Reset search
The US and Canada
  • Blue Brute Adventures
  • Blue Brute Adventures

The US and Canada

A 174-day adventure by Blue Brute Adventures Read more
+1
FollowInsightsInsightsCalendarCalendarPhotosPhotosShareShareBucket list
Newest first
  • Blue Brute AdventuresThe US and CanadaTraveler

    Impressive National Park

    August 1, 2025 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Our first major objective on the island is the West Coast and the World Heritage Gros Morne National Park. The scenery is breathtaking-taking with rugged shorelines, fjords and the unique desert-like tablelands area of the national park which is one of the (very) few places where you can walk on the earth’s mantle. Light houses, fishing villages, churches and cemeteries are plentiful (I think this will be a common theme on the island)Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresThe US and CanadaTraveler

    Tough Fishing Towns

    August 3, 2025 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    After the West Coast, we head to the centre of the island and its northern coast. They see ice bergs here in spring (unfortunately, we were a little late in the season), and it’s not hard to imagine the tough life carved out by fishermen over the past four centuries. The towns have a rough beauty about them and we were blessed by great wether (which, we were frequently told, is very, very, rare)Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresThe US and CanadaTraveler

    St John’s

    August 9, 2025 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    We arrive in the Provincial capital, St John’s, under beautiful weather but increasing wild fire threats. The wind is helping on the coast, but the skies are becoming increasingly smoky. We enjoy our time in the city, where the majority of the island’s population lives and works. It’s a great natural habour that has supported fishing for over 500 years. Downtown is lively in the evenings, and you don’t have to look far to see the strong Irish influence.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresThe US and CanadaTraveler

    Tough Country

    August 11, 2025 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    After St John’s, we have a couple of days before we need to catch the ferry back to the mainland. This gives us time to look at the far East and South coasts of the island. First stop is Cape Spear, the most Easterly point of Canada (and North America). This completes our geographical quad - the most Easterly, Westerly and Northern points accessible by road in North America, after getting to the most southerly road accessible point in South America a couple of years ago. After about an hour of driving the population dwindles. The weather here is dominated by thick fogs and fierce winds. The few villages are spread out and life looks very tough. Light houses (which also have very, very loud horns - because you can’t see the light through the fog) are plentiful.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresThe US and CanadaTraveler

    A New Deadline

    August 14, 2025 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 19 °C

    Our return to the mainland coincides with advice (finally) from the shipping company of the date to drop the Troopy off in Montreal. We’ve got nine days! So, we go the long way (which, admittedly, was the original plan) - 2,000km following the shoreline of the St Lawrence, and allowing for a few days in Quebec City and a full day to prep the Troopy. It’s a fair bit of driving each day, but the scenery is great. Still plenty of churches, cemeteries and lighthouses and we don’t have to travel far to encounter great views across the river/bay.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresThe US and CanadaTraveler
    11

    Quebec City

    August 19, 2025 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    We find a good campground on the outskirts of Quebec City and spend a full day preparing the Troopy and ourselves for the move across the Atlantic. With this sorted, we then have a couple of days to explore the city. It’s been about 22 years since we last visited. The history is fascinating and the city is vibrant. You’re never left wondering about their French heritage.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresThe US and CanadaTraveler
    12

    Success!!

    August 24, 2025 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 25 °C

    We get the Troopy to Montreal with only one minor problem - the handbrake is playing up. At this point it shouldn’t be a problem. We give instructions not to use it (shouldn’t be required) and we hand it over. We have a couple of hours to kill before we move to our Air BnB downtown so we visit the bowling alley next door for a bit of fun. We then have a few days before our flight to the US, so we about exploring Montreal by foot. The last time we were here it was about -20, so it’s a completely different experience this time. With the pressure of getting the truck shipped off our shoulders, we really enjoy our time in the city.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresThe US and CanadaTraveler

    New York, New York

    August 28, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    We have about three weeks to fill in while we wait for the Troopy to clear customs in the UK. Our first stop is New York. While we’ve been here on numerous occasions, the city never fails to fascinate us. But while the sights keep us amused, the highlight and purpose of the trip was to see the lovely Cheryl (unfortunately, Paul was in Australia).Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresThe US and CanadaTraveler

    A New Continent

    August 31, 2025 in Finland ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We arrive in Europe with our flight from New York to Helsinki. We’ve been here before and we only have a day and a half, but it’s enough to re-familiarise ourselves with the city. We do a city walk and enjoy some seafood in the stalls along the waterfront. The UN says it’s the happiest country in the world. It does seem very pleasant, although, they can keep their weather.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresThe US and CanadaTraveler

