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Trekking to Newfoundland
  • Terry And Randy Clarke
  • Terry And Randy Clarke

Trekking to Newfoundland

A 37-day adventure by Terry And Randy. Read more
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  • Trip start
    August 21, 2026
    Terry And Randy ClarkeTrekking to NewfoundlandTraveler
    Before 7 and Randy is already onboard checking to ensure Hogsbreath is ready for haulout.
    Before 7 and Randy is already onboard checking to ensure Hogsbreath is ready for haulout.8 sharp the crew had her on the travel lift. Check out that beautiful sky.These guys know what they are doing.This spot is temporary. They will move her to the back of the building later.There is a one way swing bridge to get off the island. Waiting our turn.We go under way more often than we've gone overIts a beautiful old bridgeCars waiting to go on the island.Gorgeous drive to Espanola1Can't imagine how they carved out these roads.The Spanish River Dam outside Espanola. We were told there is good pickeral fishing here.Our stop for lunch and a walk. Nice community center and sportsplex.Across from our lunch stop. The colour was beautiful.Just above Algonquin Park. Hoping to see moose but no luck.StunningAnother rest stop. This one on the Ottawa River.Lemure Beach in Deeo River, our stop for the night.Deep River has some nice walking trails. Felt like we were on the west coast.Deep Rivers beautiful waterfront

    Day One: Little Current to Deep River

    Aug 21–22 in Canada ☀️ 16 °C

    Our day started very early for us. The alarm was set for 7 but we were both awake by 6. Beautiful sunrise over Goat Island and the sandhill cranes were very active. The boat was parked in the haul out slip and the great group at Boyles Marine had her out of the water and in the building before 9. I can't say enough good things about these guys. I walked over to the municipal building, where Roy Eaton hosts the Cruiser's Net every morning in July and August, to say a quick goodbye. Seeing Roy and Margaret is always a highlight of our summers in the North Channel. Randy put the parachutes on and I wiped the oil off our waterline. A very ignorant boater discharged a large amount of oil from his bilges earlier in the week. I'm happy to say this behavior is not the norm and it's quite upsetting when someone disrespects our beautiful waterways. We were on the road by 10:30. Our goal was to drive until we didn’t feel like driving anymore. We are using iOverlanding to find places to park and services for the van. We also need to stop and go for a walk often to accommodate Randy's blood clot. The drive was absolutely beautiful, especially the portion from Little Current to Espanola. We made good time and stopped for a break in a small town just past Sudbury, Wahnapatae. We took a walk and had a light lunch. We stopped again in West Nipissing and later at a rest stop outside of Head Clara and Maria. Yes all three make up the name. We were just above Algonquin Park for part of the drive and the scenery was beautiful. The bugs were plentiful so photos out the windows weren’t always an option. We decided to stop for the day in Deep River at a park by Lamure Beach. What a great decision. We chatted with a lifeguard who said it was fine to spend the night. She pointed out the washrooms were open all night. We took a walk through town and along the waterfront. The town is on the Ottawa River. Beautiful town and very friendly people. Early night as we will be back on the road to Ottawa tomorrow morning.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeTrekking to NewfoundlandTraveler
    Beautiful morning at our parking spot in Deep River.
    Beautiful morning at our parking spot in Deep River.Propane stop in PetawawaIt went from a single lane to three lanes as we neared Ottawa.Our nation's capital buildings are beautiful.The Bank of Canada Museum. Of course I wanted to see this.Very impressive gates.2Randy being RandyLoved the statues. Thank goodness there were information plaquesLots of reconstruction but still it was wonderful how close you could get.Memorial to the war of 1812.1It amazed me how accessible all these buildings were.We stopped on the Spark St pedestrian mall for a break.And a beer since I wasn't driving.The Peace Tower had so much work being done. Even so it was so inspirationalDriving done for the day so a stop at a local brewery in Montebello was in order.This is our map of Villages RelaisVery nice wheat beer.The information center was wonderful. In addition to local knowledge there was a chocolate shop.A resto pub. Lots of bikers in town.Our parking spot behind the library and church.

    Ottawa and Montebello

    Aug 22–23 in Canada ☀️ 16 °C

    We woke up to a beautiful morning and were on the road by 9. Our first stop was Petawawa to top up our propane tank. It only took $5 worth so I guess this may have been a bit premature. Traffic picked up and the highway widened as we neared Ottawa. We were surprised that there wasn't the same type of urban sprawl you see around Toronto. Ottawa is a big city but we didn’t find the driving as stressful as Toronto. The first couple of parking lots we checked out weren't that great but we found one on Kent St that worked for the van. For $6 we could park till 11:59 pm. The lower cost was because it was Saturday. We quickly decided we did not want to spend the night in the city so after a few hours of exploring we continued to head east. Ottawa is such a beautiful city and we really enjoyed walking around our government buildings. Lots of work being done to keep these important buildings in the best of shape. There were lots of visitors but it didn't seem overcrowded and everyone was enjoying themselves. The Byward Market Area was colourful and loud. I was glad we had a chance to check it out. We crossed the river into Quebec and continued our eastward drive. We stopped for the night in Montebello, a pretty village that welcomes travelers with overnight parking, many restaurants and pubs and lots of historical information in both French and English. I used the phrase "desole je ne parle pas francias" quite frequently but everyone either spoke English or tried to communicate. I actually felt bad my French is almost nonexistent. Montebello is one of many Villages Relais in Quebec. A Village Relais is an official designation for a small municipality that provides a welcoming environment with services designed for travellers. For people like us in vans it means there will be a place to park for the night. Here in Montebello it is behind the library and a beautiful church. We picked up a brochure at the information center that lists all these communities. We had an unpleasant surprise when we returned from exploring the town. It appears we have another mouse in the van. There was no evidence this morning when I made breakfast but this evening I found shredded tissue, some opened packaging and a few droppings. We cleaned out the drawer and set a trap but so far no luck. We think he must have come out of hiding while we left the van to explore Ottawa. Hopefully we catch him soon.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeTrekking to NewfoundlandTraveler
    We made breakfast at this beautiful park behind the information center in Montebello
    We made breakfast at this beautiful park behind the information center in MontebelloScenery wasn't as dramatic todayGrey skies and some rain while we traveledOur parking spot at the Port of QuebecYou can see how close we were to the old town.This was our introduction to old town. Only a block from the van.I loved how the fire escapes were turned into living spaces.Lovely little cobblestone streetsA lookout with old cannons pointed to the St Lawrence.Felt so EuropeanBet you can't guess what is on the menu1Lovely murals everywhere.2We stopped for a refreshment. The selfies are always a challenge2This mural had citizens from the past and present day. Very cool.One side was an angelThe other a traveler.1Lookout from upper town.1The Fairmont. Over 600 rooms.Beautiful statues. I believe this is Samuel de Champlain1This is a Michelin Star restaurant owned by friends of friends.Love these plant based statues1Hotel Dieu hospital. Parts are ancient and parts are brand new.2The Oasis at the Port. Live music till 11 we could hear from the van.

