Christmas Trip - Day 9

Slept until 0800 - had to spend awhile cleaning the snow off my truck... Tried to locate ski slopes at Mars Hill - it was closed, though. Drove south again and had breakfast in Houghton. Decided to go over to Canada - crossed at I-95. Trouble with guards ("Why is your car registered in Virginia while your license is from Florida? And you say you drove from Massachusetts?"). Used NB-95 to get to TCH-2. Drove to Hartland to see what was purported to be "World's Largest Covered Bridge." Returned to border by same route - gas in Millinocket, ME (1215). Drove back on I-95 to Augusta in heavy snow - made it clear near Brunswick. Took ME-196, US-201 and ME-24 in effort to find Bath - no luck. Back on I-95 again - then switched to I-295. Called Kristi with the new number and figured out where she lives - it was close. Found out she has a new baby, Nicholas. We caught up on some news about old friends and it was fun. Stayed from 1730-2200 - had dinner and watched TV. Back on the road - late, but no snow. I-295, I-95 towards MA. Almost ran out of gas - looked in Salisbury, Hampton and Seabrook (all closed). Finally saved in Amesbury, MA, at 2345. I-95, I-93, MA-3, US-6 to the Cape - home at 0130. Watched movies until 0300 - then bed.

Newfoundland Trip - Day 9

Took the "interesting way" today - drove over towards the US - Canada border. Ran out of gas - thank God for the gas tank I brought! Mileage on the old GLC at that point was 430 miles! Found gas station just around the corner - I had almost made it. Just like last summer in Yukon and Alaska: if you don't get gas when you see it, you won't find any later... Crossed at I-95 and then took US-1 up to Caribou. Crossed back into Canada in Quebec. Drove along St. Lawrence River for a few more hours - stopped in Riviere-du-Loup for a bit. Eventually found a campsite near Montreal (at Camping 300 in Cap-Saint-Ignace). Met some interesting people in the campground - they are locals on a vacation. They told me more than anyone else had - about things to do around here...

Newfoundland Trip - Day 8

Woke up early - cleaned up camp and drove over to see the Green Gables home at Cavendish. Carolyn likes the story of "Ann of Green Gables" - sent her a post card from the little post office. Visited grave of Lucy Mayde Montgomery, author of the book. Drove around the island - saw lots of the red mud everyone talks about! Even shopped at Matthew's Market (I'm sure that is a reference to the book...). Drove back to Borden to get on the ferry in the afternoon - arrived in Nova Scotia by 1600. Drove into New Brunswick and found a good campground (Camper's Cove near Young's Cove - near the border with Maine).

Newfoundland Trip - Day 7

Ferry (named "Caribou") dropped me off in North Sydney around 0030. Started to drive back towards Halifax, but got tired. A gas station attendant let me sleep in their parking lot from 0230 to 0630. In the morning, started driving down the coast - great views. Arrived in Halifax just in time (1200) - was able to watch marching soldiers at the citadel. Explored the city for a little while. Started to sprinkle later, so drove back to New Brunswick. I wanted to get on the ferry for Prince Edward Island in the morning, but there was no line for the evening crossing tonight. Had some trouble with my credit card today - I think I hit my limit. Luckily, they use an old system and still gave me tickets for the ferry fare... Found a campsite right when I got over to PEI - Cumberland Cove Campground.

Newfoundland Trip - Day 2

Left campsite in the morning. Unbelievable image of low tide versus the high I'd seen before! Picked up US-1 and drove all the way up the coast to the crossing to Canada. Got searched at border. Drove over towards St. John, New Brunswick. Visited the Bay of Fundy - everything I expected! Tides are amazing - found a little harbor where you could actually watch the boats rising and falling during the day. Explored the Park a little and then drove over to Nova Scotia. Camped just before dark near the town of Truro. I noted the names of towns are like those on Cape Cod - my dad says it's because the Loyalists left Massachusetts after the American Revolution and settled here. I heard that Gerard is out here somewhere. I'll try to catch up with him in Cape Breton tomorrow... Found a good campsite before dark.