Burgeo and the Ferry to Ramea

 July28, 2024

Following our intent too explore everywhere, we drove down to Burgeo. We picked up Charlie hitchhiking his way there. He’s traveling around hoping to get stories to write and is headed to the islands and asked us if we were headed to Ramea on the ferry. We weren’t. As we dropped him off we met a woman who chatted with us and also asked if we were going to Ramea. At that point we looked into it and decided for less than $20 Canadian, which included transporting the van, we’d go for it.

Old and new. Also, someone made a fortune selling and installing vinyl siding in NL - it is very rare to find a home without it, even in the smallest fishing village!

Lobster pots 

So many tiny islands off Burgeo

Here comes the ferry

The van sitting pretty

I spotted another basking shark!

This one was easier to see since we were not perched as high and it was right alongside the ferry

Heading into Ramea’s harbor

The metropolis of Ramea.The island is about 2 miles long and 1/2 a mile wide

The municipal pool has seen better days

We camped at a sea urchin graveyard

Our view for the night

Also our view for the night - perspective is everything and don’t believe everything you see on social media

But I will never tire of sights like this

Stephenville, Port au Port, and Cape St George

 July 27,2024

Woke to a beautiful day!

Continued our drive up the coast

The soil is a thin layer over rock here and so this is how they add support to electric line poles. 

Windswept trees

Stopped at the Kindale Library to get some trail info and loved their steps

Was initially confused by this guard station in the middle of the street in Stephenville until I realized it was a manakin and a homage to the USA Ernest Harmon Air Force base that was established in 1941 and closed in 1966.

While looking for an elusive trailhead we came across this line of locals to waiting to fill their containers at the spring, so we got in line and topped all our water containers

Drove to Port au Port peninsula to make lunch 

The water was so clear

Hiked Joey’s Trail along the coast - a trail that a wheelchair using man named Joey advocated to be accessible. The trees attest to the windiness of the area

Hoodoos!

Interesting bridge design

Continued our drive up the coast - loved the colorful houses

Driving past this limestone and dolomite mine was a weird experience as the road went right through it.

Stopped at Parc Boutte du Cap

But were too late for the free bread

And here was another memorial to the Expulsion of the Acadians.

The geography and topography are so different within a short drive

This is called a mother-in-laws door locally and are not uncommon. Evidently fire code requires 2 doors, but since everyone uses the back door why pay for stairs? Newfoundlanders are frugal and practical.

Drove back to Port au Port to sleep next to the beach