We have chosen to do an all day Kayak
After arriving at the Kayak Café, eat a $2.00 muffin, we choose a route that will keep us from being blown out to sea and Labrador if the wind picks up. It might have been a nice 300Km ride but not so much for a paddle. Not yet anyway.
We have a couple from Sarnia in a double kayak so the first part of the route is a duplicate of what we did yesterday.
But we are soon being entertained by Collin’s stories of the history of the bay. Collin is a local wanting to stay and work in Newfoundland. He will do it as an ECO Guide if all goes well.
Can you see the lady picking berries in the cave in an old fashioned dress? Zoom in.
This is a beautiful area and I would love to return to NL and do a few Peninsulas and a few different Kayak trips as well.
Labrador is on the list for sure. You could spend a month here and then it is just a short hop to Europe.
We stop for a prepared lunch and enjoy a short rest before heading over for a great view of Gros Morne.
It is a bit of work coming back and Collin helps Marion along by giving her a tow.
Back to the Kayak Café and a banana chocolate muffin.
I get to read and rest as the others take a short hike along a cliff trail.
My legs were getting a little tight from being in a cockpit all day. Must need a ride.
The ladies have ordered lobster for tonight so we arrive at my favourite time, supper.
Mike is attacked by a lobster but manages to get it in the pot.
Tomorrow we will do a boat ride and then drive 300km to Grand Falls – Windsor where I will resume riding on Aug 1
The cabins are quite comfortable and Carol wakes me for breakfast and we are of for a morning Kayak. We arrive at the site to find out that the day kayak trip we were to do has been canceled due to wind. Together we decide to do a shorter half day and see what else we can do later in the day.
We return to the cabin and have lunch and I get horizontal. Once the others have decided what the afternoon options are I will decide if I will join or rest for the balance of the day.
Need to ride!
I am well rested and wake to a cool 12c and a reasonable strong wind. There is no rush to leave early so I am finally on the road around 10am. With only 75km to ride up to Rocky Harbour it will be a cruise ride for sure. As I turn of the T.C.H. on to 430 the wind is now a cross/headwind but not too bad as I am sheltered by some trees. There is a different traffic flow as well as this is mainly a tourist road and only delivery trucks. All very friendly. I was worried about how my body would react with a full day off so I ease into the ride along the 430. Around 15km I notice I am spinning very easily and almost in a ROB (rest on bike) mode. My legs are feeling great. Before long I am at the park entrance and the attendant tells me I can take a short cut and use another route and the water taxi to get to Norris Point or do the large climbs on the 430. Sounds like 430 is the way to go. I am about to crest the climb when I see folks taking photos and decide to have a look and do the tourist thing. As I place the bike a gentleman asks how far I came today. Not far today, Deer Lake. ” Quite the climb that one” he says. Beautiful road and outstanding scenery I reply. A couple more questions and answers and he is reaching in his pocket and handing me a $20.00 and thanking me for what I am doing. Mike Mac Isaac is from Lower Sackville and is over to NL helping a buddy put a new roof on a cottage. I thank him get his e-mail and I am on my way. Maybe I should do that climb again.
At 75km I stop at the Visitor Center to get directions to our cabins. He takes out a map and tells me it is 6km. Well the left he said to take should have been a right which means I descend into Norris Point and now get to climb back out. In the end it was only 6km extra and a nice climb. 87km and 4586 ft of climbing and I am in Rocky Harbour.
Carol, Hilary, Mike and Marion arrive with hugs all around. Once the truck is unloaded and I enjoy a cup of tea I get the box of goodies and start to clean my bike. It really needs a chain and I can’t stand to work on a dirty bike. The staff get me a bucket and wash cloths and some cleaner and I wash the bike while the others go for a coastal walk. I get the chain on and check the rear cog set and it does not need replacing. I am finishing up when the others return and after cheese and crackers we make dinner arrangements and we are off. Dinner with friends is nice and the conversation light. Now that I know my legs are good and my bike is in good working order I will be able to enjoy the next few days. Time for some rest.
Yesterday I had decided to hitch a ride with Rodney as I was going to be almost 600km ahead of Carol, Hilary, Mike and Marion if I rode towards St. John’s another day. I also had no guaranteed way back to Deer Lake as everything was booked including car rental.
The room last night was very comfortable at the Driftwood Inn, and newly renovated. I wake up early, it must be a habit, and check the weather on my TV. It is to be 14c and wet today and 24c and sunny tomorrow.
I quickly decide to stay here today get laundry done and rest. You may have noticed I have not mentioned bike cleaning. Well I decided in Winnipeg, after getting an e-mail from Steph, that I need to rest more than wash the bike. It has been getting the same on-road bath as myself and regular lubing but no TLC. I know my chain needs replacing and will tend to that when Carol arrives with my tools and spare parts. Or, I might just completely wear it out and do everything when I get home. I’ll let you know.
I am actually taking today off in a horizontal position and other than food, staying quite quiet. Very hard to do as St John’s is only two days, by bike, from Grand Falls - Windsor.
Newfoundland has been quite different right from the Tourist Information Centre onward. The lady gave a great description of the road and how hilly it was. Then less hilly from Cornerbrook to GF - W. Even the distances were close. I find this amusing as compared to the PEI welcome centre where it was only driving time and even that was way off. But then again they have no idea how quickly I am traveling compared to other fully loaded cyclists. I have decided the folks in PEI must travel 10km or more under the speed limit. I will ride to Gros Morne tomorrow and meet the others by dinner time. I’ll be waiting.
So far the ride has been all and more than I had hoped for. Life on the bike is always special.
I am up early and on the road at 7am. It is raining as I leave Cornerbrooke and a little cool so I am happy I have to climb up the hill to the highway. I am in for a wet morning or more. I am 20km into a good ride with a great tempo when I notice my rear tire is getting soft. Sure enough it is a flat and I am having to fix it just as the rain intensifies. I check the tire and find the same piece of steel as in Quebec. I get it out and put in a new tube and off I go. A short climb and the chill that had settled in as I repaired the flat leaves my body and I am cruising once again.
At 50km it is time for breakfast so I do Tim’s at Deer Lake and off I go. It is not as hilly as yesterday and with a tail wind I continue to cruise. The rain does not let up much which is okay as it allows me to ride and not require as much water. I see two cyclists stopped beside the road and pull over to say hello and see if they require assistance. ” Just waiting for a buddy” comes the answer. One from NYC and the other from Boston. Their buddy is slowing them down but they are okay with that. Only problem is they will need to use the bus to make the ferry on time.
A short time later the rain stops and I shed the rain jacket and lunch is the next stop. I see a moose on the road and as I reach for the camera a van scares him off the highway but I was lucky enough to get a couple of shots. When I stop for lunch, which was less than tasty, I call Rodney, my trucker watch-dog and friend of the family, I find out I have an interview to do with NTV in Grand Falls - Windsor. I arrive a little late and I am told to have supper and we will do it after. I get the interview done and Rodney will drive me back to Deer Lake which is where I need to be for the turn off to Gros Morne National Park. We drive back and arrive at 12:30am and it is instant lights out for me.
