Aug. 1st. - After traveling almost 8,000 KM., we have now arrived at 'The Rock' as Newfoundland is known by the natives. Last nights ferry was supposed to have left at 11pm. It left an hour late but still got in on time at 6am this morning. It was a rough night especially for Pat who had no sleep at all. First it was the wailing baby, then the constant announcements over the P.A system, then the snoring man in front, then the rustling lady behind who delved into bag after bag of potato chips and choc. bars!! On the return journey we will make sure to get a day crossing. After driving north for a couple of hours it was essential to pull over and get some sleep.

After the refreshing nap it was on to Corner Brook to look at the last retired Nfld steam train. It ran on narrow gauge track but stopped running in 1988.Deer Lake sees the start of the Viking Trail, so called because apparently the Vikings beat the Europeans by 1,000 yrs. in settling this area.Nfld has its own little time zone - half an hour ahead - hardly worth the technological battle required to reset your digital watch.

Aug. 2nd. - The "Flatlands" in Gros Morne National Park were quite unique to look at.They are mountains with completely flat tops, and few plants can grow because of the high iron and magnesium content.There were lots of hikers and many cyclists.This area is well known for its large moose and there are signs along the roads to warn against hitting them, but so far the only signs of such beasts are the droppings on the beach next to tonights camp spot.Upon arriving, there was a family from Ontario doing some fishing, and later a local man stopped to chat.He was going to build a beach fire from old lobster traps later in the evening, and asked us along.We may not go as it is darn chilly and a light sea mist has moved in.The weather so far has been quite good - cool, sun and cloud with occasional light showers.

Aug.3rd. What a grand day! Awoke to glorious sunshine and drove up to St. Barbe Bay where the ferry crosses to Labrador. After great 'thunks' the decision was made not to cross over and instead continue up the coast viewingLabrador across the straight. At Green Island Cove Pat saw his first iceberg ever. Heading inland towards St. Anthony on the east coast, two moose appeared but they lollopped off before we could get pictures. At St. Anthony's we had the best lunch ever in a quaint restaurant over looking the bay where whales put on a great performance for us. The light house keeper said he had been watching them all morning. The afternoon was taken up with a visit to the Viking interpretation centre at L' Anse aux Meadows - a UNESCO world heritage site. Again moose were seen there. Cape Onion and Ship Cove were intriguing little places where the local people had made a miniature village on the tiniest of islands. This is at the northern most point of Nfld. Due to such a full day little time was left to locate a campspot so guess where we are. You've got it - at the local dump! Well it was the dump until a few years ago when they covered it over and now it's a sight where people store their wood piles for the winter. Of course just after we arrived a couple appeared from out of the bush where they had been looking for bakeapples - a local wild berry. They stopped and chatted for about half an hour.

Aug. 4th. -

Holy macaroni we almost hit a moose.

He was the size of my wee hoose.

He darted from the bush, his mouth full of leaves,

Skidded on the asphalt and fell to his knees.

Brakes applied, boxes crashing on the floor,

That lucky moose will get to live some more.

Left the "dump" and as the poem describes, a moose jumped out and almost got hit.With hearts pounding in case the moose was hurt, we saw it manage to pick itself up just inches from the front wheels and lollop off into the bush.

Because most houses are built very close to the sea, the soil and growing conditions are often very poor, so people plant their veggie gardens along the sides of roads where it is more sheltered with richer soil.Sometimes these gardens are located quite far away.Potatoes are the favourite veg. grown.Also along the road sides are piles of wood used for heating.Because they are busy in the summer, people cut and stack these piles in winter.They use sleighs hauled by snowmobiles to transport it home.The government issues permits overseeing where and how much is cut.What strikes us is the honesty around here - nobody would even think about swiping someone else's stuff.At the camp spot tonight in Cow Head, a couple from Comox, B.C. stopped to chat. They were heading up the island as we are heading down. Tonights plan was to visit the local live theatre and after asking how much, we had a lucky escape as they were sold out!

Aug. 5th. - Tonight finds us at Deer Lake - again - as this was a stop on the way up island. Before coming here this morning we called at the Cow Head clinic as Pat's arthritis has worsened.After taking a number as others were doing we sat and listened as patients talked about yesterdays fishing etc. Owing to the dialect little got through to us. A half an hour had gone by before it eventually dawned on us that it was a blood clinic they were attending and no doctor would be there until much later! Pat did get to see a dr. here and was prescribed steroids. Once before we were in a drug store trying to get a few quinine pills and were advised they were on prescription here and would have to go to a clinic. By this time a queue had formed behind us as the pharmacist tried to explain where the clinic was. The whole line up had an opinion where the clinic was, what it was next to, when it opened and how long you had to wait etc. Because everyone was talking at once little of this we could understand!

Today as it was raining we did laundry, went to the post office, grocery store and library. Tomorrow is a new day.

Newfie news from Mr. Ted.