Distance: 86.21
Time: 3:08
Elevation: 743
Weather: 18-26 Perfect!!
Room: Wonderful 10
Flats: 0
Woke up at 5 am thinking it was 6 and by the time I figured out what time it really was, I was wide awake. Darn! The crossing was very smooth. A small bit of rolling as we went to bed but it was dead calm when we woke up. At 2 am I woke and looked out the window and there was a lighthouse blinking off in the distance and some communities as you could tell with the glow from the lights. Not quite sure what shore they were on. Even looking at the map it is hard to tell.
We were up so we headed down to the snack bar for a coffee. Dave came down a bit later. Once the buffet opened up we headed for breakfast. Tried to keep to my normal breakfast as much as possible...as it has been working for me for the past 90+ days. On the ferry when they do an announcement it is very loud and in every room. So those who thought they might want to sleep in do not! The fellow working the buffet said they don't want anyone to sleep in and not be ready to unload.
We had another hour or so to wait so went and changed and packed up the bags. Dave and I went down to the car deck when allowed and rode off. Dave walked as he had Nancy's bike as well. Greg and Nancy had the luggage so they had to wait for the shuttle to take them off the boat. We all met at the terminal, Greg got on the bus and I headed off. A quick stop to take a picture at the Welcome to Newfoundland sign and then up the hill.
I stopped with the 2 other young riders at the tourist bureau just to make sure I got on the right road out of town. The guys still hadn't decided what route they were taking or how many days to get to St John's. Wished them a good ride and a good school year and headed off.
The highway was amazing. First you followed along the North Arm through Danville and beautiful views.
Then you followed the river as you climbed up a bit to the higher land. Up top it was very tundra like.
Lots of "ponds" as they call them here and I kept my eyes open for moose but none were seen. Very beautiful. Ride was great. Big shoulder and very quiet for the first 45 km. Wonderful ride and it flew by!
At 45 km the junction with Hwy 1, the Trans Canada Highway, and it became a different story. I stopped for a smoothie at the Tim Hortons/Gas Station/Convenience Store/Subway. It was the busiest place I had seen in quite a while. I stood in line and had a nice talk with a local fellow and a younger guy from Alberta who was just off the ferry. The local guy was so nice but it was hard to understand him as he had a very strong accent. He asked if I had seen a moose yet and said I might. Lots around. I told him I had seen the sign warning of accidents with moose and that there were 660 moose crashes last year. He said that is an old sign and they have to replace it. Had a bike discussion with the younger fellow and he said he hopes to do the XCan crossing one day. Got my smoothie and the local fellow held the door open, wished me well and told me to take care and joked that if I drank that whole smoothie I would have to stop and go to the bathroom. We laughed. I had a piece of my bagel in the sunshine with my smoothie and was just finishing when Dave and Nancy and their friends arrived.
I headed off for the next half of the ride. Road was still great but the traffic was like being in the city!! I guess being the Monday and end of the long weekend people were heading home. There were lots of cars parked along the side of the road with ATV trailers and Greg's van driver said they are all people who have cabins in the back woods and use their ATVs to go in. Again the scenery was beautiful but it was so busy on the road it was harder to look around.
A few more small ups and downs and wonderful views and then the turn off to Holyrood and 6 km of downhill to The Schooner Inn. The road was blocked off as the bank had sluffed and they had machines and supplies to fix it. Being holiday Monday they were not working so Greg met me at the highway and we went through the worksite.
The B& B was so nice and quaint overlooking the bay. We had a nice afternoon talking to Colette and sitting on the deck. Perfect afternoon.
The bottom suites had some plumbing issues which Colette thinks was from the road work and so she had to do some cancelations as well as find another place for Nancy and Dave. So she was a little stressed. But it all worked out and she drove the Pattersons' luggage over to the other accommodations when they arrived.
