Bye Newfoundland, Hello Cape Breton

August 27, 2010
Went caching for the day on Saturday and Sunday, also drove to Margaree . After a long walk on the beach at Port aux Basques, stopped for supper at Pizza Delight. Food was ok service was terrible.
We noticed that all the restaurants we were in in NL were spotlessly clean, and in every one but the last service was great.
Lined up at ferry terminal ready to spend the night. After they took our potatoes (something about a quarantine on NL spuds) we parked and went to bed. About 1130 there was a knock on the door, and a fellow said they could get us on the next ferry, leaving at midnight. We got up again and loaded up. This ship was the Joseph and Clara Smallwood, quite a bit different from the Atlantic Vision. Not nearly as comfortable and no entertainment but TSN on TV and the Safety DVD. Tried to get some sleep, but it was so cold. Thought perhaps they were acclimatizing us in case we had to abandon ship.
Found the crew was not as friendly as the Vision either. Trip was a bit longer, about 7 hours. Looks like there is frost in Cape Breton, so should see some fall colours soon.
The dogs were sure glad to see us when the trip was over. So now we are on Cape Breton Island and will probably spend a couple of days before heading for PEI

Still on the Rock

Sept 26, 2010
We are in Port aux Basques Newfoundland again. Got here yesterday and planned on seeing something of Rose Blanche and then making reservations to return to Nova Scotia. We drove out to Rose Blanche and visited the lighthouse in the rain and wind and decided to cut out stay short and head for NS on the next night’s ferry. Stayed at a parking lot of a pub that had been closed for a year and went for dinner at the “Friendly Fisherman” (excellent food and good prices). There are not many level spots for parking in this area. I can see why they call this province the rock. Beautiful country though. I love it in the rain and wind, so if I was to see it in sunshine, I would likely never leave.
Next day headed back to Port aux Basques, to find the earliest ferry we could catch would be Monday morning. Have to say I was not too disappointed. Went geocaching for the day. This is a great province for geocaching. Every cache has a magnificent view thrown in for free. Stayed at the parking lot at the visitors centre. (All the campgrounds nearby are closed for the season)
Woke up this morning to glorious sunshine and no wind. Darn and we have to leave tomorrow.
Will probably do some geocaching again ( got 4 FTF’s yesterday) and then move down to the parking lot at the ferry terminal for the night.
Jerry has had to do some work on the levellers this morning again. Good that he is not battling wind and rain today. We are very lucky that he knows how to repair this rig, not only saves money, but repair places are scarce too.
By the way, we survived Hurricane Igor very well. Lots of wind and rain, but nothing like they had on the east side of the island. The trans Canada hiway was closed and some communities completely cut off. Over 8 inches of rain in one day.
Well tomorrow we leave I guess, and should be in PEI on Tuesday.