September 22 to 24 - Halifax, NS; Fredericton, NB and Ottawa, ON

Odometer - 62750

The time has dome that we must start our journey back west, so together again we departed Halifax on Thursday morning, leaving fond memories and a great reunion behind. We had replaced the muffler on arrival in Halifax- so were departing with far less noise than when we arrived ( a 2" by 4" hole does not a quiet vehicle make). Of course since the van had sat for a week, she needed a little incentive (a push) to get going. Margie was laughing hysterically as she rushed to get her camera. We are hoping she didn't catch us in the act. We headed west on the Trans-Canada, until a sign from Pugwash about pewter caught her eye, and after crossing to New Brunswick, we went to Hopewell Rocks, in the Bay of Fundy. The rock formations are along the shore in New Brunswick. We backtracked to Moncton and drove across to Fredericton arriving at Duane's (brother/uncle) house. He had dinner ready and waiting for our arrival.

Friday we went and visited Aunt Lottie, who is in a nursing home in MacAdam and is 103, we stopping at the Don Messer fiddle in Harvey Station and at a knitting/ yarn mill and on the way. The sun shone on us all day. We ended the day with a dinner in one of Fredericton's newest hamburger joints, Relish.

Saturday it was raining, but we headed to the Farmer's Market anyway. And, so apparently did everyone else from Fredericton. A beautiful choice of fruits, vegetables, jams, jellies and handicrafts. Got in the van with the objective of making it most of the way to Ottawa. As we he proceeded across NB, the rain came and went. We could not have order a better trip for seeing the fall leaves. Unbelievably, we passed through Quebec quickly and being in Ontario we called Garnet, who said- keep driving, you're almost here. the leaves on the Quebec side have not reached their fall color as yet.

Again we enjoyed a soak in the hot tub at my brother Garnet's in Ottawa. Today we enjoyed a quiet day chatting, and visit from family members. We also had a look at the map and discussed the westward route back. We start tomorrow by heading to Niagara Falls.

September 20 - Halifax, NL and Magog, PQ

Odometer - no change!

We arrived in Dartmouth for the reunion on Thursday, staying with Lida's friend Margie Bingly. That afternoon, we were able to pick up a new muffler for the van, and friend Jean Filla from the airport. Friday, the ladies shared a lunch and headed to Halifax itself for the reunion. While it wasn't supposed to start until 7 with a reception, they started early in the lobby as they were all checking in to the hotel.

Once the reunion started, there has been no time to write as they were all too busy reminiscing and Andrea headed off to her conference at 6AM on Sunday morning, in Magog, PQ, and is scheduled to fly back on Wednesday evening, to continue the journey on Thursday....that is assuming that her Air Canada flight actually takes off!

September 13 - Port-aux-Basque, NL

Odometer - 25544.0

Woke up this morning to gun shots and sunshine. We hope they got a moose. We decided since it was such a nice day, not having far to travel today, we should do some housekeeping. Laundry is $3 a load, at ten we started westward (actually south) on the TCH - the Gilly mountains on our right (hills covered with trees). The scenery is not as spectacular as the rest we've seen on this island. Arriving in Port-aux-Basque early, we drove the most southerly road to the end of the line at Rose Blanche - The road was only completed in 1965. Enjoyed visiting the lighthouse, the only Canadian lighthouse built of granite, first in the 1870's and rebuilt in 1996 from the same quarry. Remained a beautiful, sunny, warm day. Checked out the town of Port-aux-Basque, a small hilly town which seems to revolve around trucking and the ferry terminal. At 6 PM hit the ferry staging area and got in line to await our ferry ride to North Sydney - a nice, new ferry and good beds. Tomorrow we head towards Halifax.

September 12 - River Brook, NL

Odometer - 25430.2

About 7c this AM, so had breakfast out, and went around Corner Brook, which has a big pulp and paper mill with stacks and stacks of timber. Followed route 450 down past Blow-Me-Down Provincial Park to Bottle Cove. It was windy enough to blow me down. Great elevation differences along the route - cliffs at one point, sea level at another. Lots of fishing boats, nets and lobster traps.

