Aug 2008

Well, we finally caught up on our blog. So sorry it took so long, but there were times when we had NO cell, No computer access or NO ENERGY OR THOUGHT PROCESS.
We are still learning about blogs and trying to learn more about putting in pictures. When Gayla has figured this out, you probably will be bombarded with pictures. Probably with captions only. Things that we have already told you about.
Also, if anyone would like to comment (good or bad) to us, there is a place for you to do that.
This has been lots of fun for us, but mostly it was to let our loved ones know that we are still alive and kicking, and possible where-a-bouts.
We think of you all and wish you could see all of this through our eyes. What a fantastic world we live in.

We had 3 boxes of mail waiting for us at this RV park, so today is a catch up day. Laundry, clean coach, & pay bills. Ended with a relaxed HAPPY HOUR with Pisels and Sovereign's. Today was overcast and mid 60's

17 Aug Sun day 77
More pick up and clean-up. Tonight we went to a local LOGGING SHOW. Axe and Saw competitions along with LOG ROLLING. A fun show with a little history of logging in the North East.

18 Aug Mon. day 78
Washed the car and coach. Bunny gets to go to the groomers for haircut. Drove the coach to a glass shop for repair of 4 dings in the windshield. Happy hour at 5

19 Aug. Tues. day 79
Today it rained hard most of the day, soooooooooo we did inside chores. At 4:30 we all met in Pisels coach to watch a movie. ( KITE FLYER) Back to our place for dinner and watch Olympics. Very nice laid back day.

20 Aug Wed. day 80
Today the ladies, Barbara, Gayla and Ina went to the GROOMERS and talk about an attitude adjustment. Ha Ha Ha (Remember, a womans hair is her achieles heel)
3:30 pm we all drive in to Bar Harbor for an early dinner. (Lobster & Scallops) Yum YUM
We then boarded a 151 ft. 4 masted Schooner for a 2 hr. cruise. (We did not follow Gilligan) Beautiful Boat and Beautiful Sunset over the water. Lovely ending for a lovely day.

11 Aug. Mon day 71
Day off until 4pm. So we go to town and look around the downtown area. Bus pickup at 4pm for our Farewell Dinner. Ham Wellington, LOBSTER, Homemade pies. Then on to the theater for the musical of “Anne of Green Gables”. Not one single, average voice in the bunch. Excellent production.

12 Aug tues. day 72
The official tour ended today and a lot of the group leave. We hang around with a small group and do a car tour around the East end of P.E.I. This is called the garden Island with many good reasons. Fields of Potatoes and veggies everywhere. We finished they day with a social hour at Norm & Lee's campsite next to the water. Beautiful spot.

13 Aug Wed. day73
Three of us (3 coaches) depart at 9:00am and make the drive off the Island. In order to do this, we crossed the "Confederation Bridge". This bridge is just short of 9 Miles long. We have a nice drive to Fredricton, New Brunswick. Late this afternoon, we do a drive thru the city to see what there is to do there.

14 Aug. Thurs. day 74
After breakfast at Cora's (fantastic eating establishment) we take a walking tour downtown. The downtown area is where a military garrison was years ago. Some of those old buildings are still a part of the downtown area. Lots of Old, HUGE houses. Some with very elaborate detailing on the outside. This evening we have dinner at an English Pub.

15 Aug Fri. day 75
Today we make the drive back to the good Ole U.S.A., but on the way we go thru the town of Hartland, home of the longest Covered Bridge. 1292 ft. long. We drive 3 coaches over the bridge one at a time as it is a one way bridge. After the fact, we find out the bridge is under repair and we should not have gone over it, but WE MADE IT.
WHEW!!!!!!!! Now onto U.S. Customs. 30min. wait but an easy crossing.
Now we are back in our homeland and finish the drive to Trenton, Maine

Happy hour, then dinner with the Scholes.
4 Aug. Mon day 64
Today is a down day. Catch up Laundry, coach cleaning and maintenance. Help to others - broken hitch and electrical problems. Tonight we all went out to “Earles” a local spot that serves traditional foods. Gayla had (Jig dinner) and Myron had (Jig dinner with Moose). Jig Dinner is carrots, cabbage, potatoes, pea pudding (mashed yellow peas), and corned beef. Finished with Partridge Berry Pie (Ligonberries)

5 Aug Tues. day 65
Depart from Grand Codroy. Rain all the way. Drove most of the length of the “LONG RANGE MOUNTAINS“. Just under 2000 ft., Height, but very massive looking. Very steep but with rounded tops and flat tops. Pot luck dinner at camp.

