home on day 58

After 855 km on our last day we enjoyed a swim at nearby Cresent Lake before crossing the Nelway Border at 6 pm. Having covered 18000 km over 58 days, we were ready for some squishy hugs from Kendra. We were 2 days earlier than Kevin and Laura expected, and they wondered who the heck was walking down the driveway when they arrived home Wednesday night. Dinner was a simple affair of tomatoes with tomatoes on the side. Yumm, it is so good to be home again. temperatures hot 33 C today, September 23, 2009. Driving up from Nelway and seeing the sun still shining on the mountain tops and the Salmo River curling through the valley bottom made us feel that we live in one of the most beautiful places on this incredible planet. We are grateful for a safe journey and a loving family

rocks in the Rockies

Got an early morning start on Day 57 with temperatures hovering between -2 and 0C.

Rocks everywhere amazed us. In Newfoundland we sat on 1.2 billion year old rocks and these were 1/2 a million years old. the forces that shaped them !!!

Yellowstone

The forests have been desimated on the eastern entrance to the Park and can be seen in the background of the Yellowstone Lodge. Hundreds of small spouts of steam burble out of the ground and smell of sulphur. We did a drive by of the official big Old Faithful, but did not wait around the 90 minutes until the next scheduled eruption. Instead this mini gyser responded to my proximity. Yellowstone Lake at SteamBoat Point looked vast and beautiful. There were warnings that swimming there would cause death within 3 minutes.......for some reason, George did not feel like testing out that theory. ANother fact we read about later ws that hundreds of people et gorged by buffalos every year, but the ones that we photoed seemed very indifferent to me.

Buffalo in Yellowstone

Stayed in a motel in Buffalo Wyoming. It had been cold and windy the night before, and we awoke to our first hard frost as Buffalo is just downhill from the big mountains.

And sure enough we began to see buffalo

day 56

Crossing the Iowa, South Dakota and Wyoming prairie has been more interesting on Route 80 and route 90 than on Route 2 which we did heading east. All the same, we are excited to see big Yellowsone Mountains immediately ahead of us. Seems they got a touch of snow there yesterday, and from our hotest night last night it turned very quickly with high wind to a cool fall day today.We had to sleep in the comacted trailer last night and the buffeting wind shook me like he Newfoundland ferry ride. So I did not sleep much. Tonight George suggested a motel and we are snugly enjoying all the convienences.

praires and summer heat

This morning it looked like fall in Clear Lake, Iowa, State Park.

This afternoon we hot some crumpled foothills.

And tonight it was, CAROL get this!!!!!!!!!!! 29degrees Celcius. A hot summer evening is upon us and I am sitting outside as the trailer is too hot and we are BBQing chicken. Oh I am glad to have this additional day of summer!

trains and camprounds

I think Angie would make a great album cover.............

Friday night now..
Sitting out in the evening warmth about 100 miles east of Chicago. Carol said "GO SOUTH" for the warmth, and it was 26 C today midafternoon. Managed 755 kilometers today with an early 7:25 am departure from Niagara Falls. Steady traffic all day and lots of toll roads, which the big rigs rumble down. At one point early this morning George just had to go pee and there had been no rest areas for ages, so off the side we pull and the truck and trailer were swaying from the big rig suction as they wizzed by. I couldn't quite figure out what to do with myself. We tried the audio tape of DUNE which has 20 CD's and we figured we were set, but we could not get into the story....... so I tried closing my eyes and 3 times today I fell asleep! Did not take one picture today. We are wondering how to best get by Chicago, but being SAturday morning there would be less commuting going on. There is some Huge US football game here tomorrow and they said we were lucky to get a site, but so far it is quiet. oops there goes the second train. They have extra state Troopers circulating through the campground- KOA again- so it should stay pretty tame- nothing that ear plugs can's handle.


I m looking forward to some more exploration, but likely that won't be until Yellowstone Park in a couple of days.

whilst in Montreal

Got up at 6 and headed in to the city with John and Carol who were registered in the Montreal Marathon to run 10K. George and I walked 5 k, but not in the marathon. We toured the Montreal Botanical gardens and the Olympic Stadium. The Chinese bonzai gardens were so neat, so Zen, so perfect. Then we had a great brunch that Angie and Jessie.,Sarah (with the help of baby Elliot) and Paul and Kelly put together. YUM! Such a nice family we have and great to hear how they are all doing and thriving. First baby for the Wilsons East.

