History Is Just Being In The Right Place At The Right Time

Yikes, almost time to disembark from Newfoundland. The motorcycle, named Bliss and nicknamed Blister (especially after this trip) is not feeling blissful. Its been drenched with rain sitting outside Gene’s house and while its fairly clean, the rain has seeped into every possible opening and the seat upholstery is very damp. Barry is concerned about the lock on the Tourpack which is stuck and inoperable. The Harley dealer here isn’t much help and we haven’t time to wait for a new lock to be installed.
Barry has kept himself busy in quiet moments with saddle soap and mink oil so our leathers, finally dry, are looking almost brand-new. We keep updated on the weather - overcast, muggy but cool today; there is a hurricane warning for the eastern seaboard ! We can’t believe our luck and Marlene is ready to sacrifice all her alcohol for the rest of the trip to the weather gods.
Newfoundland is a unique experience and the Department of Tourism has really gotten that information out this year with its TV advertisements and Traveller’s Guide “Lost and Found” that Marlene regrets we’ll not be able to pack home with us. The perennial problems of any destination with a short tourist season remain: the Marine Atlantic ferry system is expensive and unreliable; good accommodation must be booked ahead; car rentals are expensive, difficult to get, and must be reserved; the weather is fickle; and many of the roads are in poor condition.
On the plus side, this beautiful province hidden away on the east coast of Canada, for many years a well-kept secret, is enchanting visitors from all over the world. The Newfoundlanders, born to a harsh environment where survival depended on cooperation and hospitality, extend their friendliness to all. If we have any advise it is: don’t come to Newfoundland with too many expectations other than to expect the unexpected. Our best days here are when we give ourselves time to see what we see. Remember that historically nobody came to live on this rock on purpose, all civilization of this province can be attributed to the sea. Legends abound in this magical place that just happened to be safe harbour.