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.

Cape Breton

Just finished a bbq dinner with John and Carol in our trailer as the mist turned to rain and it was far more pleasant indoors tonight. Another long and tiring day makes me realize I am looking forward to slower days out of the truck. Funny how tiring sitting is!
So we could not see much of Cape Breton because of the fog and drizzle. It is rolling hills with lots of water showing and short trees, but we couldn't quite get the beauty. Looks like another few days of rain before a weekend of sun, so by then we should be settled on the rock.

Heading back into Canada!

Hello everyone
We are about to cross back to Canada at Sault Saint Marie. We have been loving Lake Superior and finally swimming and kayaking.