    Quebec City is Amazing

    Aug 23–24 in Canada ☁️ 19 °C

    We moved to the park behind the information center in the morning in case the parking lot was used for church services. It is a beautiful park and a very nice spot for breakfast. Our drive to Quebec City took about 5 hours but it seemed longer. We kept to the north part of Montreal but traffic was still a challenge. Especially after the two lane roads of northern Ontatio. It was grey with a little rain off and on and very windy. We found a 24 hour parking lot at the Port of Quebec on iOverlanding. We weren't sure we would be comfortable spending the night in the city but once we parked we decided it was a great space. It was $18 for 24 hours and we had lots of room. We were close to the Port and old town Quebec. The area was clean and well cared for. There was a boardwalk and bike paths. There were lots of shops and restaurants close by.
    We spent a few hours exploring the lower city with its galleries, shops and restaurants. The sun came out and so the crowds increased but it wasn't overwhelming. We went back to the van to change for dinner and found more evidence of our mouse. Randy removed the large storage drawer and I found two empty werthers wrappers. That mouse must have been on an incredible sugar high. I had thrown the package of candies out yesterday morning when I saw they had been chewed so he must have took them a couple of days ago.
    We explored the upper town. Wow that's a lot of climbing. The Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac was so beautiful. The Citadelle was also very impressive. We stopped for dinner and continued to explore until the wind and rain convinced us to return to the van. Overall I was so impressed with Quebec City and would like to return for an extended weekend someday.    Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeTrekking to NewfoundlandTraveler
    Woke up to a beautiful morning
    Woke up to a beautiful morningReally cool statues along Rue DalhousieBridge across the St LawrenceBusy morning traffic. Clouds moved in after our walk.Hello New Brunswick2Our campsite at Eagle Falls.The road coming down to the campground. A 41 diesel pusher made it down.At the beach before our walk along the shore1Walk is getting more interesting.1Check out those hiking flip flops. They weren’t the best on unsteady rocks.The slippery seaweed was a nice additional challenge. But oh so beautiful.Was thinking of turning back but met a lady who was recovering from a knee replacement.1Whew getting easier. Took us about an hour to get to main area.Started seeing more people at this point.1So cool. Kinda reminded us of the Baths in Virgin GordaGreat view of the mudflatsThe Shire our spot for the night. Such a fun spot.High tide the next day. We walked through that arch less than 24 hours agoLooking west was amazing. Trying to spot a falcon.1Not quite high tide. You can still see water marks on the rocks

    New Brunswick

    Aug 24–26 in Canada 🌧 20 °C

    We had a great sleep even though we were in a parking lot in a large city. We went out for breakfast and explored a little more of the lower town. We set out around 1030 and enjoyed the drive out of town. We considered stopping at the Plains of Abraham but settled for just driving by. We crossed the St Lawrence on a very cool bridge and headed to New Brunswick. We were on a 4 lane highway so there wasn't as much to see but we did make good time. We decided it was time for a campground and we found a pretty one in Grand Falls New Brunswick. Unfortunately when we arrived we found it had no vacancy. Back online and we found Eagle Falls Campground nearby. We called and found they had a spot for us. What an adventurous drive it was. The campgound was on the shores of the St John River but it felt like it was at the bottom of a gravel pit. There was a single lane gravel road with a drop off on one side. It felt like we were going straight down. Once we were settled in our spot it was entertaining watching other campers negotiate the road. Not our favorite spot but showering was wonderful. The next day we were headed to Hopewell Rocks. The entrance fee allowed you two visits so you could experience both low and high tides. Our timing was perfect. We arrived just before low tide so we were able to walk on the ocean floor. It was truly spectacular. We took a trail through a forest and down to Demoiselle Beach. It was a beautiful beach with what looked like miles of red mud flats in front of it. Initially we thought we would have to back track to get to the sea stacks but we noticed a few people walking along the shore so we thought we would try that. At first it was an easy walk but it soon became really challenging. Lots of loose rock, slippery seaweed and thick red muck. It was funny watching a couple kids who ventured out to the mudflats. They sunk to their knees in the dark red ooze. No thanks. Both of us had flip flops on not the best choice of footwear. We finally did get to the iconic rocks and found so many more people. We had to laugh at those in bright white trainers or fancy walking shoes. They did provide a foot wash at the end of the trail. We headed a little farther west to The Shire. We found this on iOverlanding. Don, the owner cleared a portion of his farm and opened it to travelers to camp. He set up a couple of shelters, a fire pit and a basic toilet. Payment was by donation and he did sell firewood. We spent the evening around a fire with two other traveling couples. It was so much fun. We went back to Hopewell Rocks the following morning to see high tide. What a difference. We just went to the look outs and saw where had walked the previous day was now under water. We stopped in Moncton to get hiking shoes for Randy and headed for Nova Scotia. We really enjoyed New Brunswick.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeTrekking to NewfoundlandTraveler
    We made it. I was here 10 years ago its been 30 for Randy.
    We made it. I was here 10 years ago its been 30 for Randy.We were driving to Cape George to see if anything looked familiar. Livingston Cove first stop.Beautiful coastline just before the Cape George lighthouse.Cape George Lighthouse. We both remember thisBallantynes Cove. My dad used to fish out of here. Great fish at Fish and Ships.Ballantynes CoveDuring lobster season this is the place to be. Also when a big tuna is brought in.1The beach we use to hang out with the local kids.Old school lobster traps.Tuna Interpretive Centre. Lots of interesting information.Heading to Cape Breton IslandOur second swing bridge. This one is newer than the one to ManitoulinGreat stop for the night, Big Spruce BreweryLevel parking lot, a screened in porch, friendly bar tenders and washrooms open all night.There were lots of activities for the whole family. Great breweryBaddeck was a pretty town. We especially enjoyed the waterfront.1Here is our ferry in North SydneyNorth Sydney had a pretty downtown. The library was also a museum and had some interesting sculpturCod fishParked in line for the ferry. Similar to Tobemory but more vehicles and a bigger boat.And we are off.2Live entertainment in the lounge. We have our spots for the night then off to our sleeping pods.Dinner onboard. Food was ok but company was first class.