6 Aug. Wed day 66
5:15am departure for ferry. Schedualed 6 hr. run. Port Aux Basques to North Sidney. Big screw up at the ferry. Boat doesn’t get in until 9:00am, we don’t leave until 11:00am
Crossing is a little bouncy the first half then it smoothes out and we have a nice ride. Drive to Louis Bourg, Nova Scotia. Great park, right on the water. In the evening, while walking the beach Gayla & I meet the owner, LINDA.

7 Aug Thur day 67
Bus tour to Louisbourg Fortress National Park. The French settled here in 1713 and built the Fortress over the next 7 years. It’s a major trade center until the British take it in 1745. Three years later, they give it back to France. Then in 1758 the British take it back and in two years totally dismantle it. In 1928 it’s declared a national monument. In 1961 construction begins to rebuild 1/5 of the original fortress. This evening we go to Louisbourg playhouse for a great musical with local talent.

8 Aug. Fri. day 68
Leave Louisbourg for Pictou, Nova Scotia. Arrive Pictou about 2pm run into town for a little exploring. Tour the Grohmann Knife factory, learned how quality knives are made by hand and learned a few pointers on how to sharpen knives. Group gathering in the evening for a little socializing.

9 Aug Sat. day 69
Up at 5am for another Ferry ride. Boat is scheduled to depart at 8am . We don’t make the first boat, so we left at 9:30 on the next boat and its 1hr 30min crossing to Charlottetown, PEI (Prince Edward Island). Drive to the RV park arrive at 1pm. Played catch-up this afternoon.

29 Jul Tues. day 58
We depart at 8:00am for a 250 mi. drive to Portland Creek, NF. We have been in central north and are now driving to the N.W. corner of Newfoundland. This is where their really big mountains are - all 1900 ft. of them. They are big- Huge - round rock mountains. This was truly a beautiful drive.

30 Jul Wed. day 59
We drive to St. Anthony. Wet and bouncy. The roads up here are not very good. In fact we thought the cabinets were going to come off the walls in some places. After several days of mid 80’s its overcast - light rain-- mid 60’s. Arrive around 1:00pm The afternoon off - checked out St. Anthony - Laundry and shopping.

31 Jul Thurs. day 60
8:00am bus to L’Anse Aux Meadows. At this spot at about the year 1000 the Norsk arrived. This place has the remains of a Viking Village found in 1960. Amazing people.
They sailed from Norway and Ice Land to this location in Viking ships that have sails and oars. Tonight we have the Viking Feast. At the southern tip of St. Anthony they have built a Viking Long House. Big- Sod covered mound - tunnel entrance. We have a lot of great food with Viking waiters. Our waiter is a “kick” Myron said “Nut Job” After dinner we hold aViking court and some of our members are “Roasted” and found GUILTY…………….Fun night.

1st. Aug. Fri day 61
Load up the group in a tour bus. Frank is our driver, and we are off for Labrador. We drive down to the Ferry Dock and its 1hr. 30 min across to Labrador. On this side of Labrador there is only 60 miles of paved road. We drive to the end which is RED BAY.
A Basque fishing village. They have found a 400 year old galleon on the bottom of the bay. This was a major whaling town at that time.Then we travel on to the Red Bay Light house. Up to the top 126 steps, 6ft. Thick walls at the base and 4ft. Thick walls at the top. It just turned 150 years old. Tonight we stay in the Northern Lights hotel in Labrador.

2 Aug Sat. day 62
We leave the motel at 9:00 am and Frank takes us back to the Ferry. He lives in Labrador and has a vast knowledge of local customs and history. We met his wife and daughters, and they seem to be a very close, secure and happy. On the way back we watch Moose by the road, and arrive at camp at about noon. (Bunny way very happy to see us) This evening Frank comes back with the bus and we go out on a MOOSE hunt. Viewing actually. He gets the bus to within about 20 ft. of a couple of Moose. We see 12 of the big guys in about 1 hour. Temp. here has been in the 60’s with Fog in the A.M. Unfortunately, Moose get hit by cars just like deer.

3 Aug. Sun day 63
8:am dept. for Rocky Harbor. Easy drive, more great sights and beautiful landscapes. Happy hour, then dinner with the Scholes.