Having looked at many jewellery stores across the country I finally decided to try the city and lo and behold, I found Emily's 13th birthday gold bracelet! This is a tradition that I started with my grandchildren after having been given a gold bracelet from my grandmother when I turned 13. I slipped it on and never, ever took it off. As babies, all of the kids played with it repeatedly, and thern Deborah received hers last year when she turned 13. I did not realize how difficult it would be to find something similiar to my plain bangle, but hey, the search has taken me places that I wolud not have gone otherwise.

my bro and sis in Burlington

Took in the falls in day light this morning before heading up the QEW to Burlington. Happy greetings from Mireille and Jim who served us a delicious lasagna and we sat out back in the sun on a beautiful summer like day. We had lots of laughs and stories and Jim looks amazingly well! As you can see, their condo is charming and the corner lot gives it alot of grounds and privacy

Driving back on the QEW was busy but it seemed so much easier than heading up to Burlington and not knowing where we were going.

Niagara Falls September 2009

We are good in city traffic as long as I have at LEAST 3 maps and the Garmin GPS for me to instruct George. this is rush hour traffic crossing a bridge above Buffalo New York prior to heading up to Niagara Falls,pictured in purple at right.

Tonight, we left our KOA campround and drove 3 miles to the great falls. We parked in the no parking lane and enjoyed our illicit moment viewing the falls and having a honeymoon kiss. It is a warm night at 18 degrees C, so standing around in the mist was pleasant. Bet it would be nice on a hot day, too. I am not much for these touristy places. They have a factory outletd discount mall here like in North Conway with all the brand name stores, but we will likely pass that by tomorrow.

Port Lewis cottage is showing its age and we were so happy to have our own sweet accomodation to eat and sleep out of. It was quiet and the cousins were not around, and the lake is alway a pleasure to be around. It kindof smelled weedy and I did not swim, but George did twice. we kayaked around the 3 islands and biked a few km down past the golf course, washed the truck and camper and I got some painting done of some Newfoundland scenes.

still a couple

Here is the Camden Mass harbour picture.

and we hear tales of murder suicides of long time travellers and so to disprove that possibility I thought it a good idea to show us alive and enjoying each other.

Such extremes in culture and population density, Newfoundland to Maine This little boat was sitting on an empty beach near our Twillingate Newfoundland campsite.

Then this is the view of a beautiful harbour in Camden ,Mass.,USA

Maybe a picture will load? If not, it was a beautiful harbour with hundreds of boats,ships, and dingys, a hot afternoon and opulant wealth on and off shore.

We are driving south in Maine, coming in to New Hampshire, then Vermont before entering Quebec and heading for Dunany to see John and Carol and Irene Wilson. Now more than ever the contrasts in lifestyles and countries is evident. Both are very old and settled, but in such different styles.

Looks like a shopping morning in North Conway New Hampshire where the outlet stores congregate and there is no sales tax. We did visit an LL Bean in Mass. yesterday as a warm up> and talking about warming up, last night we had the best campfire of the 45 days camping. We finally got some dry wood that was smoke free and put out heat! Yea us!

,

NOva Scotia

We met Nancy and Andrew in northern Newfoundland and they invited us to La Have south of Lunenburg, so we called them up and met them at a Folk Festival in La Have. Then Nancy made us local organic salad with fresh chowder with huge scallops etc.

on the NS NB ferry boat

With some sadness we are heading awy from Nova Scotia to NewBrunswick. we loved our time, the people and the places that we experienced in Nova Scotia. We thought Halifax waas great and spent a long day and night walking all over the city and then took a hydrobus in the water and on the land for a tour. Then Mahone Bay and Lunenburg which deserved the UNESCO title. Increbile restored and painted homes and towns. and the water,,,,, so clear and still the kayaking on the ocean was like glass and it seemed like snorkeling.........

Still waiting for the sun to burn through the PEI mist, so thought of the afternoon on Newfoundland where we had a beach moment that I would share with youall.
It is so good having a day to lay about. I got out my watercolours and did a painting! Seems I had to do a mutany(according to George) to make some space for the artist to emerge.

Tropical Storm Danny brought in lots of rain last night as we camped out on a beach 1/2 hour outside Cavindish- which is far too touristy for our liking. We were snug and warm and wore ear plugs to dampen the pounding rain sound. And this morning we walked over the sand dunes and along the beach. Again surprisingly, the ocean seems warm, but I did not go in. the jelly fish season has passed, they say, and there were none on the beach this morning, so I might be tempted to swim this afternoon.

