Onwards To Newfoundland!
Monday June 17 2002
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Location
|
Odometer (km)
|
Time of Arrival
|
Rest Time
|
Gas Expenses
|
|
St. Ann's |
2307
|
08:10
|
-
|
$46
|
|
North Sydney ferry terminal
|
2346
|
09:00
|
9 hrs.
|
-
|
|
Port aux Basques NF.
|
2346
|
18:30 *
|
-
|
-
|
|
Corner Brook
|
2576
|
20:45
|
14 hrs
|
-
|
 |
Céline awoke early in the morning, stepped out of character and went down to the beach alone with Shayna. She felt something special that morning and we only found out why a week or so after the trip. Her Mother (who recently passed away) and Father honeymooned on this very site and most likely walked this beach numerous times. She shot this picture of Shayna on a wall next to the beach after the both of them were chased from the shoreline by a surprisingly big wave. The beach is on the Atlantic ocean and faces the area the ferry we will be taking in a few hours leaves the mainland. |
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We were underway by 7 am and conquered Smokey Mountain rather well,
the previous day in the clouds made us seasoned travelers already ;-) |
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As we exited the Cabot Trail at Kelly's Mountain we had to cross the Seal Island Bridge, 110 feet high and under construction (we had to stop on it and wait) I'm not sure Céline noticed it was swaying as her eyes were closed for the duration. Mine would of been too if it was possible. The view of the Bras D'Or Lakes from it was awesome though. |
 Arriving
in North Sydney we fueled up and made a last stop at Tim
Horton's before getting in line at the Marine
Atlantic Ferry terminal. We boarded the MV
Caribou and parked the van on the lower deck. Shayna stayed in
the van for the 6 hour crossing of the Cabot Strait with no "incidents".
We were SO proud. The photo shows North Sydney from mid-ship as we pulled
out of the harbour. |
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With mainland Canada fading in the background and no land in sight ahead I started feeling very small. The immensity of the ocean is a very humbling experience. A few hours into the trip we saw a pod of dolphins around the ship but they disappeared as I tried to get a picture. This was the first time at sea for both of us. I was surprisingly NOT sick and managed to do some exploring of the ship. |
| Céline, anxious to set foot on solid ground was the perfect lookout and was the first to see Newfoundland and the lighthouse at Port aux Basques while "on watch". |  |
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Laaaaaand HO!!!! Port aux Basques and the Long Range Mountains behind it. The mountains we will be following north for 700 km over the next 3 days are snowcapped!! |
| Pulling into the harbour with great anticipation of finally setting foot on a long time dream and yes, getting ashore too! Newfoundland at last! |  |
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On the Trans Canada Highway, (known as the TCH on "The Rock") we got a head start on the few dozen camper trailers and motorhomes that were on the ferry and found ourselves on empty highway headed into a strangely stark and rugged landscape. This was truly a different place as was evident in the vegetation and geology. Everything was so different and we were only just starting out... |