    Nova Scotia

    Aug 26–28 in Canada ☀️ 28 °C

    We made it to Nova Scotia at the same time as an orange weather alert. So much rain. We were lucky and missed most of it . Our first stop was Antigonish and a quick visit with cousins Kim and Darcy MacDonald. It is always so much fun catching up and comparing family stories. We had a nice dinner out and a quick tour around Antigonish. It is really growing. We had a lovely visit and even did a load of laundry. We are looking forward to seeing them again in October for a family wedding. The next morning we took a side trip to the Cape George area where my dad grew up. We visited quite often when I was young. We stopped a few times and even saw the house he was born in. There are so many more homes, some drop dead gorgeous. The views are just spectacular. We stopped at Cape George Lighthouse and chatted with a few other tourists. We had a light lunch at Fish and Ships in Ballantynes Cove. This is a spot I remember well. My dad fished out of this harbour and we spent time here when we visited. When Randy and I visited 30 years ago it was lobster season. We visited the co-op and one of the workers had been good friends of my aunt Sally. She thought I was the spitting image, her words. She was grading lobsters and was able to give us a deal on enough for a feast. This time it wasn't lobster season and nothing much was going on at the co-op. We did check out the tuna interpretive centre. Its amazing how large some of the tuna is that is caught around here. I took a walk on the beach. I rembered campfires and ghost stories here. The local kids loved scaring the heck out of the city kids. We lived in Corunna not exactly a booming metropolis but we seemed very different to them. We finished our drive and got back on the highway to get to Cape Breton. The highway was also a huge change. Most of it 4 lanes right through the rocks in James River. I guess they appropriated some of our aunt and uncles land but they were compensated well. Also they kept access to their hunting camp. There is still so much work being done to finish it. Its pretty impressive. We decided to take the Ceilidh Trail and check out the Red Shoe Pub in Mabou. There was live music tonight and we could park across the road at the community hall. We arrived around 3 and there didn’t appear to be much around so we headed to our second choice, Big Spruce Brewery. The drive was spectacular and we weren't even on the Cabot Trail. Great decision as the Brewery was wonderful. We met other travelers and had a great evening. The beer was really good too. The next morning we were going to visit Fort Louisbourg but by the time we got on the road we knew we wouldn't have time. We wandered around Baddeck instead. Its a pretty little town and we really enjoyed the waterfront. We arrived in North Sydney a little early so we parked at Canadian Tire and walked around town. We were parked beside a couple from BC who were traveling in their truck camper so we enjoyed a visit with them. We were able to get a sleeping pod for the trip and were still on the wait list for a cabin. We were really hoping for a cabin since it had a shower but no luck. The sleeping pod wasn't bad, twin beds and some storage. There were washrooms across the hall. There was live music in the lounge, Jimmy Inch and he was pretty entertaining. Seas were calm so the movement of the boat was gentle. You could hear the rumble of the engines but it was a comfortable ride. We didn't sleep well, I was feeling a little claustrophobic in our little sleeping pods. We will be taking the shorter ferry home so it won't be an issue. We had dinner and breakfast onboard. The service was excellent but the food so so. Not enough time for Nova Scotia but we did enjoy our short visit.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeTrekking to NewfoundlandTraveler
    1So happy to be here. Really looking forward to exploring.
    1So happy to be here. Really looking forward to exploring.The scenery was dramatic right off the ferry.First stop. So many yummy things to choose from. We settled on carrot cake and a strawberry flakeyWe didn't realize Elliston was the root cellar capital of the world.These cool structures were all over the place. Even when there were no houses close by.That is Bird Island home of a very large puffin colonyI used the zoom on my phone to see these little cuties up close.Dustin and Emi from Destination Adventure. So cool to meet them after following their channel.We were trying to take a selfie and someone offered to help.This is close to where we parked up for the night. Landfall Park on Bonavista PeninsulaAnother shot of the Bonavista Peninsula. We spent two night parked here for a donation to the townSo many beautiful wildflowersThere were some great trails around us so we had no trouble getting our steps.Potholes are as plentiful as sea birds. The entrance to Landfall Park was a challenge.This is where John Cabot made his first Landfall in the new world. He watched over us at the park.The views near the lighthouse were unbelievable.More puffins by the lighthouse but a bit further away. We could watch their wild flying.A little close to the edge.There was an area full of inukshuks so we added our own.I stayed a little further away from the edge.He was closer than this looks.1A very nice place to relax after a long walk.Found this picture of Captain Connie and Bill at the Harbour Masters office in town.This skeleton was in someone's yard close to Bob and Heather's cottage.Bob and Heather rented a cottage on Bob's Lane. How appropriate.2My one and only close encounter with a puffin.

    Beautiful Bonavista

    Aug 29 – Sep 1 in Canada ☀️ 19 °C

    We were among the first to get off the ferry in Argentia and made a quick stop at the information center. Immediately the views were so beautiful. We saw a sign for Randy's Convenience and Bakery so had to stop. We picked up some homemade potato soup and some baked goods. So good all of it and we had a lovely chat with the woman who worked there. We stopped again in Clarenville and met a really nice local couple. They are interested in a van so we gave them a tour and exchanged contact info. Love how friendly everyone is. We arrived in Elliston, the puffin spot by 4 and found a place to park. It was pretty busy. The first thing we noticed was the root cellars. They were everywhere. A little hobbit door in the side of a hill and when you opened the door there were steps down to a small storage area underground. So cool. Lots of visitors and some just can't behave. Lots of signs saying no dogs because the puffins view them as predators. Well we couldn't keep quiet. The pit bull in me came out and I shared the rules to a few dog owners. The puffins were on Bird Island but you could see them quite clearly. We had binoculars to see them up close. We stayed for quite awhile and were quite enchanted. On the drive in Randy saw Dustin from Destination Adventure one of our favorite You Tubers pass us heading the opposite direction. It was pretty cool and we thought they were leaving the area. It was quite a surprise when he and Emi showed up where we were. Randy ended up having a great conversation with him. The crowd was thinning out and one adventurous puffin came close to say hi. He was about 8 feet away.
    There were a couple spots on iOverlanding nearby but they were already taken. We made the short drive to the Bonavista Peninsula and found a spot at Landfall Municipal Park. What a beautiful spot. We spent two nights here. There was a trail along side the park and we visited the lighthouse a couple of times. More puffins. It was a beautiful spot with spectacular views everywhere you looked.
    Monday morning we went into town to the Harbour Authority for showers. While chatting with Jerry, the Harbour Master, Randy noticed a photo of a friend who had sailed to Newfoundland from Sarnia years ago. Jerry remembered them and even showed us their sign in. I had to take pictures and share. We toured the museum housing the replica of John Cabot's ship, the Matthew. It was really interesting. We were meeting up with friends from back home at the Bonavista Brewery and before they arrived we chatted with other visitors. Two couples we had connections with from Ontatio, small world. Bob and Heather had a beautiful cottage by the water for two nights and we ended up staying in their driveway. We had a lovely dinner and a great visit. We left the next morning with great memories and a load of clean laundry.    Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeTrekking to NewfoundlandTraveler
    Jimmy Kimmel is the honorary mayor and provided this sign for the small town of Dildo.
    Jimmy Kimmel is the honorary mayor and provided this sign for the small town of Dildo.Captain Dildo welcomes allA very pretty harbour front.Apparently its an old English word for a buoy.Randy especially enjoyed this small town.Across from our spot for the night in Quidi Vidi.The hill above us was part of a trail just full of blueberries.Boat launch at Quidi VidiThe wharf at Quidi Vidi. The green building in the background is the breweryThe Harbour entrance is beautiful but tiny.There were a few tour companies, private residences, some artists and some places to eat.There was a food truck area with some art installations. Very cool.Such a small but dramatic spot.We picked up a few beers at the brewery in Dildo. Randy's favorite.My favorite.Exploring the remains of a defense battery from World War 2 at Cape Spear was interesting.They did a really good job restoring parts of the battery.On of the two guns used to protect St John's harbour.Most easterly part of Canada.Cape Spear LighthouseThe Lighthouse Keepers residence was open to tour.View from the second floor of the residence.Getting better at selfies. Think this one was from Signal Hill.Signal Hill.View from Signal Hill of the outer harbour.Heather and blueberries in full bloomFound the blueberries.A display of firing a musket. It was really loud.These are as delicious as they look. We saw people picking them everywhere.1The walk back up to Signal Hill.

