Dildo Run Provincial Campsite Trail, then on to Terra Nova National Park

After hearing from someone when we were in Pikes Arm that the trail at our campsite was really good, and the views were beautiful I had to walk it before we left. Polly stayed home while Bosco and I went for the hike to see what we could see. 2KM seemed a short distance as we started out, but as the trail narrowed a bit, and we had to move off it a couple times due to water, mud, and fallen trees I thought, will this get to an end.

Our campsite is well placed to see all we did here at Twillingate area

2KM, nothing I think

How the trail beginning looks, inviting and innocent to start

Bosco stayed on leash as was always concerned about other hikers, also coyotes here. Never seen any of either, but still was a nice hike along a wide well maintained trail till we got about 2/3rd's the way, then maintenance went down hill, where before we had boardwalks over water and mud, there were none so we walked around the mud, also trees down we walked around. There were a few nice beach stops along the way, and we did a little beach combing when we got a chance. Bosco just pee and sniff...

As we got close to the end the trail narrowed a little, and all the sudden a set of stairs were in front of us, so up we went and then a elaborate boardwalk till we got to a platform that was setup for a party of people. The view was beautiful, and reminded me of the broken group of islands on our west coast. There was bird action as some feed was present, and the wind was not constant as we were around the point a little. I stood and looked, and Bosco sniffed and peed some more, even thou none was available to pee out anymore, he tried... LOL

After about 10 minutes, and about 30 pictures, we made our way back, which always seems just a little shorter on the way back. Polly must be worried by now, so mostly thought straight home. Met the neighbours on my way back so had a chin wag with them, they were packing up too, and were from close by, had to get home and cut grass, and take care of home they said. Love that we don't have this in our thoughts. Was nice to meet them, and share as we never got to talk much as the rains and cold were present most of the time we were here. 

I get to the trailer and yep, Polly was worried. she had done all the vacuuming and dishes, and her and the trailer were ready to go. 

So we packed up the rest of the trailer, set it on the truck, and off we went to Tara Nova National park, where we would spend one night. We took the longer, more beautiful way off this peninsula, and was it ever nice. Pictures below are from our way to Tara Nova, past Musgrave Harbour, Deadman's bay, Lumsden, and Gambo on to Tara Nova. I recommend this drive if you are making your way along, as was very close to the ocean, and quiet traffic, like almost none.

Still loving this place called Newfoundland as we travel east.

Twillingate, Toogood Arm, Little Harbour, Pikes Arm, & Dildo Run Campsite

I have realised that when I fall behind on blog posts, I have a tough time to get the past ones written. I will make sure this happens less often in the future. For now, I will do my best while I do have a decent signal to write about where we have been and what we have seen. Next time I will write even if no internet, and publish later.

Look who I found playing on the ice!

Another Ice Monster playing air Guitar

Twillingate was a beauty place to see Icebergs, and Ice, all around us we had ice. Or Camp-spot had no ice, not around it or near it, but it was cold, colder than we wanted, and we had to get out the electric heater and dodge the cold. This campsite was a provincial one, and well run, with good bathrooms that we were close to, and a laundry room, which Polly did use. Always looking for a central spot to stay a few days for our tour around. This is when we made our minds up to stay another week in Newfoundland. We knew we would rather be here than spend the time running off to Ottawa for the 150th celebration, and miss much of this beauty Island.

We now were in long pants and coats all the time, not what we were used to, although we did get a few times without a coat, we were not far from the truck. Our campsite is on New World Island, and Twillingate island also has a north Twillingate island, we spent 3 days looking around there and many other little coves, meeting people, and searching out many icebergs we were told were there.

On the face of Captain Dave's Building "Polly took this picture"

On the back of Captain Dave's building

I found what Pat had showed us on her trip parked in the trees

Two of the 2lb ones please

The last day of this adventure we stumbled on a short hike up a hill at Pikes Arm, where we met another couple on there own adventure, that flew over from Ontario for a week long excursion, and were hiking around this area. When we told them where we were camped, they said they had been there today, and had hiked the trail, was beautiful. Now I had to see this as we had been there a few days, and I never hiked this trail. The view from this hilltop was so good even with a cloud ceiling that stopped the endless view, but made for some great pictures. The trail was well done, many steps to make it a safe climb up, and out houses at the top, wow. If you make the trip there, take the trail up, you won't forget it.

From the top of the hill

Twillingate had a bar we went to, 99 North, and as we went in, only 2 in there we thought, and the Bartender asked us what we wanted. Well that was fun, as we didn't know what was on the tap, so we tried a Iceberg Beer made in Saint Johns, with water from Icebergs. Was good, but a little weak for me. another couple came to the bar, they had been playing the slots around the corner, Oops Polly was gone, and the bartender and I and the manager talked about where we would go next. Gave us some good ideas, and I marked them down. Most of what we see comes from others that guide us through this fun adventure.

