We wake to rain, fog, and wind. We decided last night to do most of our outdoor packing before the wet weather hit so today we gradually prepare to head for the ferry in North Sydney to catch our 11:15 pm sailing. Loading of the ferry is a major operation trying to load maybe 300 or so cars, RVs, and tractor trailer trucks for the 7 ½ hour crossing. Our plan is to leave our campsite around 4 pm and drive the two hours to North Sydney. We’ll catch dinner in North Sydney and get to the loading area a bit after 7pm. You are required to be there between 2 to 4 hours prior to departure with loading beginning about 2 hours from departure.
We arrive near the ferry around 6 and begin our hunt for dinner. Parking is an issue for the truck/camper especially in crowded downtowns. We luck out as we find a Korean BBQ with nearby parking. We scored at this place with a great meal in a cozy environment.
Next, it’s on to the loading area. The order of which vehicles are loaded is orchestrated in a manor unknown to us, but makes sense to the ferry workers. Loading starts at 9 and our turn isn’t until well after 10:30. While we wait we play a few hands of cribbage then listen to a murder mystery book on tape. Once loaded we note our truck is on level 3. We head up to level 8 and grab a couple of chairs. Note to self, next time try booking a sleeping room. It was a less than restful night. We dock at 7:15 am which really is 7:45 am since we entered a new time zone. Newfoundland is one of those times zones where they are thirty minutes earlier than Atlantic Time.
Landing in Newfoundland we decide to push onward towards Stephenville before we grab breakfast or maybe brunch. Here is the former site of a US Air Force base. For those of you that know John Kirk the wonderful fiddle player this is where he was born.
After a late lunch we push onward to Barachois Pond Provincial Park just off the Trans Canada Highway. Any concerns about highway noise are totally gone since the park is down a narrow twisty road well away from any highway noise. We set up and prepare for a relaxing afternoon including a bit of napping when to our surprise Julie and David come riding by on their bikes. We keep running into them like a lucky penny, but since here in Canada they no longer use pennies it’s more like a lucky nickel.
Seeing North America 