... Tom   Peggy   Helen   Dann   Phil   Rose

The Forest People

We've Temorarily Split OUR TEAM 

Helen & I will be flying to MEXICO for our next adventure. LOAF will be resting next to Nancy & Jim's park model in central Florida. All his mechanical services will be disconnected, everything that can be locked up, turned off, put away and secured ... will be, and LOAF will be left in standby mode... and, hopefully, will not have another adventure of his own. If you recall the last one, it was when the residents at Rock Creek CG in Florida tried to set him on fire (read about it here), during their 2013 New Years Eve celebrations ... their average age is around 79 and they're a wild,  crazy bunch!

Immigrants, Indians, A Voyageur Canoe Man and Al Capone

As travellers today, we are all so very fortunate! 
There was a time ... not too recently ... when people did not have the opportunity to travel as we can today.

My maternal grandfather lived to be 92 and my maternal grandmother 87. 

Neither, was ever a licensed driver, owned a vehicle or even, drove a vehicle that I know of. 

Seeing Things: Part 2A - PEOPLE (Adults)

This is the second part of my blog series dedicated to taking the time to stop and see the amazing things that go on around us. 

We have seen and met many, many wonderful people throughout our years of travel.  So many, that, today I am just going to highlight the 'adults' (or should I say those over the age of 18 since the term 'adult' implies a certain level of maturity).  I will leave the children until another day.

There are so many interesting people in the world.  If you stop and watch, they will truly fascinate and never cease to amaze you. Here are a few true encounters (or observations):

Talking With Americans

I have been reading a lot of travel blogs lately and a common thread runs through many of them ... that intense interest many Americans have in travelling to Alaska. We have been questioned so frequently during this current trip and over the past several years, about Alaska, that it has prompted me to write this post.

Seeing Things: Part 1 - SIGNS

We are very fortunate that we are retired and have the time to look around us, observe and enjoy what the world and life has to offer. 

There are so many interesting (and funny) things going on that it is often easy to miss them.

SERIES Truck Camper Life - PART 3: Living In A Truck Camper Is Good For Your Health!

Some Healthy Living

We're entering month four of living in LOAF (yep, FOUR) and I've been reflecting on the quality of our lives in this tiny (134 sq. ft) versus our lakefront home.

There are pros and cons to both of those scenarios, but I believe I'm healthier and more active living in LOAF. Being away from Canadian winter plays a large part in that ... but there are other reasons.

... so, YOU Think YOU'VE Travelled? ... HA!

As travellers, most of us probably believe driving a few thousand kms a year or passing through the borders of a couple of the world's countries in any given year is impressive.

On the other hand ... NASA's HMS Challenger, launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida ... flew 10 missions, spent just 62 days in space and travelled approximately 41.5 MILLION kms in that time! That translates into almost 670, 000 kms / day and they accomplished all that in space!

GEAR REVIEW: Montague Crosstown Folding Bikes

We've ridden more than 700 kilometres on these new bikes, so now is likely an appropriate time to do a realistic review.

But, before I do that ... let me Review My Riding Performance on this bike, by recounting yesterdays' real-life experience. 

Downtime

We can't be busy every day all day ... 

Up late, still catching up on a couple of previous, past midnight nights at music concerts in Clearwater. We're not old yet, just older ... any 'partying' time after 9:00 pm takes us days to recuperate. For lunch today ... a big bowl of 'really good' homemade clam chowder at the Turtle Beach Pub and Grill across the street from the campground. We welcomed the hot chowder, it's a little cooler now (high of 18C @ midday) ... brrr!, not Canadian brrr ... just, Florida brrr!

SERIES Truck Camper Life - PART 2: Necessary Skills & Mandatory Rules

ONE HUNDRED & THIRTY FOUR SQUARE FEET

Yup, that's what I said ... 134 square feet!

Our house is for sale. Once it's sold, our plan is to travel for an extended period of time. We've compiled a bucket list that includes several international trips, but additionally, a portion of our intended travel will be in this truck camper we call LOAF. We've completed road trips in the past of nearly 5 continuous months, but we've never tested ourselves beyond that. During this current trip we are focusing on and trying to identify any issues that could affect the overall enjoyment of a major lifestyle change like this ... do we have enough space to live comfortably, will we get bored, can we get along in such a small space, can we stay fit and healthy, will we miss family and friends, is LOAF road-worthy, properly outfitted, safe & secure? There are many questions that we need to answer.

Discovering Stink Bugs, Ghost Ants and Other Strange Things

A fall trip to beautiful Taylor Ranch near Asheville, North Carolina to attend Overland Expo East introduced us to many different 'overland' topics.  We heard discussions on whether or not to bribe border guards, how to travel safely, how not to get arrested in Russia, we saw Tigers, Unimogs, Earth Roamers and a variety of other vehicles, BUT the one thing that really stuck with us was our introduction to the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Insectus Odorous), affectionately called simply "Stink Bug".