The bartender was a woman, and her husband just got a job on an oil drilling platform, was a big deal as he had been off work all winter, and had offers from a friend in Alberta, but wanted to be where he could get a shift he would be able to get back home regular, and seems he did, 3 weeks work gets 2 out, nice! Work here was difficult, tourism, and fishing were the local jobs. The town was like most split by water, and one main road made up the access. Was for us a journey to get from one end to the other, and we did this a couple times.

Icebergs sometimes dwarf the houses.

We met a man who explained  the wood piles on the side of the road, and that most people were looking for work, as Cod was the big employer, and was no just a small part of this place. This town was like most all others, a cove with town all around the edge, but this one was split in the middle. There are many different ways the fishermen built to get to and from there boats, with fish, and with traps, all was for the job. Stores were an experience, I recommend going into them just to see what they were like. There was always something local that was of interest to us, and usually a good source of information if you wanted to know what to look for in the area.

 Loving Newfoundland's Ice, People, Birds, & Small Towns,

Newfoundland, Port aux Basques to Baie Verte Peninsula

Port aux Basques to J.T. Cheesman Provincial Campsite, next day Deer Lake RV, then east to Baie Verte Peninsula, at Flat Pond RV. This was our start to this Newfoundland visit.

First night we camped at JT Cheeseman Provincial Campsite. This is a nice park to stay at first night as close, and has power and water, good bathrooms, clean and hot showers if you want. Campsites are big, and some are right on the water, very much a wilderness feeling as bush everywhere, and no highway close, so no noise from cars or trucks. Met a couple visiting from Germany and had a good talk with them, they have seen the east before, but never to Newfoundland, as with us.

Young Bull Moose that greeted us to the Peninsula

From the beach looking toward the sandy shore in the distance

Creek at the beach, looking toward the campsite

One of the poles we see here boxed at the bottom
and rocks to stabilise placed inside the box

This little guy greeted me first thing in the morning
 as he sat on our stairs and chipped over end over.

We spent some time the next day before we left the park and made a walk to the beach, says 2km, but felt like 10km to us as we walked the road there as didn't want to drag the trailer there. The Beach was just beautiful, we got a chance to beach comb and saw an endangered bird called a Piping Plover, I did get a few pictures, hard to see as they blend in so well with the sandy shore. Bosco was tired on the way home as we were 2KM each way seems short, but add the beach walk and back and was a bit more than we planned. All legs were sore, and we got comfortable for our ride to the North.

Bleak looking here and a grave yard

Houses close to here

These metal rails were installed to keep vehicles off the beach.
Sand keeps covering it up...

Polly happy to be at the beach

Piping Plover

Lighthouse close by

Looking for the castaway gold...

Cape Ray

Ocean has some power today

Huge boulders pushed up by the sea

Homes so close to the ocean

Clam shells like I have never seen

Mountain range behind T.J. Cheeseman campsite

Small wild strawberry flowers like at home

Fern fiddle heads just coming up

Creek flowing past the campsite to the ocean.

 We stopped at Corner Brook and said too big for us right now, so onward we go and arrived at Deer lake RV, where we found the lake had flooded most of the sites as the power company had released water from above rather than flood out that area. We did get a site with power, and WiFi was available right at the office a few hundred feet away, which was not open so sat on the steps till the manager gave me a plastic chair, and I got comfortable till the rains came. She also said not to go north, as 6 feet of snow still there, so we made the next plan, east first.

Huge potfull

Lake was high yet

Many boats available to use

Huge metal fire pit for groups to gather

Off we went next morning to Baie Verte, (Green Bay, translated) toward Flat Pond RV.

This was a good choice for us as we were close enough to see all we wanted of this area, and a very nice welcoming place for us. The owner that checked us in was friendly as I told her how lucky we were in Cape Breton when we got lobster delivered, and was free. Not to be out done I guess she asked if we liked Muscles? Oh yea I said, we love all see food. We talked some more and I never thought of it much more, she said for me to stop in if we were going to go out and look around the place, she had a map for us. Once we got to our site we set up, had a nice conversation with a young guy named Steve, a miner here, and had some lunch, and then a snooze was in order. Just as I was waking up, knock knock on the door, and there is the manager with a 10LB bag of Muscles, she says she got some given to her, so we also get some. Wow this hospitality just keeps coming, Love this place, and people so friendly. Into the bottom of the fridge as the lobster went till we get back. Was the weekend and all campers were getting ready for the summer here, many stay all year in this park, as right on the lake I would call it, here it is called a pond.

