Ferry to Corner Brook (8/5/23 Sat)

Our lucky ferry crossing went smothly. It's hard to sleep well sitting up in an airline seat with a lot of your non-closest friends. Breakfast starts just before 0600 and allows exiting the ship ready to ride shortly past 0700.

Having spent two long travel days with litle rest I made to call to visit Rose Blanche first thing. Last time here Nate and I rode out and back just before the ferry home. I saw this amazing set of falls that I couldn't get a good picture of. This time I would get that photo.

The road to Rose Blanche seems to leave from the ferry parking lot and heads east along the southern shoreline. It loosely follows the shoreline for about 50km before ending near the lighthouse. I've been to the end twice now and never payed the entrance feee and walked into the lighthouse, so I can't comment on it. The road to the town is very narrow, with some rough patches. But it winds along through scenery that I can only describe as a terrarium looking. It's quite magical, and Anne was more than pleased with the choice to do this first. On our way back we stopped at Barachois Falls and hiked into the falls. I climbed nearly to the top and took a lot of photos all along the path and climb. Anne hung out at the end of the trail/base of the falls, so we could provide human scale for each others photos.

I snapped a photo of the ferry on our way out of the port. We planned to stop for Coffee and gas just outside of town. But I didn't want to stop in the port city, just the next station. The Zumo GPS indicated one about 25km further that had a few gas stations, just in case one was close. Unfortunately I drove by the only one we saw. The next station was 90km further, and past the Wreck House stretch of windy highway. Bu the time we reached it both of us really needed a break. Luckily it was a lone do-it-all Irving that fofilled our gas, water, and restaurant needs.

Long days and little sleep wore us down. Anne wasn't happy that Gros Morne was 3 hours further, and according to the reservation website all the campgrounds are full. I knew we needed shorter breaks, but also wanted us to reach the campground(s) during open hours. I was targetting our next stop for Corner Brook, one hour towards Gros Morne. A GPS search found the Kinsmen Campground. Breaking up the ride was the only reason we would need to stop, so I set a course for the campground. It seemed OK and, although full, had an overflow section we could tent in. After a long review of weather and accomidations we decided to stay at least one night and consider Sunday a rain day.

Overflow camping was good. We setup and went to bed before dark and had perfect temperatures for just a sheet and no rain overnight.