Newfoundland Aug 27 - 31

Aug 27 - we continued southwest on the T.C.H. to Stephenville, once again we dropped the trailer off and drove to the Port au Port Peninsula. This small peninsula has a couple dozen tiny fishing villages, the population are descendants of Acadian settlers. The weather was very windy (again) and a bit rainy so we only made a couple stops. We were driving along this rustic coast and came over a rise and there's a huge mining operation, it's a limestone/dolomite mine. They load the product on to ships right there. Back in Stephenville we drove around town, it was a US Air Force base until 1961. There are acres of tarmac going to waste, the local airport does use one runway. There are also several hangars and other buildings only a few in use and maintained. Denis has been looking for back tires for the trailer and a small OK Tire had them so we'll do that in the morning.



Wild waves, Port au Port Peninsula

Aug 28 - took the trailer to the tire shop and true to their word we had two new tires and  were on the road by 8:30. We went directly to JT Cheesman campground about 10 km from Port aux Basque, we'll stay here for 3 nights. We have the luxury of wifi in the trailer but not cell coverage. We toured around Port aux Basque, the terrain really defines the town, there are pockets of development inlets and  bays. We then drove east along the south coast to the end of the road, about 40 km. There is a very unique lighthouse at Rose Blanche. It is a granite house and light tower, it's been completely rebuilt. The tower was still standing but the house was in ruins. On our way back through Port aux Basque, Denis gave in and bought a bottle of screech.

Rose Blanche Lighthouse

Yards are small and not level, note the clothes line over the trampoline net....

Sharing our Screech

Aug 29 - we headed north and explored a couple side roads that we'd passed up on the way here. We went to a couple more lighthouses at Cape Ray and Cape Anguille. Denis visited a small museum/collectible shed that we happened upon on a side road. The terrain changes very quickly here, if you go 10 km to the south and then east it's all rock, 10 km north it's heavily forested slopes. The highlight of the day for me was garden beets and carrots we bought along the way, Denis finally got his 'blue' potatoes but they are actually purple. Along with salmon we had a very tasty supper.

Great old Ford at museum



You gotta love the irony!

Aug 30 - we declared a holiday from touristing, slept late and I cleaned the trailer while Denis did outside maintenance. It was a nicer day than we've had for awhile. I picked some blueberries, not nearly as many or as easy to pick as when we were in the north, but I'll be sorry to leave the berries behind.