I pulled a mutiny this morning as I did not feel like packing up and leaving. Still recovering from the ferry back from Newfoundland.

PEI is so fertile and covered with large farms, and food you can eat. The short ferry ride here was 1 1/2 hours and smoothe. It ws pouring rain so we drove through Charlottown, found a healthy food store,got precooked lobsters, found a farm side stand, and then headed across the sland to this shore.

back to Cape Breton

The ferry from Argentia, Newfoundland to North SydneyNova Scotia had the roughest ride of the summer last night and instead of 14 hours it was 17 1/2 hours. It wasn't all that bad, but even I took gravol (ginger, thanks Carol) 3 times during the night. It wasnt really a sleep as the wind impact made it like really rough flying with shudders and jolts added. George had a little blue pill and that allowed him some sleep. :)

How I loved my time on that island. Why? It is a roughed (sp) land and people, but the stories that I had told to me were so real and touching, all from their lives and changes that had to be faced. The scenery amazing. the distances vast. Water everywhere. No bugs. A quiet and simplicity that was peaceful in my heart. I could so relate to them from my (paltry) experiences in the Pend d'Oreille valley. Being there I found a piece of myself, and I hated to leave.....

We drove about 40 K from the ferry and parked the trailer in a nice park in the trees, out of the constant wind. Yes, it ws sunny and what we had missed on our way up here was revealed to us today. So we took off after lunch and drove the CAbot TRail around the north end of Cape Breton. thanks to June, we stopped at every opportunity and really enjoyed the vistas. I met a lady who has created many patterns for hook work and had learned from her Mom and Grandma and she and her sister did most of the store full hook art. I got Emily a package with all the insructions and wool to work with. This lady had designed a cute picture with her 4 year old granddaughter.

Tomorrow we are off to PEI via the ferry, which does not cost to come on the island, but does to leave. So we will stay- well for a while. We should stop listening to the weather channel as now they are talking about Tropical Storm Danny heading this way. Bill was almost a no show, which we did not mind, living beneath such thin walls.

Love to all and Thanks SO MUCH FOR ALLOF THE EMAILS I GOT TODAY. I miss you!

crazy houses in St Johns

After a narrow windy road, where we discovered that the trailer brakes were not connecting, we arrived at Sandy Cove and lay on the sandy beach to feel the quieet breakers rollon to the shore. then off to St Johns. The houses are so artfully painted and all on steep roads descending to the harbour which opens to the open Atlantic. Very scenic and hilly and so nice on a sunny summer day.The boat is fully 3D and attached to a mini museum up in Twillingate and you need to see the expression of bliss on fisherman 2....

hitchhikers

Hi Sam and Hannah
We picked up a couple of hitch hikers that want to come and live with you.
The eagle chick for our birder extraordinaire- Sam
and the Newfoundland puppie for our dog loving Hannah.
We will be good adoptive parrents to them on our travels and they keep us company
Love you
Granma

fleesy and stuffed

Hello Kendra and Naiomi

Granma was feeling chilly on the North Coast of Newfoundland and I thought I would get you a red fleesy for this fall. I think you will both be adorable in them.Next time we talk on the phone, tell me what you think.

and Sam and Hannah.......... we picked up a couple of hitchhikers and they ride along in the trailer and greet us every time we come inside. They tell me that they really belong to you- Sam the birder and Hannah the ever hopefull dog owner. the eagle to Sam and the Newfoundland dog for Hannah.

Lots of love

Granma.

day 25 afternoon Twillingate

Talked with a local fisherman and had my picture holding the iceburg from July 2009.

Kayaking late afternnon was a little rougher and the jellyfish are getting to me so had GEorge pull my kayak through the weedy shore so I could avoid the possible reaction to jellyfish.Yes, he sacrificed his ankles, but had no stings. I couldn't quite relax and when the wind turned northeast and started to splash me, I turned back and paddled for shore, hoping he would follow to haul me out!!!!!!!!! and he did! Thanks, partner.Look at the amazing coast! Gotta love it.

Now we are heading inland off of this penninsula as the weather watch on the TV blabs on about Hurricane Bill. It is grwy and rainy this morning.

Twillingate

We are in Central Newfundland now and enjoying warm sunshine and kayaking. Have a nice site overlooking the ocean and we can put the kayaks in right out front.