Greg and I headed out for dinner at the only diner in town left open. Yes we had fish and chips again! I think if have eaten more chips on this trip than I have over the course of the past 10 years!!! But they were good. The diner was so busy that they ran out of food...but Nancy and Dave had eaten there earlier and just came back for salad so they were able to get in. Walk back to the Schooner Inn and bedtime.
A rather relaxing day. Onward. Heidi
Time: 3:08
Elevation: 743
Weather: 18-26 Perfect!!
Room: Wonderful 10
Flats: 0
Woke up at 5 am thinking it was 6 and by the time I figured out what time it really was, I was wide awake. Darn! The crossing was very smooth. A small bit of rolling as we went to bed but it was dead calm when we woke up. At 2 am I woke and looked out the window and there was a lighthouse blinking off in the distance and some communities as you could tell with the glow from the lights. Not quite sure what shore they were on. Even looking at the map it is hard to tell.
We were up so we headed down to the snack bar for a coffee. Dave came down a bit later. Once the buffet opened up we headed for breakfast. Tried to keep to my normal breakfast as much as possible...as it has been working for me for the past 90+ days. On the ferry when they do an announcement it is very loud and in every room. So those who thought they might want to sleep in do not! The fellow working the buffet said they don't want anyone to sleep in and not be ready to unload.
We had another hour or so to wait so went and changed and packed up the bags. Dave and I went down to the car deck when allowed and rode off. Dave walked as he had Nancy's bike as well. Greg and Nancy had the luggage so they had to wait for the shuttle to take them off the boat. We all met at the terminal, Greg got on the bus and I headed off. A quick stop to take a picture at the Welcome to Newfoundland sign and then up the hill.
The highway was amazing. First you followed along the North Arm through Danville and beautiful views.
At 45 km the junction with Hwy 1, the Trans Canada Highway, and it became a different story. I stopped for a smoothie at the Tim Hortons/Gas Station/Convenience Store/Subway. It was the busiest place I had seen in quite a while. I stood in line and had a nice talk with a local fellow and a younger guy from Alberta who was just off the ferry. The local guy was so nice but it was hard to understand him as he had a very strong accent. He asked if I had seen a moose yet and said I might. Lots around. I told him I had seen the sign warning of accidents with moose and that there were 660 moose crashes last year. He said that is an old sign and they have to replace it. Had a bike discussion with the younger fellow and he said he hopes to do the XCan crossing one day. Got my smoothie and the local fellow held the door open, wished me well and told me to take care and joked that if I drank that whole smoothie I would have to stop and go to the bathroom. We laughed. I had a piece of my bagel in the sunshine with my smoothie and was just finishing when Dave and Nancy and their friends arrived.
I headed off for the next half of the ride. Road was still great but the traffic was like being in the city!! I guess being the Monday and end of the long weekend people were heading home. There were lots of cars parked along the side of the road with ATV trailers and Greg's van driver said they are all people who have cabins in the back woods and use their ATVs to go in. Again the scenery was beautiful but it was so busy on the road it was harder to look around.
A few more small ups and downs and wonderful views and then the turn off to Holyrood and 6 km of downhill to The Schooner Inn. The road was blocked off as the bank had sluffed and they had machines and supplies to fix it. Being holiday Monday they were not working so Greg met me at the highway and we went through the worksite.
The B& B was so nice and quaint overlooking the bay. We had a nice afternoon talking to Colette and sitting on the deck. Perfect afternoon.
The bottom suites had some plumbing issues which Colette thinks was from the road work and so she had to do some cancelations as well as find another place for Nancy and Dave. So she was a little stressed. But it all worked out and she drove the Pattersons' luggage over to the other accommodations when they arrived.
Greg and I headed out for dinner at the only diner in town left open. Yes we had fish and chips again! I think if have eaten more chips on this trip than I have over the course of the past 10 years!!! But they were good. The diner was so busy that they ran out of food...but Nancy and Dave had eaten there earlier and just came back for salad so they were able to get in. Walk back to the Schooner Inn and bedtime.
A rather relaxing day. Onward. Heidi
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