Trip Home

Well that’s it, a few weeks of traveling then there is the trip home. It’s been an amazing adventure, but I guess I have to start work at some point. Driving home I passed the Table Mountains near the south western shore of Newfoundland, they are just spectacular, makes me just want to climb all over the place.

On trip home I made a few pit stops to see some friends along the way. Quick stops in Peterburough, Niagara and Guelph let me catch up with some people. In Niagara Lucie and Mark showed me around a bit, which included taking some shots of an old rusted boat, wines tours and leaf jumping, a total and complete day.
But now I am home and it is time to review the almost 1500 photos I took. I can probably delete a few. Anyways that’s it for this trip, though I may find a few as I go through the photos to post. I will however keep posting with news and photos and such for those that are interested, till then, safe travels.

Trick or Treat

So when it came time to head out and get some candy, Nathan arrived from daycare asleep. Apparently he had missed his nap. So we let him sleep for a bit, but of course we could not let him sleep through Halloween. So eventually we woke him up, though he was a little slow to get moving. Finally with the mention of candy Pooh Bear was ready to head out. So after a couple of houses, and a ridiculously large about of candy from a few people (I think Nathan is a favourite on the street), Nathan started to get tired. Which meant Nathan finished up Halloween on my shoulders, and me ducking at each door. Now after maybe 10 houses he was pooched and it was time to go home, from the last photo of the night you can see he was done for the night.

Well its been fun but tomorrow it is time to head back to Ontario.

Halloween

Ok so now comes the onslaught of ridiculously cute photos. Nathan and I got to carve pumpkins, and make some spooky faces, he was defiantly a fan of the spooky faces as you can see. He also did not really like the fell of pumpkin guts, so most of the work fell on me and Sherri. He got in there for some of the work though. He also ended up modeling his costume for us. Though at one point he said he wanted to be Winnie the Pooh as batman, which I though would have been a cool costume.

Relaxing In St John's

Well I made it to St. Johns ok and met up with Sherri and Nathan. It’s nice to just have once spot to hang out and relax for a few days. I ended up heading to Marti Gras on George St. to see some amazing costumes, some people must spend all year on them. I also got screeched in, which basically involves do a shot, reciting something which I have no idea what it means and kissing a puffin, well when in St Johns.

Besides have a play day with my nephew I toured around a bit. I ended up going to Signal Hill and Cape Spear, which where both really neat. And yes I got my photo taken at the most eastern point in Canada. The view from Signal Hill at night is amazing and despite the strong wind, I managed to get off a photo or two.

Tearing It Up In Terra Nova

So after an awesome hike out to see Bakers Brook falls in the rain. The falls where awesome and I even saw a bald eagle fly by. After that headed to Terra Nova and ended up helping out the interpretive staff there get ready for a special Halloween event. They opened up their visitor center and did Halloween games and haunted tours. They let me help out with the touch tank, where you can touch starfish, mussels and crabs. The staff there even put me up in one of the staff houses for the night and invited me to a BBQ. Terra Nova was defiantly a blast and everyone there was a lot of fun to hang out with.

Now to St. John’s.

The Plan

Well things are wraping up here in St. Johns. I still have tons more posts and photos from Terra Nova and here to post when I get a chance. But for now, I bolt back towards Ontario tomorrow. Its going to be a long drive, but well worth it. The plan right now is to be in Peterburough Friday night, Niagara Saturday night and Guelph Sunday night. So if any one the is up for something just email me and let me know. Well till the next post, have a good one.

Rainy Days

Well it is still raining here, but that has not really stopped me. Just makes everything really moody for photos. This entire area is so rugged and gorgious. This morning I was woken up to the wind rocking my car back and forth along the shoreline. I think the next nigth I will park somewhere a little more sheltered.

Today I went around to some of the shorter hiking trails and the tablelands, which provided plenty of picture opportunities, plus a couple of moose sitings. I think I would rather see them on a trail then encounter one on the road in my car. Hopefully my car would be small enough that they would just step right over. I have also been talking with some of the park staff, they have been awesome about telling me which trails are the best and the places I should see.

