August 1

Newfoundland at last!  We crossed the Gulf of St. Lawrence, into New Brunswick, then sped across Nova Scotia, (regretably, but we'll be back), and took the ferry to Port aux Basques yesterday.  Now we have a month to spend here, and already it seems too short.  Every vista is beautiful, every road compelling, every hamlet idyllic.  How do you just visit a place so perfect?

Nova Scotia was picture perfect too, and the lobster was sensational!  Yes, back to the gastronomic cruise itinerary.  It's entirely variable though - the Sobey's store is filled with junk food, processed chickens, white bread and dead produce.  But they do have a beer and wine section!  The farmers' markets are few and far between, but the local berries are plump and delicious.  The bakeries are plentiful, and often delectible, but occasionally unimaginably dull.  Today we've found lattes (rare in Tim Horton land) and homemade soup, plus Wifi and a view!  Fish markets are mostly derelict all across the Maritimes - what does that say about our natural resources?????  BUT, MacDonalds has a Mclobster sandwich!  And of course, Sydney Mines has the Lik-a-Chick!  Who could ask for more?  (For those who doubt, N has a photo of the famous sign to prove it!)

The other oddity we noticed as soon as we hit the Nova Scotia was the lawns.  That's LAWNS, big time.  Tiny house, 5 acres of manicured grass.  The most fastidious have perfect laid out cross hatching mower marks too.  Where the national sport in Ontario is snowmobiling, in Quebec ATVing, in NS it's ride-on mowing.  In Baddeck we counted 20 in one block!  Perhaps they have races to????  What have we been missing?

So, after seeing the country's tallest lighthouse and the world's biggest lobster, we're off to see the best island of all.  (Apologies to SS, Galiano, Gambier......) Waiting for our laundry to finish, then we're off to climb an ancient volcanic cone with a view to Labrador.  It's a strange and wonderful country.