    St John's

    Sep 1–3 in Canada ☁️ 20 °C

    On our way to St John's we made a quick stop in Dildo which is close to Spread Eagle on Conception Bay. Great names and no pun intended. At least that's what we have been told. Once we arrived in St John's we decided to spend our first night in Quidi Vidi. What a cool spot. The cliffs came right down to the water and the homes were brightly coloured and multilevel. There was a stream across the road from our parking spot with a little waterfall and a few rapids. It wasn't busy so we wandered around taking in the sights. There were a couple of trail heads and a boat launch so I'd imagine it would get busy on a nice day. We stopped in at Quidi Vidi Brewery I really like the Ice Berg beer. The next day we did a quick drive through the downtown area to see the Jelly Bean houses, they are as pretty as we'd imagined. The whole city seemed to be incorporating the vibrant colours which we really liked. There were two cruise ships at the waterfront. We headed up to Cape Spear and checked out the most easterly point point in Canada, the lighthouse and the lighthouse keepers residence. The guns and batteries from WW11 were also really interesting. Afterwards we took a drive through Petty Harbour. What a pretty little town. Our third stop for the day was Signal Hill. It was another beautiful spot rich in history with amazing views. An added bonus was the wild blueberries. They are just coming in season and along the trail we picked a full zip lock bag. We found a parking spot for the night across from the Johnson Geo Center. After getting settled we took an Uber downtown to explore George St. We listened to some really good music and had dinner before returning to the van around 10:30. A very busy day. The next morning we stopped in to see Ed Wison at his business before heading out of town. Originally we had planned on spending Thursday night on George St but found two nights in the city was good and we wanted to get back out in the small areas. I have to say I really dropped the ball taking pictures. None of George St or Petty Harbour.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeTrekking to NewfoundlandTraveler
    Outer harbour in Brigus. They have a smaller inner harbour as well as a deep water harbour.
    Outer harbour in Brigus. They have a smaller inner harbour as well as a deep water harbour.We drove over this bridge to find a parking spot.Beautiful wild coastline right in town.Wild blueberries out there and some beautiful homes.Looks like we are out in the wilderness but houses very close.The town wraps around the bay and most of the waterfront is accessible to the public.There wasn't access to the deep water harbour so this tunnel was made over 200 years ago.1Cool to walk through the tunnelDeep water harbour on the other side of the tunnelDevil's Footprint. A large stone in town with a great story around it.Couldn't resist1Parked right on the end of the wharf what an experience. Nights get really windy so we moved.So many jelly fish off the wharf and along the shore.Out for a walk in Charlottetown. No blueberries but I had raspberries in my salad from our walk.Out front of our park up. These views never get old.Two loons were hanging out. Also some crazy kingfishers who wouldn't stop for a photo.Cobbs Pond in Gander. Weathers changing and rains moving in. We want to be outside while we can.Really nice boardwalk around the lake.1This spot reminded us of our daily walks in Qualicum Beach it was so lush and green.Loved this water fountain. There is a spot for adults, kids and dogs at the bottom.1Only one picture before the play started. This is the entire set. The blocks served many purposes

    Brigus,Charlottetown and Gander

    Sep 3–5 in Canada ⛅ 15 °C

    A fellow traveler recommended we check out Brigus on our way towards Twillingate and Fogo Island. I'm so glad we did, it is a beautiful small harbour town with great views and a nice walk. We spent an hour or so wandering the waterfront and reading the historical signs on the many heritage buildings. We decided we would stop for the night near Terra Nova National Park in a small village called Charlottetown. It was very different than the one in PEI. Other than a general store and a volunteer fire department there wasn't much else but we had the choice of 4 waterfront parking spots. We tried the wharf first but we felt far to exposed so we moved to beside the fire station. It was a nice level spot with a beautiful view. We walked along the sea shore and through a neighborhood and had a chat with a local. The next morning we headed to the Visitor Center in Terra Nova National Park for laundry and showers. There were interesting displays and some really friendly staff who shared local knowledge. Its a fabulous Park that is working hard to restore the natural environment. We then moved on to Gander. There is a nice park in Gander called Cobbs Pond with a boardwalk around a small lake. We had a great dinner at Rosie's and went to see Come From Away. What a fabulous play. The cast was talented and brought the story to life with minimal props. We both thoroughly enjoyed it. I think I was either in tears or laughing out loud through the whole play. What makes it especially poignant is before each production someone from Gander who was part of the real experience speaks. The gentleman we heard from was a new air traffic controller who was on a day off. He was called in to work to help land the planes. Afterwards he helped out in so many other ways from running errands to cleaning toilets. What an amazing community. Since we were out of the play around 10 we just drove to the local Walmart and parked with 5 other RVs. It was a mostly quiet night and we were able to restock. Rosie's was so good for dinner we decided to head back for breakfast. Unfortunately it was closed for the long weekend. We found a rest stop just out of town and I made us western omelets. Tried out my toaster oven/air fryer for the first time. No worries about power usage as we will be driving awhile. May go to Fogo Island or Twillingate or just to Lumsden.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeTrekking to NewfoundlandTraveler
    Ed from St John's said you have to see Lumsden Beach so we stopped there. Miles of sandy beaches.
    Ed from St John's said you have to see Lumsden Beach so we stopped there. Miles of sandy beaches.Very cool B&B by the beach. Didn't get any good shots of the beach but it was beautifulCool whale skeleton along the beach drive. We didn’t get out of car too cold and windy.Musgrave Harbour was pretty beautiful too. No sand just stone.Waves were wild breaking along the rocky coast.Working harbour.Boats are getting ready for the fall fishing season which starts in early SeptemberHard to tell from the picture but even in the protected harbour boats were rocking.The drive to the Fogo Island ferry was so dramatic.We couldn't believe we may make it on the 2:30 when we showed up at 2:15You think we will fit in there, I certainly didn't think so.Not just us but the mini behind us too. Was surprised they could close the ramp.Fogo Town just before the skies opened. Strong wind warnings so we decided on a campground.1Very cool house in Fogo.Brimstone Head Community Campground. Great hike but weather did not cooperate.Our view. We did have some shelter from behind where the wind was coming from.60 kilometer winds but because of the topography the ocean stayed flat.Thank goodness for the berm behind us. Only the top of the van felt the wind. So noisy.That's where Fogo Island is. After we left for the ferry on Monday the town lost power.I barely left the van on Sunday. We had the heat on and streamed movies.Monday morning the rain slowed down and we ventured out of the campgound.These little sheds were everywhere. Unfortunately we couldn't find a shed party.Tried to check out the Fogo Inn but we were turned back. Found an overland route.1Very exclusive accommodations but all profits go back to the communities on the island.It was so foggy at times our navigation system switched to night time mode.1Beautiful fishing trawler in SeldomLoved the name. Unfortunately it's out of business.1In line for the ferry. Not the visit to Fogo we had hoped for but still glad we made it here.

    Rain Rain Rain on Fogo Island.

    Sep 5–7 in Canada ☁️ 16 °C

    Lumsden Beach lived up to Ed's recommendation. There were miles of beautiful sandy beaches. Unfortunately the weather was awful so we just drove around. In addition to the beach there were acres of beach grasses and dunes. It actually felt like we were in the barrier islands in the Carolinas. There were really interesting guest houses and if the weather had been better the place would have been packed for the long weekend. We kept driving and checked out Musgrave Harbour. The beaches there were wild and rocky. They also had a working harbour that was pretty interesting. We read that you needed to arrive for the ferry to Fogo Island at least an hour early and even then you weren't guaranteed a spot as it was first come first on. There was strong wind warnings for Sunday so we decided to head to Twillingate and circle back to Fogo on Monday. On the drive Randy saw a sign for the ferry to Fogo and it was only 20 kilometers away so he thought let's just go take a look. Well we made it there at 3:15 for the 3:30 sailing. And they sold us a ticket! We thought wow we are on. At the time we didn't realize they just keep selling tickets and who ever doesn't get on just waits for the next one. We were at the back of a very long line of cars, trucks and campers and thought we will never get on. One by one they loaded the vehicles, stopping some to fit them wherever there was an odd shaped space to fill. We resigned ourselves to wait for the 6:00 ferry when they waved us on. They fit us at the very back. They kept nudging Randy forward until they could fit a mini in behind us so we weren't even the last one in. The crossing was calmer than we expected there were lots of little islands providing some shelter. The weather was not looking good overnight and into Sunday so we decided to go to a campground. There was no cell coverage on the boat trip or when we landed on the island. Thank goodness iOverlanding works offline and we found a community campground in the town of Fogo. We arranged for a waterfront site with power that was protected from the prevailing winds by a berm. Man I felt sorry for the people camped above us they would have felt the full effect of the wind. Once we settled in the rain started in earnest and man did it rain. All night, all day Sunday and most of Sunday night. I didn't venture out of the van much for our stay at Brimstone Head Community Campground. Monday morning the rain eased but fog settled in. The wind was going to build again tomorrow so we thought it was best to get off the island. We did a quick drive around and the island was as beautiful as we had heard.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeTrekking to NewfoundlandTraveler
    Our view out the side door. Right in town but also right beside the water. The sun tried to shine.
    Our view out the side door. Right in town but also right beside the water. The sun tried to shine.First time trying 1892 an ale by Quidi Vidi. Think its my new favorite.Walking around town we watched the fog roll in and out.It is such a pretty town. I would love to see it in sunshine.We walked by this truck camper and Randy loved the brand name. Lots of US travelers.Very extensive hiking trails for all levels of hikers.Sun came out just long enough set. Beautiful view from our van.Windy on the trail around the lighthouse. We were bundled up and enjoyed the chance to stretch.We did walk part of this trail until it was way to wet and we headed up to a field.The lighthouse was pretty impressive but the fog horn was the star. It was loud.The views were spectacular in every direction.I was amazed and a little nervous at how close the trail ran to the edge.Holding on to make sure I didn’t blow away. Randy even took a few extra steps because of the wind.StunningSecond hike less altitude and closer to the water.Well look at that we found another serving of 1892. The Captains Pub was really nice.More people came in closer to show time.Mike Sixonate was really entertaining. Loved his stories and his songs.

