Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, August 2015

Perfect first day in Gros Morne National Park on the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland.

Off to Newfoundland, August 2015

After a very enjoyable stay on Prince Edward Island, we head to Newfoundland, via Nova Scotia. First by ferry from Wood Islands in PEI to Caribou in Nova Scotia. Then on to North Sydney on Cape Breton Island. Then after at night in a park in North Sydney, on to Port aux Basques in Newfoundland. The ferry (MV Blue Puttees) is substantial, with two vehicle decks. The weather was perfect across the channel. I would imagine that berthing in Port aux Basques could be quite a challenge with a number of rocks close by when the ferry turns to reverse.

MV Blue Puttees ahead

Terminal at North Sydney

Looking back to North Sydney

The MV Lief Ericsson

And in to Port aux Basques

On our way to Nova Scotia from Prince Edward Island, August

After a pleasant week on Prince Edward Island we are off by ferry to Caribou on Nova Scotia and then straight to North Sydney on Cape Breton Island. From there by ferry to Newfoundland.

First sight of Nova Scotia

North Sydney, Nova Scotia

Architecture, Charlottetown

Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island is small -- only 60,000 residents. Huge numbers of lovely 19th century homes are clustered around the small business district. It makes for a highly walkable city.

Art Gallery, Charlottetown, PEI, August

The map of Prince Edward Island created in the 1760s by Samuel Wilson has  been  restored and is at the Art Gallery in Charlottetown for some months. This was the map that was used to divide up the Island  into  64 lots,  that were then parcelled out to absentee landlords. The map is huge. And the work to restore it was truly amazing.

 

Riding the Confederation Trail, Montague, PEI, August

The Confederation Trail uses the right of way from the original PEI railway, which ceased operations in the 1980s. The railway is quite a story in its own right, with a significant role to play in PEI joining the confederation.  The colony of PEI had got into some financial difficulties with the cost of the railway and looked to the Federation to get it out of those difficulties.

The trail goes 230km from East to West, with the total distance being more than 400km. The track is largely flat and very well maintained. We cycled from Montague, in the East of the Island.

Typical section of the trail -- watch for those mosquitoes! 

The old railway station at Montague. And the start of this part of the Trail.

Culinary Institute of Canada, Charlottetown, PEI, August

We had dinner at the Culinary Institute of Canada, Charlottetown, which is part of Holland College, a community college. It was an excellent dinner .. with innovative food. My main course was meant to represent all the seafood of PEI. The "sand" you can see underneath the various items was made from milk powder and parmesan cheese. The pickled fiddleheads are foraged on the island and represent seaweed etc. The "pearls" are from mushrooms. Apart from anything else, it tasted just great.