Newfoundland

Joe and I crossed into Newfoundland last Thursday after a 17 hour ferry ride. One of the four engines was out of commission, so the trip was longer than the anticipated 14 hours. We had a bunk in the dorm and found some good bluegrass music in the lounge and made some new friends. The country here is much hillier than Nova Scotia and has tons of lakes as well as being surrounded by the ocean and all ofl its inlets, bays and fjords.

When you mix two wheel travel with camping tents, we tend to be a different type of person, character even.

Paul, thirty something from Vancouver went out and bought a 1980 Honda 750, put on new tires and a chain and sprocket and headed east 4000 miles. He is now burning a quart of oil every 500 miles, so we hope he makes it home OK.

Coleen, a young and attractive airline flight attendant from Austin said she rode a bike as a child, but recently bought a 1200 RT and has put on 9000 miles in the last 35 days, camping along the way.

Marcel of France rode his bicycle across the states, turned around and rode back and is now ending up his ride at Cape Spear, the easternmost point in North America. Marcel is 63 years old, keeps a journal and blogs frequently.

A 70 year old Brit took the cake though. He had flown to Santiago, Chile and decided to buy a motorcycle. He found a new Honda 250, loaded it up and rode north. That was 20 months ago. He also criss crossed the USA before coming up here. His plan is to turn around in Newfoundland and return to Washington, DC and return to England.

Joe and I must fit in well as two of these people mentioned us in their blogs.

We are still enjoying ourselves and staying safe. It has been cloudy and cool the last couple of days with light rain at times. The Gros Morne National Park that we are now in is quite spectacular. This is the first hotel that we have stayed in since entering Canada, camping the rest of the time except for the night at Bob and Janis's home. Tomorrow we will head south and leave Newfoundland on the Thursday morning ferry, arriving back in Nova Scotia just after noon.