Well one more day here then its off to Terra Nova. Tonight however I am going out for a nice meal of pan fried cod, figure I have to try it once.

Gros Morne Goodness

Driving off the ferry it was still dark out. As I drove down the Trans Canada Highway the sun started to come up over the hills. On the way up to Gros Morne I took a detour at Stephenville to drive out along the shoreline. I ended up heading down this very bumpy road to an old abandoned fishing village. After a while I was on my way to Gros Morne. Gros Morne is awesome. Again I have a campsite right on the edge if the ocean. The clouds in the sky provided some amazing looking sea-scapes.

The rain just started here today and is making hiking a little difficult, but there is still so much to see and do. Rain just means I have to curl up for a night in my car.

Still Here

Well its been a while but I am still around. I have been camping and not near any computers, so I have been saving up photos and updates for now. I have made it to St John’s, Newfoundland.

Last I left off I posted some photos from Cape Breton Highlands, it was a little foggy and rainy, but the day I drove to North Sydney to take the ferry it was nice and sunny. Along the way I checked out some of the hiking trails along the Cabot Trail. The one called the skyline trail was striking. You hike along a ride till you come out right at the edge of the ocean.

Now at the end of that day I figured I would take the ferry to Newfoundland. I tried to make a reservation for the ferry, but their system was down. So when I got there I was put on a waiting list with 6 cars ahead of me. I figured there was no way I was getting on the ferry. Then they ended up only having enough room to fit my car with about 3 inches between my bumper and the ramp on the boat. I ended up going ahead of all the people in the waiting line because of my awesome small car..

So now I have plenty of photos and updates to make when I get the chance.

Sitting With a View
Road To Nowhere
Rough Waters
Just Keeping An Eye Out

(Now where are those freshly released salmon?)

Cape Breton Capers

I arrived at Cape Breton Highlands National Park just as the sun was going down, so after a bit of scouting around town and an awesome crab dinner I settled in to my car for a good nights sleep. The next day I drove the shoreline and caught some great shots of the swells coming in. It was quite windy and it was whipping the water in to a frenzy. Later that morning I drove out to Cheticamp Island, through a pasture, while being aware of a bull (or so the sign told me to be), to see the light house. Ours are way better in Tobermory.

After that I caught up with Julia Thomas, an old co-worker, and her new 2 week old baby. After getting the scoop on the best places to go hiking I was off, though the weather was a little wet and foggy. Sometime driving along you could not tell what was on the other side of the ditch. After the fog lifted I found out it was usually a huge drop. While hiking that day I caught a glimpse of a moose and her young, as well as a bald eagle. To end the day I visited a Buddhist monastery (hey why not). That night I slept in one of the pick nick shelters.

So here is an added shot that Scott took of me at Balacing Rock, I swear I am not trying to push it over.

Cool In Keji, Lost In Lunenburg

Yesterday I took a drive down to Kejimkujik National Park. The forest there was magnificent. Surprisingly there was still a lot of colour on the trees in that area. I went hiking through some old hemlock stands. It kind of got me wondering if that’s what the forest of the Bruce Peninsula originally looked like before it was logged. After hiking around there for a bit, I took a leisurely drive along the coast, literally right along the coast, the water was about a meter from the road most of the time. It took me through some small fishing towns and by some neat scenery. The road ended in Lunenburg and by that time it was dark, so between no road signs, big hills and one way streets, I got totally lost. I eventually found my way back to Halifax for the night. Now its off to Cape Breton.

Well yesterday was spent exploring Halifax and Nova Scotia. I spent the morning checking out Halifax, walking around the harbour area. It was a little strange to see tugboats and tall ships next to huge luxury cruise ships. After the shoreline I headed up, way up to the Halifax Citadel, just a bit of a climb. I managed to make it there for the firing of the noon gun, something I got to see in Edinburgh as well. The whole set up of that historic site was neat to see. I thought the gun powder room was cool, just make sure not to make any sparks.

Later that day my tour guides (Melissa and Scott) took me down to Balancing Rock. It really looked like the rock could fall over at any time. On they way back we stopped in Digby and I got a chance to have some famous Digby scallops. All and all a very good day.