    Valletta - Part 1

    September 3, 2025 in Malta ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    It’s going to take a couple more weeks before we can pick up the Troopy, so we toss around a number of options. We come up with a great solution - Malta! We’ve not been there before (it becomes the 82nd country we’ve visited), and the weather (and costs) look far more attractive than the UK. First stop is Valletta, the nation’s capital, and it doesn’t disappoint. The broader capital region covers a number of heavily populated peninsulas. The people are friendly, the water and air are (very) warm, and the history of the place is fantastic.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresThe US and CanadaTraveler
    1

    Valletta - Part 2

    September 6, 2025 in Malta ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    We’re enjoying Malta so much, and a check of British weather confirms our suspicions, that we decide to extend our time in Malta by a couple of days (and still get to Southampton in time for the Troopy’s arrival). There is plenty to keep us occupied in Valletta. We have daily swims in the warm Mediterranean water and exploring Malta’s fascinating history and vibrant daily life.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresThe US and CanadaTraveler

    Gozo

    September 9, 2025 in Malta ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Having spent a week in the capital, we get a hire car and head to Malta’s “second” island, Gozo. It takes over an hour to travel the 50kms to the ferry, which only takes about 30 minutes to travel the 15km to Gozo. It’s less populated, but feels very similar to the main island. Great architecture and history, friendly people and clear, blue water (nothing like a paucity of rainfall to keep the ocean clear). There are forts and churches everywhere, and we have no problems filling in our few days on the island. The roads are…….. interesting, designed more for a horse and carriage rather than two-way traffic.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresThe US and CanadaTraveler

    The Rest of Malta

    September 12, 2025 in Malta ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Our last few days in Malta are spent exploring the main island. Rabat (and the Mdina Fortress) are up there with the best ancient cities in Europe (our view), and the churches, coastline and towns don’t disappoint.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresThe US and CanadaTraveler

    Worked out as planned

    September 16, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    We depart Malta with the news that the Troopy has arrived in the UK and has been cleared by customs. Fantastic! But we’ve still got a few days to kill before we can pick it up. Fortunately, this period coincides with Mark and Jo visiting London, so we get the opportunity to have a day with them. The rest of the time is spent in the Southampton/Portsmouth area. Apart from a flat battery, the Troopy is in good condition. We pick it up and head for the (next) ferry in North-West Wales.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresThe US and CanadaTraveler

    No New Flag

    September 20, 2025 in Wales ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    We managed to get the faulty handbrake inspected in Portsmouth, but unfortunately, it couldn’t be fixed. We need a new cable, which we’ll have to bring back with us on the next trip. So we head (somewhat) cautiously towards the ferry in Northern Wales. For most of the way the weather was atrocious, so only a few stops (the photos were all taken the morning of the ferry trip when the weather cleared, but it was only about 6 degrees). To fill in time while driving in the rain, there was much discussion over the whether or not the Troopy should receive a Welsh flag. Lisa was a firm no, based on the lack of formal nation status, whereas my “yes” argument was based on Wales having an international rugby team and the flag having a dragon on it. I lost.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresThe US and CanadaTraveler

    A Glimpse of Ireland

    September 23, 2025 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    The ferry crossing to Ireland is smooth (a good thing without a handbrake) and we arrive at Dublin port in the late afternoon and make our way to the campground on the Western side of the city. We only have three days, and the focus is on preparing the Troopy for storage and ourselves for the return home. But we do manage to spend a little time looking round the city (and probably a disproportionate amount of time in the Guinness factory). The highlight is the unplanned catch up with Nick and Suzy. We add a new flag to the Troopy to put it to bed an hour North of the city. It’s now going to take a week to get home.Read more

  • Blue Brute AdventuresThe US and CanadaTraveler

    Ist Stop-over

    September 26, 2025 in Finland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    It’s back to Helsinki (again) for our first stop-over on the way home. It’s a bit colder than when we were here a few weeks ago. But it is a lovely city. We stayed in a converted jail!

  • Blue Brute AdventuresThe US and CanadaTraveler

    2nd Stop-over

    September 29, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ 🌧 31 °C

    An 11 hour flight from Helsinki gets us to our second stop-over location - Bangkok. We only have 48 hours in the city - not enough to get over the jet lag, but we do have a good walk around Chinatown and the older parts of the city. The Thais are lovely people and the food is great.Read more

    Trip end
    October 1, 2025
  • 2026© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Help Center
  • Legal notice