    Twillingate

    Sep 7–9 in Canada 🌧 12 °C

    Another beautiful drive to Twillingate which is also on an island. No ferry today though just a series of causeways and bridges. It is a really pretty town built around the harbour. We found a place to park in town beside the water. We took a walk and had dinner at a local restaurant but the rain and fog had us heading back to the van. The next morning it was grey and cool but the rain held off. We headed to the Long Point Lighthouse for some absolutely crazy views. The wind was pretty strong so you had to be careful around the cliff edges but we thoroughly enjoyed hiking around the grounds. There was a small gift shop with a local fudge maker in residence. He made all the fudge in the shop and had a really good selection. We definitely enjoyed our purchase. We checked out a couple of wild campsites close to the lighthouse and chatted with some travelers from St Thomas. The island of Twillingate has a very extensive series of trails so we found one we liked for the afternoon. While on the trail we bumped in a couple who were parked above us on Fogo. I was amazed they were able to get their car and tiny trailer so far down the trail. We headed back to town to the Captains Pub at the Anchor Inn for some live entertainment. Mike Sixonate was so good. He was a great story teller and a very talented musician and we thoroughly enjoyed our evening in the pub. The wind was howling so our parking spot from last night would have been very loud. The back parking lot of the United Church welcomes travelers so we headed there to sleep. It was so protected we didn't hear or feel any wind. We really enjoyed Twillingate and highly recommend it as a destination. We left Twillingate heading west, not really sure where but our end goal will be Gross Morne.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeTrekking to NewfoundlandTraveler
    Trails in Grand Falls Windsor were well maintained and a nice break from driving.
    Trails in Grand Falls Windsor were well maintained and a nice break from driving.We enjoyed the sunshine and the beautiful marshes.The Humber River outside Deer Lake.The wind was picking up and two of these trees were making so much noise. Ready to fall over.1A couple of ATVs passed us on this part of the trail.

    Heading West

    Sep 9–10 in Canada 🌧 12 °C

    We stopped for a break in Grand Falls Windsor on our way west. Picked up a few supplies and found the Corduroy Brook Nature Trail. We had a great walk through a wooded area along a small river and a series of ponds. The trail was well marked and had some interesting information posted along the way. There are several trails to choose from and we walked two, Dragonfly and Snowshoe Rabbit. I loved how they named their trails. What a nice break. We thought we should do some laundry and have showers so we looked for a campground. The one we chose in Springdale ended up being closed for the season. Our second choice was a little sketchy but we accomplished our goals and made the best of it. The next morning we stopped in Deer Lake and got a nice hike in before the rain started in earnest. The Humber River Trail was really nice. The first part was really well groomed, had some quirky and cool art installations and ran along the river. It gradually became wilder and really muddy. Eventually it opened up and was a multi purpose trail for atvs and snow machines in the winter. The road from Deer Lake to Rocky Harbour was spectacular as we entered the edges of Grand Morne. Randy spotted a black bear on the roadside. It was big and so shiny. It went into the forest but we did get a good look first. It started pouring and the wind really picked up. We were driving through some high elevations and the views were amazing.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeTrekking to NewfoundlandTraveler
    Our parking spot sheltered and close to facilities.
    Our parking spot sheltered and close to facilities.The communal kitchen. Door number two one of the nicest campground showers. Laundry door 3Waiting for the kitchen party in the Anchor Pub.Norris Point between rainstormsKings Lobster Rolls. Owner was Michelin chef from St Johns. Herbs growing behind truck.The lobster was sweet tender and wonderfully dressed.Norris PointCat Stop Pub. Patio closed after Labour Day. Pub closing end of September.Love these handing lights shaped like jelly fish.Rocky Harbour waterfront. Wish we had more time without rain to wander around.Rocky Harbour looking north.Great outdoor adventure store with waterfront park out back.More Rocky Harbour waterfront.Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse. Great museum and trails.Views from lighthouse were beautiful. Saturday morning no rain.Enjoying being outside and dry.Beautiful lighthouseGreat little wooden fence, very rustic.Trails from cliffside to seaside.Lots of seaweed and very rocky.Looking south towards town.Relatively calm compared to yesterday but still nice waves breaking.Water was so clear and there was lots of vegetationMade it to the beach.Looking southwardFound a heart or maybe an arrowhead.

    Rocky Harbour, Kitchen Party + Laundry Room Party

    Sep 10–12 in Canada ☀️ 12 °C

    Many of the small towns in this area are within the boundaries of Gros Morne so boondocking will be a challenge. I did find a nice little campground across from the water on iOverlanding which had great reviews so we stopped in there. We weren't disappointed. The owner was so friendly and gave us the best spot. We were tucked in out of the wind right beside the communal kitchen, showers and laundry. The kitchen was covered and really well set up and the whole place was spotless. We checked everything out and then went exploring. There was a pub in town we could walk to that had a kitchen party on tonight so we thought that would be awesome. We were driving around and we saw Tiffany and Crystal's rig parked by a store and laundry mat. They were the couple we met in Twillingate from St Thomas. We found them in the laundry and told them we were stalking them. They decided to come to Harbour View once their laundry was done. They debated joining us at the kitchen party but decided against it. Well the kitchen party was a disappointment. The musician barely played his guitar it was more like karaoke and his choice of songs were not quite traditional, Sweet Caroline anyone. He did get the crowd going and people shared some funny stories and jokes. One of our servers recommended we try the King Lobster food truck in nearby Norris Point for their Lobster rolls. Pretty funny considering the Anchor had Lobster rolls on their menu. Saturday was really rainy so we booked another night. We met some interesting travelers in the communal kitchen from the Netherlands and across Canada and the US. We headed to Norris Point and the Lobster rolls were amazing. We split a meal that came with the roll and three salads. The salads were so good and the Lobster was superb. We decided to visit the Cat Stop pub to get out of the rain and were treated to a local musician doing his sound check. Two really good songs and a friendly bartender. Back at the campgound the rain was coming in sideways and it was cold. The laundry room had a heater so we moved some chairs inside and joined Tiffany and Crystal for some drinks, tall tales and plenty of laughter. The rain was supposed to let up on Saturday so we were going to make the best of it and head out exploring. Rocky Harbour and Norris Point are both really cool.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeTrekking to NewfoundlandTraveler
    Arches Provincial Park. Easy walk to a beautiful beach.
    Arches Provincial Park. Easy walk to a beautiful beach.Haven't seen any whales or moose but saw this hare.Beautiful rock formationsLow tide so the arches were accessible. No graffiti.It was windy of course but that made for beautiful waves.A nice young family was visiting too and offered to take our photo.So beautifulThis small boulder caught my eye. Lots of rocks.Randy found a plastic bucket and filled it with debris that had washed ashore.Waiting for the perfect wave but unfortunately no patience.These little birds were everywhere. If you stood still they would come right up to you.Moved on to the Cow Head trail.Beautiful spot.We parked at the beach and then walked to the Lighthouse.These big rocks were a part of the trail but most of it was meadow and forest.Once again Randy is cleaning a beach. Most of this looks to be washed ashore.Cow Head Lighthouse in the middle of a forest. Not what we were expecting.View from our park up in St Paul's towards the ocean.Beautiful spot for the evening.