More Photo Fun

So turns out sometime I can only post 2 photos at a time, I will work on that. But here are some of the more fun ones that i took. The first one is from the bay I snuck in to at Fundy and the second is more fun at Hopewell Rocks. Look I am all artsy with these ones….or not.

In The Fax

Well I have made it to Halifax on a wet and soggy day, not much happened today other then driving, but I did get a chance to edit some more photos from Fundy. So here are some of more from that trip.

Here is the one of the helicopter which I got to ride in, most of the photos from the ride did not work out so well cause of the glare from the windows. The other is my car commercial shot, YARIS: you always ride in style! (Dave came up with that one).

Fun In Fundy

Well Fundy was awesome…..There is no two ways about it, just totally spectacular. So much happened it is probably going to take 2 posts. I arrived late to get an amazing campsite right on the edge of the ocean, just a spectacular view of the Bay of Fundy. The next day I hiked all over the park, along the shoreline as the tides went out, and in to some interior trails. I kinda snuck down to this bay which I think was supposed to be closed, but it was worth it, the tides where just coming in it was unbelievable to watch, the rock walls around me shot straight up from the ground. I ended up spending a long time taking photos there, I just had to move every once and a while as the tide approached. Later after basically climbing over rocks and river to get to this area, I found a set of stairs that easily too me back, just had to hop a closed sign…ooops. Later that day I headed in to the town near the park, which is much like Tobermory, so I ate fresh shrimp from the only place that was open. That night was really really cold, I mean I was using my heavy duty sleeping bag and liner, plus wearing winter gear and still was cold.

I decided to head out early that day and take a slow drive along the shoreline. So I stopped in the park visitor center to talk to the attendant who had help find the cool locations in the park. As I was talking to her she mentioned that they where releasing captive salmon that morning to river locations around the park. Before I knew what was happening I was in a MNR truck being taken to a rivers edge to load captive salmon in to buckets that a helicopter would deliver to areas around the park. I was great to see and I got some fun photos, but then they offered me a ride in the helicopter, and to think I was going to leave that morning. So I stuck around to go for a quick tour of the park in a helicopter, talk about luck.

So later, much later then anticipated that day I drove to Cape Enrage, and Hopewell Rocks, which was closed for the season…. But that didn’t really stop me, a quick climb later I was looking at flowerpots that put ours to shame. The shape of the rocks and multitude of them was just amazing.

And now I am at a 4 star hotel, which I am paying half price for because it was the last room. So that’s some of the adventures I have gotten up to. And if this is only the start of my trip I am sure their will be more, here are some of the photos from Fundy, the helicopter and Hopewell rocks.

The Long Haul

Well today there are no photos unfortunately, I basically drove and drove and drove. To prepare I energize my self this morning with plenty of bacon. I made it from Peterburough to Riviera de Loup, which is close to the Quebec - New Brunswick boarder. The drive went well, cept for a few detours in Montreal. I don't know what they are thinking with the streets there, but I managed through. The weather was a little more co-operative today, just rain. The driving was good and there where some gorgeous views over the St. Lawrence. My hotel tonight looks over the water and I cant wait to take some photos tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow I head for Fundy, which should not be too far away. I plan to spend a little time here along the shoreline before heading out, and then make a few stops along the way. We will see what happends. I hope to get a chance to post some more photos with in the next couple of days as I explore the Bay of Fundy.

Well I am off, the trip has begun. So the trip is Tobermory, to Sundridge, To Peterburough, then a long haul through Quebec to get to Fundy. After that its Halifax, Cape Breton and Newfoundland. There are going to be a tone of day trips here and there when I get there.

Right now I am in Peterburough and so far I had to deal with rain, sleet, snow and hail. Plus I have woken up to 8 inches of snow on the roof of my car in Sundridge, broken in to a house and had to deal with many power outages. Hopefully I am getting all those things out of the way at the beginning of the trip.

In Sundridge I was able to get off a few shots of the snow that fell over night, some of the trees still had leaves on them and it made pretty cool. When I left there as snow for about 10 mins along the highway then when I got to Bracebridge, there was nothing.

Well here are some of the photos so far, I will try to update this when I have access to internet.