Obstacles

Day 25: TMC: 1693 miles. Port Hastings to Nfld Ferry: 89 miles. Conditions: On and off pouring rain.

Today was the most exciting morning we've had, and this was mainly due to the fact that we set a time to leave, and left right at that time. We got out of the hotel and on the road by 6 45 (QUITE a feat for us). The ride was good except for the looming clouds threatening rain....but then....it started to POUR. About every five minutes I was asking her what we were going to do and she'd always respond the same way, "dont worry, right up ahead we'll be out of the rain." yea..no. The rain didn't let off, we stopped roadside and covered up our bags, already soaked and freezing we managed to get back on our bikes and find a place 30 miles down the road for breakfast. My mom made a big deal about the fact that the waitress poured her a cup of coffee without her actually wanting it...apparently, if she didn't drink it, however did not ask for it, it isn't considered wasting...keep dreaming mom.

After another few rainfalls the skies cleared up and offered us blue skies all the way into North Sydney where we caught the boat from. Mama-bear wouldn't relax, asking everyone around her how the boat ride would be and how wavey it is. She said she wouldn't get on the boat without a glass of wine...unfortunately, subway doesn't serve wine, so she reluctantly rode on without some liquor in her system.

Day 26: TMC: 1700 miles. Argentia ferry to Placentia: 7 miles. Conditions: Cold!

Today was the day of The Butt! as nemo would say. It was a smooth sailing journey and we met a couple of bikers in the parking lot actually. The two bikers were two men from Victoria, unsure about the age.. 55-65? the younger of the two, David, he had ridden his bike all the way from Victoria! And the older, Doug, coming from Ottowa, however, he was also from Vic. We met up with them on the ferry and as soon as we did they offered my mom a glass of wine. You could tell, from this point in, my mom had made some new friends. The two guys were pretty cool and had a great sense of humour. They invited me and my mom to an afternoon pub crawl, tomorrow actually. Starting at 1 and going till god knows when. We said no. :P

We stayed in such a cute little B&B on the water in Placentia, the people there were AMAZING and the food was delicious! It was actually quite sad having to leave..

Day 27: TMC: 1787 miles. Placentia to St.Johns: 87 miles. Conditions: Cold, hot, cold w/ clear skies.

I honestly can't tell you what we were expecting today, mama-bear thought it was going to be an easy ride, however I knew from the first step we took onto Newfoundland it was a hilly jut of rock in the ocean. Today was constant up and downs, no fun. We thought we were lost for a while, so we stopped at a garage outside of a little town called Hollyrood...yes, Hollyrood. It was the "Tidy Town winner in 2002!" (as clearly stated at least 3 times). My mom tried to make conversation with these men and ask directions, however the second they talked you could just see her face fall. The accents here are hilarious! So, as to not be rude, she nodded and laughed at these two talkative men when seemed appropriate. I may even venture out to say...her french may have been equally impressive in this case.

Arriving at St.Johns was rather anticlimatic. No marching bands or confetti tossed on the street as we arrived at our inn...oh well...I guess we shouldn't have been expecting much. But, we are both so releived to be done and are also ready to come home. However we're also ready to enjoy this beautiful island!

Tip of the Days: The end is near, just not clear from around the bend.