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Published: August 29th 2006
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So we made it! All done! Whew, it feels good to have accomplished something that I thought at first was insurmountable.
So since I last wrote in Deer Lake we had some great adventures in NFL. In Grand Falls we discovered that if you want to have fun you have to make it yourself, so we did! Accompliced by a jolly traveller from Quebec, Guiome. From there we ventured off the Trans Canada into the great abyss of bog in central Newfoundland. For 2 days we rode through nothing but bog and fir trees, oh, and some stellar grades, but what we found on the south coast of the island was worth the trip. About 3.64 minutes after arriving in Pool's Cove we had been invited into the home of a very generous gentleman who ended up putting us up for the night and taking us out cod fishing even! Good ol' Newfie hospitality, wow. We got to experience a true Newfie evening, cod jigging in the pouring rain. We caught 3 biggies and a bunch of "brim", bright red, spiney, poisonous fish which we had to be careful taking off. Actually, I didn't take any of them off; I couldn't
fresh spring water
Newfoundland is noted for having the world's best spring water, we can atest to that! quite make myself stick my fingers in their eyes as a true fisherman does... thanks for the hospitality Rob.
From Pool's Cove we took the coastal boat, a passengers-only ferry to Rencountre (pronounce with the worst anglo accent you can imagine) which is a town only accessible by boat. There are no cars or roads in the town, so cool! We were only there for a brief stop as we had spent more time in Pool's Cove than expected, but even in the short time that we had there we managed to get invited in for coffee and biscuits. Newfie's never ceased to amaze us. The ferry dumped us out at Baie L'Argent (also pronounced the most anglicized way possible) and not 20 kms from there we were AGAIN invited in for tea, sing-song/bonfire, and breakfast by a welcoming couple. We owe favours to just about everyone on NFL I think.
Only a few days from St John's by this point so I am getting kind of anxious to be finished. Leanne on the other hand, wants to turn around and ride back the other way so she doesn't have to come to the end of the trip. We passed
finally a moose!
on the mountain in gros morne we finally saw our long awaited moose, 3 actually through Swift Current (there's one in NFl as well as AL, don't get confused) where we were told the beautiful trees would amaze us. There were 6 poplars... I guess when all you see are 10 ft firs everywhere poplars seem majestic or something. Not to understate the beauty of Swift Current at all or anything.
We joined back on the highway at Goobies (named by a 4 year old I am sure) and headed into the mountains of the Avalon Peninsula. The last day into St John's was the toughest of the trip I think. There were a few grunters into the city but then the worst came when we headed out to Cape Spear to officially reach the most eastern point of North America for the official wheel dipping. If anyone tells you that it is a flat, short ride, do NOT believe them! that is what we were told, but I think those people were either playing some cruel Newfie joke on us, or had never done the trip. It was the steepest we have seen on the trip, at least felt that way after riding 180 kms already. We made it all the way east and
moose alert!
6 moose per square km on the island. disregarded the warning signs saying "Do not pass this point. You will be washed away". We had to get our bike wheels in the water, can you blame us?? We took off the front bike wheel and carried them over the rocks to do the official ocean christening. So after that we were officially done the crossing and I was pretty sure I would not make it back into the city. I signed up for just going east, now you want me to go west? no fair! Anyways, it wasn't pretty but hunger and diminishing daylight got us going back into St John's and the welcoming Andrew's family made it worthwhile. Proving both the 6 degrees of seperation theory and the Newfie generosity fact, we were welcomed by Linda and her son Alex. The whole extended family treated us like royalty and are most indebted to them. Without them we would still be in St John's looking for bike boxes I am certain! Alex was our tour guide and showed us Signal Hill, the nearby scenic coastline, the harbour, and the nightlife on Georgetown. he even had us screeched in! Now we are officially Part of the Royal Order of
gros morne
a view from Western Brook Pond in Gros Morne national Park Screechers, issued by the Government of Newfoundland even. That looks pretty good on a resume I am sure, right? We made it bleary eyed to the flight and then back to Toronto for a suprise 90th birthday bash for our grandfather. It was a great way to end the trip.
Thanks for all the support to everyone along the way. And Keep in touch!
Signing out,
Leanne and Janice
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