    Coastal Exploring

    Sep 12–13 in Canada 🌧 14 °C

    We drove as far north as we were going on our trip to Arches Provincial Park. It was a small park with a beautiful beach. There was a bus tour from Ontatio there but after they left it wasn't busy at all. We chatted with a young family of new Canadians who were living in Corner Brook and just visiting for the day. They loved their new home in Newfoundland. Randy found a plastic bucket and collected trash and we enjoyed beachcombing in the sunshine. We headed south and our next stop was the Cow Head Lighthouse Trail. The road to the trailhead was really rough so we decided to park at the beach and walk in. Randy found another plastic container while we checked out the beach and he managed to fill that as well. As we were walking up the road Tiffany and Crystal were leaving the trail. They had been there for hours because they took in both trails. This was one of the places I really wanted to see because I'd heard there were caribou close by. We didn’t see any but we did enjoy the hike. There was open grassland followed by some impressive boulders and then a walk through the woods to a small lighthouse. On the way out we walked by the Cow Head wharf and checked out the fishing boats. We had worked up a thirst so went into town to Neddys Pub. We chatted with some locals from St Paul's who told us no one would mind if we parked at the boat ramp for the night. What a beautiful spot. There was another van parked there when we arrived but plenty of room for us. Randy saw a couple of seals and two herons. We were only 10 minutes from the parking for Western Brook Pond.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeTrekking to NewfoundlandTraveler
    It was a really nice 3 kilometer walk to the boat.
    It was a really nice 3 kilometer walk to the boat.The landscape changed from meadow to bog to barren stretches. Perfect for caribou.The pond was impressive. The boats were brought in by sled in winter in pieces.Some of the canyon walls were significantly higher than the CN Tower.So rugged and beautifulTiffany and CrystalLandslide areaNewfoundland's Niagara Falls. It started at the very top.Those look like shrubs but they are full grown trees.1This is the Tin Man. Not a great photo but could see very clearly from boat.Thought I caught the tin man here but nopeAnother waterfall1The old man. Whew I caught this one.So many waterfallsJamie teaching Tiffany to play the spoons. She excelled. Then Randy had a go and he was a natural.The trail for serious hikers. They drop you off and it takes multiple days.1I think I should have worn a hat.Heading to Norris Point for lunchWoody Point Library. Such a small town and such a nice LibraryWoody Point Legion. First Legion we've made it to on the Island.Sundown from our campsiteOur campsite. The fence blocked the wind. People in tents had a challenging night.Start of the Tablelands trail.First time I've had my pole out and i didn't really need it.Looking for treasuresNot like anything we've ever seen before.Just a little snow left from the winter. Locals in the Legion said winters are pretty harsh here.The water was pretty clear, not what I was expecting.At the end of the trail. A few people carried on but we were happy with what we've seen.1We made it! Oh yeah we need to walk back now.Our park pass was good for Western Brook Pond and Tablelands. We managed to miss on the free passSaying goodbye to Crystal and Tiffany in the parking lot at Western Brook Pond.

    Western Brook Pond and the Tablelands

    Sep 13–14 in Canada ⛅ 11 °C

    The Western Brook Pond boat tour was something we were really looking forward to. We checked the long range forecast and Sunday looked like the best day. No rain, some sun but high winds. High winds are pretty much a given though. Crystal and Tiffany had changed their reservations to Sunday so we were looking forward to seeing them again. We got to the parking lot super early and had breakfast while we waited. It was a three kilometer walk to the boat on a well maintained trail through some beautiful bog land and meadows. We kept a close watch for caribou or moose but other than a few birds no wildlife sightings. We stood in line early to make sure we could get seats outside on the top deck. Even up top we did get a little wet. Glacial facials was what Jamie our tour guide called it when the spray came over the side. He was a very knowledgeable and entertaining guide. The trip was awesome and exceeded our expectations. The walk back was really nice too. The sun was shining and it felt warm after the last few days. We said so long to the girls, their ferry is on Wednesday so they have to move on a little more quickly. We stopped in Norris Point for a late lunch at the Cat Stop pub. Excellent smash burger and tomato basel soup. Our plan was to hike the Tablelands tomorrow so we headed towards Woody Point to find a place to stay. We did a quick tour of Woody Point and stopped in at the Legion for a nice chat with a couple of locals. So many people we meet share they have moved home from Alberta or Ontatio once they retired. Even the license plates say "Come Home". We found a little campground called Waters Edge for the night. The next day we absolutely loved the Tablelands Hike. It wasn't too challenging and the rain was only a light drizzle so we were quite comfortable. There were lots of people and a few nice dogs but not overly crowded. Once we finished the hike we headed to Corner Brook for the night.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeTrekking to NewfoundlandTraveler
    The drive in to Cornerbrook was very scenic.
    The drive in to Cornerbrook was very scenic.This is one of the few pictures I took of CornerbrookJust outside of town.Lots of water and trees in CornerbrookThe drive through the Bay of Islands was beautiful. Lots of small fishing areas.This boat had the most unusual tender but I couldn't bet it all in one shot.Here is the tender. How cute.We drove to the end of the peninsula that forms the boundary of the Bay of Islands.Some of this area has similar topography to the Tablelands but also much greener.The boardwalk along Bottle Cove beach has a cool replica of the ship James Cook sailed here on.The cove had a very narrow and shallow entrance. No large ships could enter.The hike had several levels.First level with a beautiful vista of the entrance to the bay.The drop off was very steepNext level had stairs and then a narrow path with a rope hand rail. Could have used my pole today.The path to the last level was steep and narrow.But what a viewComing down was a challengeBlow Me Down Provincial Park. Love these names.The beach at the provincial park was really nice. Very shallow and protected.There was a trail to the top of the bluff but after the walk in I wasn't interested.A little beachcombing instead of climbing the Governor's Staircase.Parking spot for the night, we really enjoyed it.View while I was making dinner. Didn't turn on the music, listening to waterfall instead.The park had so many cool features. Loved these hearts.

