Looked out the window at the hotel, dumping rain as expected.
Used up the complimentary coffee and tea. Waited for the sun to shine in Port aux Baque, as forecasted at 10C around 10am. The clerk guessed the room number before Scot got to the desk as we were the last to leave the hotel, I think that is a first in ten years of travel.
Headed up to Deer Lake to be closer to Gros Morne Park for a potentially sunny day start tomorrow. Today it ranged from 6C to 8C, with showers and wind gusts off the ocean to add to the fun. Somehow the side gusts were rattling Scots helmet more than mine. Not something he has ever experienced before, his windshield usually protects him. Its a rather sharp twist, and definitely uncomfortable. I felt for him. I have that happen on the prairies from time to time, at least I can grab my helmet and stop the twist. He’s a little busy for that and it was so random, no predictability to it at all.
Speaking of unpredictable, road side art…
Diversity of the land in just the first 300 Km’s is amazing. Microclimates abound. From the rocky port and rivers
to small pockets of farmland
to mountains
and the bottlebrush growth on coniferous trees, we saw this in the Yukon too
All in pockets of varied size. Very busy looking at all the diversity. Saw our first of the legendary moose. Fortunately he crossed the road with a long sight line. We can hope they are all that considerate for us. Amazing proliferation of moose with the introduction of 4 of the beasts in 1904; believed to be over 150 000 today. I guess no one wants to add wolves to the mix? Wolves were indigenous to the area, but extinct in 1911.
We stopped for a late lunch and maybe to warm up our feet a little. Gold Wing foot warmer does not keep up to side gusts at those temperatures. Of course the neighbouring table of retirees told us only crazy people would be out in a day like this. Well sure, but that’s why it was planned to be a short day, being only partly insane.
Lots of sympathy from the inn clerk who offered us coffee as soon as we walked in the door. How sweet is that!
canyouwingit 