I didn't quite make it to Goose Bay today. Everything takes longer on a road like this one. It is wide and narrow, fast, and slooooow, wet and dusty. You just never know what surprise is around the corner. I can make a steady 60 mph for 30 minutes only to come to a complete stop and wait 20 minutes for road construction. The weather has totally changed for the better!!! I'm so happy to report this fact to you all. I got on the road early by 7am today, and by 10am, the dust was already coming up. By noon, I was leaving a 1/2 mile trail behind the bike at speed, which makes passing trucks next to impossible as it's not worth the risk. You can get up close but then you lose the trailer in the dust so if they stop, you'd run into the back of them. If you pull wide and left to pass, you can't see oncoming traffic through the dust. So, when they'd pass me, I'd just back it down, drop two gears, and watch the scenery for a while. Speaking of... I saw a little black bear today foraging on the right side of the road. I stopped in time to grab some quick video but this wireless isn't ready for real content. It will have to wait for another day when I have a stronger and faster upload possible. I also saw a fox (I love those guys), a bunch of rabbits, but still no moose, elk, or caribou. It's a love hate thing there... I don't really want to see them on the road in front of me, still, it would be cool to shoot some photos of a moose. They are enormous animals but dumb as a stick. Gas is harder and harder to come by. On the Trans-Labrador highway, there are signs telling you where the next fuel is in distance. Today one said next fuel 225 Kl. I'm glad the bike has a big tank and a range of 235 miles. You really need it out here! There is NOTHING in between fuel stops. No phones, no stores, no junk for sale, just a lot of woods, rivers, streams, lakes, and blue sky as far as the eye can see. There are all manner of tundra flowers in bloom. I ate lunch today in Labrador City. I found the tallest steeple and pulled into what is now a Basillica. I stopped in as the door was open and prayed my evening prayer in front of the tabernacle. I know I sound like a broken record, but it's so cool to have a Catholic church ANYWHERE!!! the Oblates are the priests of the diocese here. There is only 1 native born Labradorian out of 13 priests serving this entire Diocese. We're talking about 75,000 people spread out all over. We are so blessed in Knoxville.
I have had no luck getting hold of the ferry people (not the the little people with red hair up to mischief). Their phone was busy both times I tried them today and their website won't let me book a motorcycle online. I'm just going to have to get up early, hit the road early, and get to Goose Bay and go straight to their office and beg for a space. Once I book ferry passage to newfoundland, I'll be able to book the other two (to Nova Scotia and then to Bar Harbor, MN). Everything hinges on this one 19 hour long boat-ride. Once i reach Happy Valley/Goose Bay, it will be all about getting back to my bride, my parish, and my life. Will fix typos later and upload photos and video too... until tomorrow! God bless you all!!!! dpat :)
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