    Corner Brook and the Bay of Islands

    Sep 14–16 in Canada ☁️ 18 °C

    Randy said since Newfoundland is the home of Mary Brown Chicken we have to try it. I took him up on that and set our destination to the location outside Deer Lake. It was surprisingly good for fast food and the staff was over the top friendly. The drive from Deer Lake to Cornerbrook was very pretty. Cornerbrook is built on many levels so interesting to navigate through. We picked up some supplies and looked for downtown parking. We wanted to visit Boomstick Brewery. Just as we found the brewery it started to pour so we went in and sat at the bar. It was very upscale, more like a nice restaurant but the beer was good. A couple who looked familiar came in and Randy figured out we passed them on the Tablelands Trail. We had a great visit, a perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon in the city. We parked at the visitors center for the night. The next morning we headed to the Bay of Islands. This area has applied to be considered a Unesco Heritage Site and the application is under consideration. It was another spectacular drive and we went all the way to Bottle Cove Beach for a really good hike. There was also a nice boardwalk along the beach. We met a lovely dog and her owner on the boardwalk and found out the ship wreck was a short distance away in Cedar Cove. We decided against visiting it and went to Blow Me Down Provincial Park instead. I love the names. The park was closed but we could walk in and do a little exploring. Oh and we ran into the couple we spent yesterday afternoon with. Too funny. We drove back towards Cornerbrook and stopped for the night at Humber Arm South Day Park. We parked in a level spot with a fabulous view and the sound of a waterfall in the background. The small community built this park and welcomes travelers. Spotless washrooms and showers open 24 hours, a couple of trails, a gazebo with built in propane barbecues and free starlink. There was a small circular walk through the woods called Trail of Our Ancestors. Every few feet there was a painting done by local artists depicting part of day to day life through the years. There were communities on some of the islands that had been relocated as recently as the 1960s. It was so well done and is a work in progress. We met a few locals who were volunteering and they were so welcoming. This province continues to amaze me. A couple of vans and one c class also spent the night. What a great place.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeTrekking to NewfoundlandTraveler
    Passed the girls so we turned around and had a quick bisit.
    Passed the girls so we turned around and had a quick bisit.The road to Cape St George was so scenic. Except for the gravel operation.Such a beautiful coastline.The trail ran along the very edge of the cliff.Such a beautiful trail. We could walk around the very tip of the cape.The gravel operation was huge. It looked like the major employer for the area.The beautiful coastlineClose up. I was getting braver the longer we followed the trail.This looked like a smugglers cave.So much beauty.One of our favorite trails.The constant wind off the sea impacts what will grow. We parked in a stand of these trees.Cozy park up just steps to the trail and cliffs. There was a fire pit and a picnic table.The road to Long Point.Views of Gulf of St Lawrence on one side.Interesting lawn art and the Gulf of St Lawrence on the other side of the road.This was such a cool yard. Stones bones and antiques.So many cool things to look at.There was some farmland on this very narrow peninsulaAnd on this small peninsula in rural Newfoundland we saw this trailer. Too funny.Cape St George at top Long Point at the bottom. Very remote part of NewfoundlandWe enjoyed hanging out with Tilly and her people at Cape St George.

    Cape St George and Long Point.

    Sep 16–17 in Canada ☁️ 14 °C

    After a wonderful hot shower and a relaxing morning we headed out for Cape George. Tiffany and Crystal gave us a heads up about a really nice place to park up right at the cape. After passing Cornerbrook there weren’t many towns or even houses until we got close to Stephenville. We headed west before Stephenville and went through the small community of Port au Port and passed one of the biggest gravel pits I've ever seen. As we were driving we passed Crystal and Tiffany who spent their last two nights camped at Cape St George. We both pulled over for a quick catch up and a final final goodbye. We followed the coast to the most westerly point which was Cape St George. The village of Mainland set up a community park with several camp sites, a playground, bathrooms and trails. We chose a site surrounded by trees as the wind was forecasted to really pickup. The trail was stunning and ran along a cliff with a sheer drop to the sea below. Very scary at times especially when the wind gusts were 40 kilometers an hour. We met a lovely dog Tilly and her people Brian and Jamie. Brian was originally from Cornerbrook but ended up in Manchester for 30 plus years after university. He convinced Jamie to move to Newfoundland a few years ago and they were loving it. We hung out with them and wandered the gorgeous trails. Tilly was great company. We also could see seals playing in the waves far below. We had a really nice stay here but decided to continue our exploring the next morning. This part of Newfoundland is very remote and there is no cell service but when we were driving to Long Point there was free starlink at the Parish Hall in Lourdes. We sat in the parking lot and caught up with the outside world. The weather forecast does not look good so we decided to head to Stephenville after checking out Long Point. Almost to the end of the road we saw an Action Trailer. Small world. We drove as far as we could and could see the Gulf of St Lawrence on both sides of the road.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeTrekking to NewfoundlandTraveler
    Beautiful beach near Barachois Brook outside Stephenville
    Beautiful beach near Barachois Brook outside StephenvilleThe beach stretched on for a long time and we enjoyed the walk.No beach glass but lots of interesting stones and small shells.The sand dunes were really pretty. There was a lot of interesting drift wood.No sand flies with the cool wet weatherWe could have spent hours on this beach but the rain moved in so we moved on.Beautiful scenery even with the rain.We woke up to sunshine at the Grand Codroy RV Park.It was a beautiful little park with nice facilities.Heading towards Cape Anguille the clouds rolled back in.The most westerly point in Newfoundland.The waves were amazing.The wind was knocking me sideways.The road to the lighthouse was really challenging. Potholes big enough to lose the van.You can see why ferries were cancelled. Gale warnings for 2 days.Cool little bridge leaving the Codroy valley.1Only one lane and we kept the wheels on wooden planks.Arriving in Port aux Basques way earlier than planned.We went out for a walk to explore the town.Town is built on several levels and across numerous inlets.Don't know why they call this place the "Rock"

    Heading for the Ferry

    Sep 17–20 in Canada ☁️ 16 °C

    We needed to do laundry and Paddy's Pub in Stephenville had a laundry mat attached. The weather was not great so we thought an afternoon doing laundry in a pub was a wonderful idea. Before the rain we took a walk through Stephenville and found the bakery Brian and Jamie told us about. Coconut cream pie, a chocolate eclair and chocolate macaroon left with us. Unfortunately Paddy's is only open Friday and Saturday so no laundry. We had dinner out and a quiet night in Stephenville. I didn't even take a photo. The next morning the weather was even worse. We stopped at a beautiful beach between showers and were able to get a nice long walk in. We stopped at Grand Codroy RV park and did get our laundry done. The winds were so strong we were happy to be in a sheltered parking spot. We did have wifi so after laundry we watched an old Clint Eastwood film. The park had some beautiful trails but we didn’t get a chance to explore. We were glad we pushed our ferry out till Sunday because the Friday evening and all Saturday sailings were canceled. Saturday morning was cold and very windy but no rain so we set out to explore the Codroy Valley. We drove to Cape Anguille to see the lighthouse. This is the most westerly spot in Newfoundland. There was a very cool inn located in the lighthouse keepers lodging. The waves were unbelievable. On our drive we passed an abbatoir and Randy decided to go in. During hunting season they told him they dress approximately 100 moose a week. They were working on several and he said it was quite a sight. I stayed in the van. We slowly made our way to Port Aux Basques and the Shark Cove RV park for the night before our crossing. It was a small place in town and very close to the ferry terminal. Most of the people there were waiting for crossings. Those scheduled on the canceled sailings had to wait till Monday. We walked to the Legion and watched a dart tournament for the afternoon. Randy wanted to go out for dinner but there weren't any places close enough to walk. Most of the choices were fast food so we decided to stay in. We loved our time in Newfoundland but we were looking forward to starting the journey home.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeTrekking to NewfoundlandTraveler
    1Last Iceberg beers of the trip. Can't believe we forgot to pick up some to bring home.
    Trailer with chest freezers full of game.A full row of atvs and side by sides waiting to get on the ferry.Pickup truck pulling multi purpose trailer from New Jersey. Three chest freezers.On the ferry we go.1Last Iceberg beers of the trip. Can't believe we forgot to pick up some to bring home.Not an empty table in the place.Coming into North Sydney. Almost on mainland Canada.We were parked beside this group of hunters from New Jersey on the ferry.Off the ferry.2Picked this little guy up in Stephenville to remind us of the trip.

