NEWFOUNDLAND – ANOTHER RAINY DAY.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KAREN OKIMOTO!
Day 154 – It rained all day. The temperature this morning was 52 degrees; it never got over 55 degrees during the day. We’re getting tired of this weather, but at least the continual rain keeps it cool. We were saying this afternoon that we don’t think we’ve ever been anywhere that got this much rain. People have been telling us since we got here that September was so beautiful, fall colors & all, and September really had the best weather. Well, I guess not this year. But tomorrow is another day & maybe then we can get some pictures of this area.
TRIP #6, MONTH 5, RECAP: A month ago we were at the top of the Northern Peninsula in Newfoundland. We’d gone to Pistolet Bay Provincial Park at that time rather than to Labrador then as planned, because of the weather & the high winds for the ferry crossings. Fast forwarding to today, one month later, and we find that the weather pretty-much controlled the entire month: where we went, what we did, and when we did it. After leaving Pistolet & spending the night across the street from the ferry terminal, we took the ferry to Labrador. It was windy, rainy, and foggy. It is still windy, rainy, and foggy today, interrupted only when Hurricane Dorian ripped over Prince Edward Island & Nova Scotia, only to travel between Newfoundland & Labrador over the Strait of Belle Isle, going right by us before turning to head out over the north Atlantic Ocean. We never really considered that we might encounter a hurricane while in Canada – Florida, maybe, but Labrador? The hurricane caused the ferry to be shut down for days which delayed many crossings & backed up the ports. When we did get back to Newfoundland, we spent several days sitting in heavy rain & high winds at Flowers Cove before it was safe to drive south to Gros Morne National Park. The rain & winds continued but we were more protected from them at this Park. We were able to get out occasionally for pictures of the incredible scenery this Park had to offer, we had a wonderful boat trip around Bonne Bay, and a wonderful dinner at Black Spruce Restaurant. Because of the weather again though, the changes to fall colors varied from place to place, so we left early & went south to where we are now, Black Duck Siding, sitting most days in the RV in rain, waiting for the weather to improve & for the fall colors to come out more in the north. Looking back on the month overall, we had about ten days where the weather was good enough to go out & do things. And to bring up another favorite subject, we spent two weeks of the month in Labrador becoming snack food for the Bountiful Biting Black Flies. Grin. On the other hand, we were surrounded by incredible scenery in Newfoundland, Labrador, & Quebec, complete with whales & bald eagles, so we are NOT complaining, however much it may seem that way. What an experience this has been! And for the coming month, we still have (hopefully), the fall colors at peak in Gros Morne National Park, some more new places to explore, and the trip back from Newfoundland through Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and to our land in Maine. We’re not finished yet.