Travels of Nannie & Bubba: July 2014

July 27, 2014 Ferry to Newfoundland

This is by far the biggest ship I've been on yet! Three decks for vehicles, three decks for people. Rooms can be rented, recliners can be reserved, full size restaurant, coffee shop, souvenir shop. Amazing! The crossing took six hours, in perfect weather. We both spent time up on the "sun deck" just watching the ocean. We also took a nap (or two!) on Deck 8 in the general seating. There were some gentlemen around us making loud snoring noises which was highly amusing to some children nearby.... never a dull moment! When we arrived at Newfoundland, the captain finessed that huge ship (655 ft. long, 88 ft. wide) into a perfect three-pointer around a small island, and backed into the very narrow dock. I was quite impressed!

Details: In line by 9:00 a.m., boarding began at 11:30, departed shortly after noon, $396.44 for two people and our 50 ft. rig.

Into the belly of the boat, a line of campers boarding.

Deck 3. wow.....
Can you see the Bullet with the bikes on the back?

The ferry.

Passing a sister ship. Both honked their horns....

The Blue Puttees even has a helicopter pad!

Deck 5. Mostly trucks.
While parked and waiting to board, the seagulls really
enjoyed visiting the blue tarp on top of the middle truck....

The sun deck was popular for people who get sleepy in the sun.

Coming in to Port aux Basques, Newfoundland.

Port aux Basques.

The big ferry backed neatly into that little tiny slip....

Sorry about that radio antenna...

And this is what greeted us at our first campground in Newfoundland....
Sweet!

July 25, 2014 Cape Breton Highlands, Cabot Trail, northeast side headed south

After our Skyline Trail hike (which took a lot longer than we anticipated) we got back on the Cabot Trail and headed home to our camper, across to the east side and south. Saw some beautiful views. Saw another moose, this one in the woods beside the road (reminded me of Yellowstone, cars pulled to the sides of the road and people pointing and taking pictures...). Saw gaelic language on most of the signs. They even have a Gaelic Language college here. Such a beautiful area!

Here is the roadside guy.

He's had enough, he's outa here.....

Gaelic.

Lakie's Head.

Englishtown Ferry.
See the ferry at the bottom of the causeway?

Sunset.

July 25, 2014 Skyline Trail Hike, Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia

Today was THE DAY! Finally saw a real live moose! :-) We did the Skyline Trail, a six mile loop hike through woods and fields, and finally spotted big ol' Mr. Moose. He was hard to see, through the brush, but we got a couple pictures. One more thing off my bucket list!

We did the whole loop; 6 miles.

Bubba says: not to worry, no problem, we got this.....

one half of a bull moose rack.

oh! oh! it's a MOOSE! I see one!

Nannie being excited about seeing her first real moose.

All these folks were looking at the same moose,
who nonchalantly kept on eating and ignoring us.

Picking wild blueberries, putting 'em in my ziploc bag.

My foot, to show the size of these tiny sweet wild blueberries.

Here we are, again.
Gulf of St. Lawrence behind us.

My Bubba is an amazing photographer.

We all froze to watch the rabbit on the edge of the trail.....

The boardwalk part of the Skyline Trail.

The road called the Cabot Trail.

July 24, 2014 Cheticamp, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Highlands

This little town's past began with fishing, then came gypsum mining, and now it's back to fishing once again. We arrived in rain, drove around in rain, did a short hike in rain, and then we finally gave it up. Went out to dinner where we got our reward for persevering thru the rain: two 2-lb. lobsters. YUM!

Cheticamp.

Although it's blurry, I am including this picture to show
the size of the gulls here. The gulls are on the chimney,
and the rest are normal-sized pigeons.

From the top of Cheticamp Island, in the rain.

Cheticamp Island, in the rain.
See the fishing boat out here?

Cheticamp.

Cheticamp Fisheries wharf.

Our reward. YUM!

July 24, 2014 Cape Breton Highlands, Cabot Trail, southwest side headed north

Today we abandoned our camper and packed overnight bags, because we reserved a room at a little hotel in Cheticamp. Just for one night. This way we can take our sweet time driving the Cabot Trail around the Cape Breton Highlands. The drive across the southern side and part way up the west side of the giant loop was interesting. This area has a strong Scottish heritage. I asked, and the name Margaree is a Native American version of what the white man named the river & valley: Marguerite.

Lovely little beach at Margaree.

Margaree Harbour.

Margaree Valley.

Hmm. Kinsmen = Scottish.

Margaree Harbour. Can you see all those seabirds?

This pretty little goldfinch stopped by to say hi while we ate our picnic lunch.

Here we are.

Strange looking toothy jetty at Margaree Harbour.

July 23, 2014 Ferry ride from PEI to Nova Scotia

Today we left the Prince Edward Island and took a ferry back to Nova Scotia. It was a medium-size ferry and a 45-minute trip. They even had live entertainment! I spent the whole time up top with the wind in my face, which is where I love to be. Looked for whales, seals, dolphins, but saw none.....