Saturday, April 1, 2017

Tuesday September 13 – Drive from Burgeo to Codroy


It was a challenge in Burgeo this morning trying to find a gas station, and we ended up going to the RCMP office in town.  A nice lady, Judy Melbourne was manning the office.  Found out where we could get diesel, and Jim mentioned that we had a friend in Maine who grew up in Burgeo, Tammy Rose Maliner.  She smiled and said her daughter Sandra was one of her best friends, and they lived close by!  Small world!  After getting our diesel fuel, we headed north up the 90 mile torturous trail to TCH 1. 
The endless 90 mile road to Burgeo
Float plane along the road
                                                                                                                                                  The ride only took 3 hours today!  We navigated the washouts and the 6 to 15’ patches of gravel & potholes where the asphalt had been removed (there were over 80 of them!) where we had to either stop or drive 5 mph.  The Canadian DOT needs to spend more dollars helping Newfoundland improve their secondary roads!

  
Bridge at Barachois Provincial Park

                                                                                                                                                                                        Back on the TCH, we stopped at the Barachois Provincial Park for a quick bite and short hike.  It is another beautiful park like Sandbanks, with great camping spots but without water or electric. 

Walking through Barachois Provincial Park
Mi'Kmaq Museum in St. Georges
                                                                                                                                                                                         Back on the highway, we headed for St. George’s to visit The Mi’Kmaq Museum, but found it had closed for the season at the end of August.  The Mi’Kmaq’s were the French allies in the French and Indian War, and there is a sizeable population on Newfoundland.


                                                                                                                                         

The road narrows!
Then the excitement of the day began!  We were following a road to find berry farms that had been advertised, but never found them.  On the google map, it looked like we could follow a gravel road to get back to the TCH.  Wrong!  As we proceeded along the road, it continued to narrow and huge puddles appeared.  We finally threw in the towel, and Becky got out and guided Jim backing up for about 100 yards till the RV could be turned around! 
Do we really want to drive there?

Note the backup lights!!
We finally got back on the TCH and reached the beautiful Codroy campground where we had spent our first night, and will be here the next 3 nights before heading across the St. Lawrence Strait.  Becky talked with the lady who checked us in, Arlene MacIssac, enquiring where the St. Ann’s Catholic Church cemetery was so she could do some research tomorrow on finding the gravesite of some of Michael Young’s ancestors.  Turns out they’re related!   Her great-grandfather is Michael’s great-great-grandfather!  More to follow!

Our camping spot at Codroy Campground


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