Went for a hike thismorning and gorged on blueberries and currents and raspberries. they were all less than 6 inches tall, some only 2 inches tall, but a good size berry and oh so good. Had a taste of the biggest ever iceburg that was here in June and July this year, so we just missed it.

There is some noise about Hurrican Bill going to make some waves and wind and rain, so here we are and we will wait it out somewhere in this beautiful island.

a coastal walk and life

Just drove down the Westcoast from River of Ponds where we slept in the misty rain last night. stopped in at Broom point and talked with one of the only and first woman fisherwoman on this coast. She is currently a Parks Canada info person. Showed us how to set loster traps and how to set cod nets and told of fallilng in the brine and forging her fathers signature soshe could marry a 30 year old when she was 16- yes they are stilltogether and he is now 70. Many more stories then she brought us into the original Broom cottage and the wood stove was on and she gave us her secret battered pan fried cod, a fish cake, and molasses cookie all cooked on the wood stove.She is one of 13 children, all sisters and brothers still living nearby.... then we stopped at the wreck of the SS Effie and metal parts were strewn over the beach with the hull in the water. 92 people survived a wicked storm and the beach is those amazing coloured rocks.... we picked up several for our rock garden. It is much warmer down south and the rain should depart by tomorrow when we will head inland and go to the Twillinggate area where the kayaking is supposed to be great.. till later

day 20 cruise

We are heading up the Viking Trail today and John and Carol headed south to the ferry. We will be sad to travel without them, we had so much fun. Here is a video of last nights sunset cruise. The music was great and the captain came down and joined the time we was havin and took out the accordian and stood on the far right in his red shirt. We heard so many stories- of expropriation when Parks Canada came by, of selling the Woody Point pub the year before the road bypassed the point, of a boat workers life away from family except for 2 trips home per year. People just talking, telling their lives stories while we stood in line, or went in to craft stores. or bought wood from a Park ranger. These stories are the best! and it makes the lyrics of the songs to meaningful to listen to as backdrop. But yes, I had George do a little boat dance with me, even though he said I was leading, it was so much fun, and CArol tried to use my camera to take a picture, but it was slightly out of focus. Maybe that was because of the Hot Chocolate Sam that she was sipping on.......... rum flavoured.

tempting to buy

Here is our favourite piece of art ..to date

Rocky Harbour Lighthouse

What would the coast be without lighthouses....... oh, how this land makes me want to paint.

sunny West Coast Newf

and while I am waiting for the laundry...... here are a few scenes from Rocky Harbour and Cow Head, all on the West Coast of Newf...

introducing John and Carol, George and Maurgo

Here we go on the boat fjord out the Western Pond....introducing a video of John, Carol George and moi. This trip was

our Western pond adventure on day 17

I see that George Clarke had posted a picture from the boat tour that we took 2 days ago up a fjord that got cut off from the ocean. Spectacular it was and windy! after a hour walk through the flatland across the peat bog we took a boat for 2 1/2 hours across this wavy lake and up to the end of the fjord. Pictures will say more than words.

Hello fellow vicarious travellers.

We had an amazing day today in Gros Morne National Park. Off at the crack of 9 for an hour drive that beats the heck out of the Kaslo corners, somewhat in a hurry to get to a trail head to join a guided group of hikers. Well I was nearly sick from sitting in the back seat of the Tacoma as John sat up front with George. But that passed and I acclimatized on the Tablelands. They are glacial rock with alpine shrubs. We held a 1 1/2 inch piece of wood with 220 circles- meaning years of growth, and it the spruce was 2 feet high. Amazing place. Then we drove through a little village called Woody Point- quaint, tidy immaculately clean and friendly and right on the ocean arm, so a little sheltered from the wind. Then we went to Lomond Campground and boat launch. Finally we got the kayaks off the truck roof and into the salt. It was hot so I put on my suit and off we paddled, around the point and with all that privacy, I had a lovely long salt water soak sans suit. That way I keep the kayak seat dry! But more to the point, the water was crystal clear and warmer than Cuba! No kidding. I picked up a bunch of sea shells and of course another rock for my rockery at home. Then we drove home to our KOA campsite after stopping in Rocky Point for some freshly caught halibut at the wharf/market. Last night I got lobster and fresh scallops and Carol got halibut, so tonight I had to have more of it. Let's see if I can send pictures.

till later- day 19 comes to a close now......

Finally On The Rock! (That's Newfoundland for the uninformed)

Another hot sunny day and we have booked the boat tour up the fjord in Gros Morne National Park.
Nice to have our camp set up to stay for a few days.