Fording the Cabot Strait - Car Camping in Newfoundland

[scarysharkface]

By now we are past the lake and will pickup the "road" at some point, I think..

The surface deteriorates considerably. The rocks are bigger and in places the road has washed-away leaving some (un)reasonably-deep surprises in the dimming light..

I think this is the actual, real, not-a-logging-road road..

A milestone (kilometerstone?) for the Jeep..

And according to the Canada topo, it passed while some distance out in the boonies..

The road by now is spectacularly crappy. The protruding rocks are larger and blend-in more with the roadway (shadows really helped, and now they're all but useless), the if it's not a rock it's a big pothole. And of course, the sun is setting and we've got miles yet to go before we hit pavement again..

Thinking to myself that this would be a beautiful place to be stranded for the evening, we continue at a mild pace to keep the surprises less-so..

Alas, pavement is soon under the wheels and we make good time in the dusk toward Barachois Pond Provincial Park. We pass a couple of moose along the way, get checked-in and setup in the dark far away from the rest of the campers in a vacant day-use area the rangers suggested..

John

 

[scarysharkface]

Morning comes early, but it's not raining so it's all good. Showers then hit the road..

We grab breakfast and meander South and West along the coast..

Beachcombing..

The blue sky and clouds do interesting things to the water..

John

 

[upcruiser]

Finally had a chance to get online with my laptop (iphones can't handle trip reports heavy in images!) and let me just say, WOW. What a fantastic trip. I love the way you tell the story primarily through images, that speaks to me more than words ever could. What a great family experience and lifelong memories you are building from this trip. So cool. I haven't been out that way yet but this just motivates me more to make it a priority. Nice work and thanks for taking the considerable time to share it.

 

[scarysharkface]

Sorry for the delay in continuing this trip report...

We continue until the road begins to peter out..

And there is a choice of continuing down to the beach or stopping at this overlook..

On the way back North I can't resist this shot of our first stopping point of the day.. Cool how the views change when you're going the other direction!

We cross a bit of the T'railway as we approach the TCH again..

We explore a bit in the Codroy Valley..

And head down to another beach..

John

 

[scarysharkface]

You show me someone who isn't easily entertained by the stuff that washes up on any beach and I'll show you someone who isn't one of this family..

Nice sandy dunes here as well..

And with that, we're as much as back on the road for at least a little while..



John

 

[scarysharkface]

We have some time, since our ferry has been delayed several hours due to mechanical issues (it's running on one engine instead of two, apparently), so we motor on over toward Rose Blanche..

The weather is different along the Southern coast..

It's like the moon here, if the moon had rain and plants..

Such a rugged landscape..

And civilization thrives..

John

 

[scarysharkface]

This is the community of Rose Blanche..

Nestled between the rocks and water..

Just past and up the hill, where we are, is the road to the lighthouse..

In many ways the scenery changes around every turn, yet it some ways there is a brutal consistency. At least these aren't going to be chewing on us..

We reach the end of the road and discover that there's a fee to walk over the hill to view the Rose Blanche Lighthouse, so instead we poke around and enjoy a few of the free attractions on the other side of the parking area..

I think the kids are enjoying this. I hope they are. I do think they appreciate that we've drug them to a part of the world most people will never see..

It seems that this is how my family sees me, as I look down to check the last exposure..

John

 

[scarysharkface]

On the way out to Rose Blanche we passed a boardwalk extending across the tundra/muskeg/bog/rocks/etcetera and made a note to stop on our return..

I believe it was technically closed due to structural issues, but we continued..

This was definitely one of those "watch where you walk" endeavors..

Nearing the end, we were greeted with a bench which offered a good, relaxing view of a waterfall..

It's a neat little walk, and while not overwhelming in what is seen, still worth the thirty minutes of diversion if you're in the area..

Interesting plants along the walk..

And another milestone for the Jeep..

John

 

[Blackhorserider]

We have some time, since our ferry has been delayed several hours due to mechanical issues (it's running on one engine instead of two, apparently), so we motor on over toward Rose Blanche..

The weather is different along the Southern coast..

It's like the moon here, if the moon had rain and plants..

John

I find myself tracking your movements using Yahoo Maps so I can see where you are along your Journey and where all these beautiful places are...

Hillie

 

[scarysharkface]

I find myself tracking your movements using Yahoo Maps so I can see where you are along your Journey and where all these beautiful places are...

Hillie

It would be fun to have the geo-tagging option installed in the camera. So many cool places, yet so little time!

More pics to follow..

John

 

[westyss]

dont think for a minute that we didnt notice the duct tape covering ____???
Maybe the check engine light??

 

[scarysharkface]

dont think for a minute that we didnt notice the duct tape covering ____???
Maybe the check engine light??

Don't you wish!

It covers that laser-bright blue high-beam indicator. I can see it clearly through the tape during daylight, and at night it is absolutely blinding. So a friend suggested the duct tape and it's just about perfect. :smiley_drive:

John

 

[AZchris]

Don't you wish!

It covers that laser-bright blue high-beam indicator. I can see it clearly through the tape during daylight, and at night it is absolutely blinding. So a friend suggested the duct tape and it's just about perfect. :smiley_drive:

John

Haha, I HATE THAT LIGHT. When I saw your pic I knew exactly why the tape was there.

 

[Root Moose]

It covers that laser-bright blue high-beam indicator.

Seems all auto manufacturers do this. "He's got his high beams on! Quick! Do something to ruin his night vision!" Nuts. When I get around to it I'm boing to change the bulb to a red one... or something.

 

[Blackhorserider]

<tap> <tap> Hello? Anybody there?