July 22, 2009 St. Anthony to Rocky Harbour

It rained and the wind blew overnight, but it was a sunny morning. We packed up the trailer and by that time the clouds came in and it got colder. We headed down the road, taking the somewhat longer, but maybe quicker road back to the main route of 430. The road was in good shape and we passed miles of forest. The Newfoundlanders heat their houses in part with wood. So everywhere you go you see cords of wood stacked up along the road. Sometimes you just see piles of wood, not yet split and stacked to dry. You pay a small amount for a permit to cut or carry off wood. You are allowed 12 cords. You cut the wood in the winter and drag it out to the road in a small sled which you tow with your snowmobile.. Then it is cut and stacked until the fall of the next year, when it is dried and you take it to your house in your pickup truck. No one messes with anyone else's wood.

Also along the road are gardens, that are not very big but fenced to keep out the moose. Root vegetables are usually grown here. If you live in a town near the coast, where the soil is bad, your garden is several miles inland, where the soil is better and the weather is warmer. Again, no one bothers someone else's garden.

The weather improved significantly as we traveled south. It was sunny and much warmer than in the north along the coast. We stopped at a scenic overlook at The Arches Provincal Park. Wonderful arches in the rocks which looked great looking through them.

We got to our campground around 3:30. We tried to get tickets to the show in the local pub with a group called Anchors Aweigh, but they were sold out. We could stand in line to get in, but seats were not promised. Decided to give it a pass.

Lots of people continue to be interested in our camper. It is a conversation starter.