Polly and I now get in the truck and make our way into Beie Verte for a look around. Small town, and has a few stores, and some ice in the bay as most places now, but not too exciting, we take a drive to Mings Cove where Steve said there have been Ice Bergs for awhile, and yes we see some, but rough road, like all we have experienced so far, starting to get used to it now, but sometimes you just can’t slowdown fast enough and Wham! You are hit with a huge dip, or a bump, or both, with Potholes. Man the roads here are Horrendous... Polly calls Newfoundland Pot Hole Capital of Canada.

We make our way back to the RV Park to hear the sounds of people camped for the weekend, Quads up and down the road, playing games, and beers flowing, all having fun for the weekend. We just don’t get it so much any more, weekends are all rolled into the same for us now... LOL we are changing our ways. We get out the pot for the muscles, and wow 10lbs is two pots full, have to have these two days in a row. Wow are they ever good, Polly and make short work of the first half a bag, and will work on the others tomorrow. We sit and watch the people go back and forth on Quads, and a few motor cycles, and we enjoy our wine, and later watch another of our old movie we watched before, but have forgotten most of it. Was a nice day for a Friday, and Friday night was kinda quiet for us, but the others were at it late, we slept.

Next day up early, we went to many places on Baie Verte Peninsula, La Scie, Brent’s Cove, Harbour Round, Sunday we went to Fleur de Lys, Coachman's Cove area. We saw many icebergs, and much ice that has been pushed into the coast by the wind, is one of the most talked about news in this area, as fishermen can’t get out to fish for crabs right now, a big part of there usual years fishing. Cold has continued long past when spring would usually be here. Flowers have started coming up, Daffodils, and Tulips, also Dandelions are everywhere, and people on there first grass cutting mission. I do love spring, and we have been able to enjoy the beauty over and over again as we made our way north from Washington Dc to here. So many different stages of spring over and over again. Defiantly a different year for us.

Our first Ice covered bay

and our first Iceberg

The bay does have some ice free area close

Blue ice was a difference in some of the icebergs  

This is the normal around Newfoundland, a cove is the basis for a community
In past was all about being close to the fishing, and protected from the ocean.

What was a busy and well used dock, gone to ruin

Other side of the bay

The ribbon of highway was long here

As for what we see here, we see many small villages that are all built by the sea, and most all around a cove or inlet. Many times we see east and west towns, and north and south, as the water divides them. Beauty is every where, the houses, boats, docks, and people. Yes we see much, and will pass this on in pictures of what we see here on this Peninsula.

Oh we saw moose as soon as we made the turn off the #1 Highway, a cow and baby were our first greeting to the Peninsula. We saw a few more as we went, but 2 Polly and I will never forget were eating away between 2 Excavators that were clearing brush with mower heads about 200 meters away from each other, and the moose were right in the middle of the machines eating while they worked the side of the road. We both were so surprised, so much going on, trucks, flagmen, and machines, and 2 moose eating... LOL

Advocate Mines Asbestos Mine  link to the history of this mine
closed and is just before you get to town

The normal pile of firewood, ski doo still intact as snow was not long past

Normal view as you approach a town close to the coast, Ice is pushed to shore,
making fishing impossible right now

Boats here were big, but shorter than what I'm used to

The rock this land is known for shows at the coast here

Some have the bad luck to loose all that was there earnings

I see this Logo many places here

This is what I say "Need a bigger front yard"...

Fishermen wait for a South East wind to free the bay of Ice

Differences here we have noticed;

They are not only the huge amount of pot-holes, but when too much rock to drill to place hydro poles in the ground, they build a box of timbers and fill it with huge rocks to hold the pole in place, I understand this, but have never seen it before, but here is a common practice.

There are more trees than I expected, not huge trees but many, this place they call the rock, has so many trees it surprised us.

Wood cutting is done many places for firewood, but here they cut it with a permit, I found out it is $23.00 for a yearly permit, and they cut all they need, the odd thing is they leave it on the side of the road and pick it up in the fall. They have small bridges they make, kinda like the way they build there fishing sheds, and cribbing for the docks, and they leave the bridges all year round to get across the ditch to get there wood. Everywhere you go you see these piles of wood, some already cut to length, and some in poll lengths.

A very interesting place to spend time and look around, next Twillingate for a look at this area.

We call home every Sunday and say Hi to Memere, and the rest of the family. This time we had to drive to Baie Verte to call, no service at the campsite.

Loving Newfoundland, even with the potholes...