On down the TCH to the Port-au-Port peninsula, again a windy, winding road. More houses and people on the peninsula than we expected, with a huge limestone quarry and direct to boat loading over a cliff. Dramatic waves hitting the rock cliffs with the wind. Back to the TCH again where we ran into a lot of bridge construction. Down the road at River Brook we pulled into a little campsite with the moose hunters. So far we haven't seen a moose come back. Of course they invited us to a campfire tonight, but we have bedded down in our little yellow machine.

September 11 - Corner Brook, NL

Odometer - 25180.1

Beautiful scenic overlook of Trout River Lake, and went to a cookhouse shelter and did breakfast. The Gros Morne Park ranger stopped by and told us that a park interpreter would be leading a hike. We packed up quickly and made it to the trailhead just as he was starting to give his talk on rocks and flora. He explained how the earth's mantle moved causing one side of the mountains in the valley to be red, and the other grey-green. opined out small flowers growing among all the rocks. Hike ended at a small waterfall coming down from the flat land of the Tablelands.

Leaving there, we stopped at the Discovery Center and learned more about Gros Morne being a UNESCO site. Left the park about 4 PM and took the TCH to Corner Brook, and since it was late, misty and windy we spoiled ourselves with a motel for the night.

September 10 - Trout River, NL

Odometer - 25091.2

Departed St. Anthony in overcast, misty 9oC weather, and headed on the final part of our tour down the west side of Newfoundland. Moose season opened, lots of hunters out and several had already gotten their moose. They cleaned them beside the road. At Port aux Choix, we pulled in and saw the lighthouse. Quite barren, and we visited their museum - it is an archeological site for several different peoples. They were already closing the place down for the season, and it was still windy and overcast. just down the road, we spotted folks looking in a field- looked over and were treated to the sight of a small herd of caribou. The road is along the shore, with the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the west- not the dramatic cliffs of eastern Newfoundland.

Further down the road, we pulled into The Arches Provincial Park, where waves eroded sandstone from around bedrock, creating a series of about 4 arches. There were also a lot of the tuckamore trees- pines which are growing close to the ground and bent due to the wind. Not too far beyond the provincial park was Lobster Cove Lighthouse - part of Gros Morne National Park. It had lots of photos of people who lived in the area from 1900 to 1970's. The light house is still operational, so not permitted upstairs. Several good hiking trails in the area and great views of the bay. Went around the bay to the south side of the park, and drove to the far end of the road, which is the Trout River campground. The temperature is supposed to drop, so tonight we built a campfire and toasted marshmallows. Clear sky, bright full moon with the Tablelands rock formation in the distance. Snuggled up in our down sleeping bags - will let you know how cold it got in the morning.

September 9 - St. Anthony, NL

Odometer - 24780.1

After our breakfast at the B&B, laundry and the grocery store, we went to Fisherman's Point in St. Anthony, where another lighthouse and a small iceberg were located. Andrea climbed 474 steps up to a cliff viewpoint, and spotted a second iceberg. On our way back through town, we stopped at Grenfell's museum, and across the street, viewed murals done in the rotunda of the local hospital. They were completed in 1968 and are a series of hand-done tile, depicting the Newfoundland people and landscape. Really well done, the artist was a Spanish potter.

Headed from there's to the northerly point of L'Anse aux Meadows, the UNESCO site where the Vikings landed and lived for less than a decade, where the original site is in the condition as found, while a second adjacent site has a re-built house and costumed interpreters depicting life in the site 1000 years ago. It covers a large reserve and we watched 2 bull and one cow moose feeding in the area. A French cruise ship anchored in the local bay, quite a different ship than we are used to seeing on these shores.

Following this, we checked out Pistolet Bay Provincial Park, and Ship's Cove - another iceberg in the distance. Lots of wood stacks, chopping and stacking of wood for the winter. Several roadside gardens growing potatoes and cabbage all fenced in. They're next to the road as the road crews clear the land! Pulled in for the night, and it started to rain/mist. Starting our drive back down the west coast tomorrow, where we will now stop and see the sights. The land up here is more wind-swept than elsewhere.