PARTING SHOTS

So this is it. Sort of. Tomorrow night we get the ferry off the rock, and then we set sail for Alberta to attend a family event. Thereafter, we hope, to the Peace River region for a stretch before going back to Victoria in the fall. There won’t be time for upfromthemudding in the next couple of weeks because we’re just gonna drive and sleep repeat.

There won’t be much need for it either. The original idea was to keep some building C folks informed about our whereabouts, which, hopefully, has been successful. Henceforth we’re on the return leg, so not much to report.

In addition, my original intent was to refrain from travelogue-ing overmuch, and also from pontificating to the point of illness. I don’t know how successful that has been, but hopefully there has been some entertainment value somewhere in there. There’s always the off button if it ain’t working for you.

In the last week we have been to Twilingate, Fogo Island, Gros Morne via Deer Lake, and now we’re in Corner Brook. Got in a dinner theater, a boat tour, some guitar playing with homeless dudes, lots of whale watching, hiking, and etc. Lotta great stuff.

Of all those things, the most notable was a climb up Gros Morne, which kind of reminds me of Ayres Rock in Australia. (I think that’s the name). Ya. 16k, 800 meters of elevation gain, 10 hrs. It was Gail’s idea (she’s the event planner), but thereafter she denounced it as a “really stupid idea.” That’s because it almost killed us.

Well, not really. But it was seriously taxing for an elderly desk jockey and an even elderlier heart patient with a bad back. Had we known then what we know now, it might not have happened. Three days on we’re still feeling it.

But, the views were stupendous. I’ll try to get some pics on here. I’m sure there was some physical benefit, and beside all that, it felt really good to sit down at the end of it. A shower and beer and pizza. Mighty fine.

Not to mention a sense of accomplishment. That was ok too.

Anyway, we’re on the ferry tomorrow. It’s overnight again, but only 7 hours instead of 16. We’ve been plotting ways to hide in the moho instead of sleeping on the floor upstairs, but we’ll see. In all likelihood, we will survive.

Thanks for reading. Here’s some pics. If the spirit moves I might write some more stuff; in the meanwhile, read Younger Next Year. Should be required reading to get a pension.

Cheers

Jim

And a PS. The foregoing got written 5 days ago, but I haven’t posted it yet because we haven’t had time/energy at the end of every driving day. But we stopped before noon today in Portage la Prarie MB because of high winds, so now I’m a gonna post it, with some pictures DV.

But first a story. On the return ferry ride from Newfoundland, we had to take a night crossing, we had to detach the car from the moho, and we couldn’t get a cabin. That’s because we are not related to Joey Smallwood.

Anyway, it was raining hard at loading time, which starts 2 or 3 hours before sailing time. Weird. There we are, playing crib in the moho, and everybody starts their vehicles at 9 pm. So Gail hustles out to the cold, wet Cavalier, with the understanding that whoever gets on there first goes up and gets some seats with some floor space so we can sleep on the floor lucky us. We had discussed trying to hide in the moho on the truck deck, which is strictly prohibited, but I didn’t want the hassle if we got caught.

So. They load Gail maybe 45 minutes before me, and she dutifully drags all the sleeping stuff upstairs and calls me. We’ve got seats with floor space. Deck 8.

When it comes my turn, several of the numerous deckhands guide me into position. I do as directed, stop, shut if off, and sit there. It does not appear that the numerous deckhands are interested in me. In fact, they rapidly recede down the deck to load other vehicles, so I crawl back surreptitiously to the bed, lie down there, and wait. Nothing happens. So I call Gail and tell her this and say she should come down if she can.

But, as we know, nothing in this world is fair. She gets all the stuff, tries to come down, but is intercepted by an employee who tells her “that deck is locked.” Bummer.

So moi, the breaker of law, slept like a baby in my/our own bed, and Gail, the keeper of law, had a horrible night sitting in a chair. What’s right about that? Nothing. The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike.

And, they let her off about a half hour after me, after having made her back the car into a weird little corner which did not please her. But she’s ok now, even if life ain’t fair.

Ya. 3800k down, 1200 to go, marriage celebration coming up in Edmonton. That’s all the news worth printing.

Can we have the pictures please.

Lotta whales. Every day. Capelin were in.

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Long way up. Lot longer going down. Lucky we survived.

Why are you all not here?

Ospreys. Gail spent a long time zeroed in on these guys.

Proper osprey defecation. That Gail should work for National Geographic.