Fording the Cabot Strait - Car Camping in Newfoundland

[scarysharkface]

Of course, between here (Indiana) and there (Newfoundland) is Nova Scotia. We've got family on Cape Breton, which is convenient in a couple of ways. Having worn a track in the asphalt with the KLR over the years, this time we took the dirt roads to the ancestral home at Mira..

First we went this way...

And that way...

And this way...

We were (over) loaded up pretty good...

But the Jeep handled reasonably well regardless of its top-heavy configuration...

Good times..

Never underestimate the rehabilitative powers of sticking an arm out into the relative wind...

Almost there, but not close enough to wait, if you know what I mean..

Much more to follow...

John

 

[AZchris]

Pics look great. I would love to take some long dirt roads like that, they look pretty smooth too.

What brand basket do you have on your Congo Cage?

 

[Hoosier 45]

Hi John,
I see you have a rack on top. I would like to see it in person sometime. My nephew has a jeep just like yours. They will be traveling to Cape Lookout with us. It looks like the rack would really help out on freeing up a lot of inside space.

Martin

 

[Boggie]

Dirt roads in Newfoundland

If you are coming to Newfoundland be sure to drive the southern dirt road along Red Indian Lake. There are some great (unofficial) camp spots and swimming holes too. A great off the track place to visit is the Burin Peninsula as well Coast of Bays. I'll follow this thread and if you run out of ideas just let me know, I live at the end of the road.
Bill

 

[scarysharkface]

AZchris - The basket is the Safari Rack from KargoMaster. It's their largest size.

Hoosier 45 - Give me a holler and we can meetup for lunch.

Boggie - We are already home, but did make it to your area.

John

 

[scarysharkface]

We eventually made our way to Mira, said hello to family and walked down to the beach..

Took some pictures..

Danced in the sand a bit...

And generally just enjoyed ourselves..

John

 

[scarysharkface]

It's nice that the entire family is into photography. It gives us a lot of interesting perspective on values and interests that parents aren't often able to discern. Even when they're honked-off at Mom and Dad and not talking, they're still capturing what's important to them..

And they do grow up so very quickly..

Heading out across the old Sydney and Louisbourg Railroad drawbridge over the Mira River to fetch some dinner..

Just because they're good kids doesn't mean they enjoy sitting next to each other when we hit the chip-wagon for dinner..

Down by the water, and as if there was any doubt about the lengths I'll go to for even the most ill-composed shot...

We decided somewhat at the last minute to spend the night in a cabin at Arm of Gold campground near the ferry terminal, since we had to be up early for the boat..

John

 

[rain76king]

Can I ask what camera combo your using? The clarity is beautiful...

 

[scarysharkface]

I'm using a Canon EOS 50D with Tamron 18-270mm zoom. Tracy is shooting a Nikon D300 with a couple of different Nikon lenses I'm not sure about. I think we both really like the Canon. I'm utterly confounded by the Nikon.

John

 

[scarysharkface]

It's an early morning with a not-too-terribly-long wait at the North Sydney ferry terminal, then we're off. Soon enough, we're on The Rock..

Capturing the soul of the land begins in earnest..

At The Wreckhouse..

Up the TCH a short way from PAB, at The Wreckhouse, the T'railway railbed runs alongside the highway..

Right next to the sea..

Riding it is on my bucket list. For now, walking it will do just fine..

The cat-bird seat, overlooking all of it from a nearby knoll..

John

 

[scarysharkface]

We couldn't have asked for better weather..

We hung around for a bit, soaking-in the view and ultra-clean air. Soon enough, though, we needed to boot it up the road to meetup with a friend from www.ridetherock.com at the firehall in Stephenville..

Andrew is a firefighter who spends many of his free hours these days doing a full-on restoration of a Honda XR600R from the early 1980's. His work is impeccable, and finally meeting him in-the-flesh is an opportunity I didn't want to miss. Great guy.

After a too-short visit, Andrew steers us into town for vittles. Best burger I think I've had, and Sarah really liked the poutine (aka "goo").

He also recommended we aim for Picadilly Park, on the Port Au Port peninsula, to setup camp for the night. It's a beautiful place, and we had it all to ourselves..

Boy make fire good..

John

 

[Corey]

Outstanding pictures.
Looks like a very fun trip.

 

[scarysharkface]

The campground proprietor suggested that the forecast called for rain the following morning. Luckily it was not so.

Makes me tired just looking at her..

Soon enough we found the motivation to break camp. The odds of this perfect weather lasting were slim, and we didn't want to waste it..

Just up the road a bit was Long Point, which we'd been told is a must-see..

John

 

[scarysharkface]

More of Long Point..

Beautiful rocks..

Beauty..

I struggle with what shots to post, because it's just such an overwhelmingly lovely place. Add to that my inability to ignore the imprinted smells and sounds, and surely you understand..

John

 

[scarysharkface]

I couldn't be more pleased with how well the Jeep's traction control handled the beach rocks. Any wheel-spin and we would have had problems..

And of course the grasses and muskeg.. No wheel-spin meant minimal disruption of the track we took further out toward the point..

Jeep pr0n..

Even here, this far off the beaten path, civilization leaves a mark..

The weather holds..

John