    Ferry and North Sydney

    Sep 20–21 in Canada ⛅ 13 °C

    We were up early and were very happy we couldn't hear or feel any wind. We heard the ferry horn late last night so we thought that the overnight ferry had sailed. We were a little anxious about the ferry being overbooked so even though we had a reservation we decided to line up really early. Lots of others had made the same decision so we had company in the line up. The sun was shining and it felt warmer than in days. There was a full line of atvs and side by sides beside us, most from Nova Scotia. There was also tons of hunters, many from the US and as far away as Florida. Many of them were towing trailers with multiple chest freezers being run by generators. Lots of moose and bear in the freezers. Lots of antlers in back of trucks and trailers. Lots of camouflage clothing. The ferry was crowded and finding seats was a bit of a challenge. We couldn't find a table in the lounge so we sat in reclining seats in the back. There were a couple of tour buses so lots of people wearing lanyards. Funny the trip was much shorter, only 6 hours but it seemed longer. The seas were good, a gentle roll you could feel when you walked, but comfortable. It was getting close to dusk when we arrived so we found a parking spot close by near the yacht club. Unfortunately their bar was closed but there was a nice trail so we got some exercise.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeTrekking to NewfoundlandTraveler
    One of our few wildlife spottings. Yes it is raining again.
    The Miners Daughter had a nice blend of homey touches and historical information.1I had to try the fried baloney. Dad used to serve this to us when we were kids. Better as a memory.So many cool pieces of historical information.The drive along the southern part of Cape Breton Island was pretty. We don't even notice clouds nowOccasionally we could see the Bras d'Or lake.The canal in St Peter's was an interesting stop. It doesn't look wide enough for large shipsI heard so many nice things about this small town from a good friend who lived here awhile.The canal opened up into the lake.Most of the lavender had been harvested but there was enough left to scent the air.We really enjoyed our visit to the lavender farm.Tatamagouche Brewery. A wonderful place to spend a few hours.Love the tag line.One of our few wildlife spottings. Yes it is raining again.The historical creamery in TatamagoucheThe local theater group held a practice in the evening. We could here a bit of the vocal exercisesThis was a combination gift shop and artisans studios.The Train Station Inn3These were some of the rooms at the InnDining cars and a lounge car2The inside of the lounge car. Very pretty and period specifically furnished.The dining car. I believe the kitchen was in the station building. The tin ceiling was beautiful.The view from our parking spot. The leaves are changing colour which made for a very pretty view.

    Tatamagouche is Tatamagood

    Sep 21–22 in Canada ☁️ 14 °C

    We had a quiet night in North Sydney and found a great restaurant for breakfast. The Miners Daughter was a beautiful building full of artifacts and historical background on the area. The service and food was very good and we enjoyed this stop. We wanted to pick up some lobster to bring when we visit friends on the way home. Lobster was in season in Shediac NB so we wanted to make a stop there. It was a little too far to drive in one day but we saw Tatamagouche was a manageable drive. We stopped there years ago and remembered it fondly. We enjoyed a stop in St Peters to check out the locks that allow boats to enter the Bras d'Or lake from the Atlantic. We also stopped at the Seafoam Lavender Company. What a beautiful farm on the Northumberland Strait. There was a small field that hadn't been harvested so the aroma was wonderful. They had great information on the various types of lavender and on the processes used to make their products. The gift store was hard to resist and we left with some lavender scented purchases. We arrived in Tatamagouche and checked out the historical creamery area. This would be our parking spot for the night. There was a museum, a gallery, a wooden boat builder and a small gift shop. The only thing open was the gift shop and we had a nice chat with the woman working there. She told us it was fine to park there but gave us a heads up the local theater group would be having a rehearsal later that evening. There were some nice trails and we saw three deer on the first trail. We also walked by a really cool inn close by. Someone had purchased the original train station and a number of old rail cars. The station was the office and a gift store and the rail cars were a dining room, a lounge and several sleeping accommodations. We also visited the local brewery. We really enjoyed the beer, the staff and the other patrons we met. The beer names were clever and the artwork excellent. Randy couldn't resist the poster for their Salty Sailor Lager.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeTrekking to NewfoundlandTraveler
    Stopped in Shediac for lobsters to go. They are cooked and on their backs in the fridge.
    The leaves are starting to change as we start out trip homeward.Two provinces behind us and three ahead.Stopped in Shediac for lobsters to go. They are cooked and on their backs in the fridge.Shediac Lobster Company where we bought our lobster.Retail entrance in front. Boats and packing plant in the back.Clerk where we bought our lobster recommended this place for lobster rolls. They were good.Meet up outside Frederickton with Karen and Larry. Lots of road stories shared.1Karen and Larry have put a lot of miles under their wheels. We had a great meet up.Grand Falls NB such a beautiful spot.The campgound was on the edge of the gorge. Beautiful fall colours.Last campground of the trip. Met a nice solo car camper traveling with her dog.Gorge in the morning as the mist lifted.Another beautiful travel day. Great to see the sun.We have seen so many of these signs in every province but none of the real thing.Fall colours in Quebec.Conservation area we couldn't park overnight.Beautiful spot for a walk.There were a few bugs.Boardwalk through the marshlands made for a very relaxing walk.Finally found a spot to park for the night in Cornwall.We were on the St Lawrence and there was a nice walking trail and parkland around us.

    Homeward Bound

    Sep 22–26 in Canada ☁️ 16 °C

    It was time to start thinking about heading home but we had a few stops to make on our way. We planned to stop to visit good friends, Dave and Dominique, in Port Hope and we wanted to bring a special treat. First stop Shediac where lobster was in season. We picked up a few and had lobster rolls for lunch. As we were heading west friends Larry and Karen, were heading east for a fall visit to Newfoundland. We managed to meet up for a quick visit at a truck stop outside Frederickton. It was great to catch up. I hope their travels exceed their expectations. We stopped for the night at the Grand Falls Gorge Campground in Grand Falls NB. It was a beautiful spot with amazing views of the gorge. We had tried to stop here on the way out but it was fully booked. We made great time the the next day and stopped at Cooper Marsh Conservation Area just inside Ontario. Three provinces in one day. Its a beautiful conservation area with a great review on iOverlanding. After a nice walk through the marshlands and a view of the St Lawrence we noticed no overnight parking signs so we had to move on. It was the first time the information on iOverlanding wasn't accurate. We moved on to the aquatic center in Cornwall and found a good spot for the night. We tried one of the lobsters for dinner and it was so good. Messy but good. We took a walk along the waterfront before setting out the next morning. We will have to come back to this area at some point and do some exploring. Not the rugged beauty of the east coast but still very beautiful. We made a quick stop in Gananoque and found some fresh produce at a roadside stand. We arrived in Port Hope in the afternoon for a wonderful two day visit. It was so nice catching up with these great friends and the two days passed so quickly. On our way home we stopped and looked at 7 different new campervans. Some were on the mercedes chassis and some on the dodge. None of the floor plans or features appealed to us as much as our van so we decided we will stick with what works for us. We arrived home late Saturday afternoon. Our friend Lorraine from Vancouver Island was at the house to greet us. She was visiting her mom and was staying with us. Having her at the house meant no end of travel let down and we had a great visit. We loved our trip to Newfoundland, traveling in the van is a lot of fun and very comfortable. We were gone for 36 nights and only spent 10 nights in a campground. We spent 3 nights in community parks where a donation was requested, 2 nights with friends and one night on the ferry. The other nights were wild camping. Randy really enjoys the way the van handles and it was really comfortable to spend so much time in. Even those rainy days when we couldnt get out much we didn’t find it too small. There were a few places we turned around due to the condition of the roads but we were able to see what we wanted to and we camped in some incredibly beautiful spots. We could stop when we wanted and change plans as required. We met so many interesting people, both locals as well as fellow travelers. Fuel was our biggest expense ranging from a low of $1.43 on Manitoulin Island to a high of $2.16 in Newfoundland. Our first big trip in the van was a huge success.Read more

    Trip end
    September 26, 2026