An Evergreen Life: The Great Northern Peninsula

Woke up this morning to rain, again. But we have had such good weather till now and NL is in a drought like many other parts of North America so I won't complain. Also woke up to internet, Yes!

We have stayed primarily in Provincial or National Parks and since we rarely stay in a campground at home we don't have much experience with them.

In Canada many sites at Provincial Parks are "seasonal". People buy them for a season and move the camper up and use them as summer get aways. The parks leave a number of sites for other travelers. The Provincial Parks do have wireless but do not have any hook ups so no electricity to plug in. Some have a strong internet signal others only have wifi at a central location like the "kitchen house". This is an enclosed building with a sink, picnic tables and a cook stove. A dry place to cook and eat when camping. The National Parks are similar and all have a shower house and laundry.

Private campgrounds we have seen in the US usually have more amenities. Pool, game room, movies, etc. We have stopped when traveling across the counrty and met people who will stay for a week, as their vacation. A pool for the kids, ice cream socials, just what they want for a week.

Private campgrounds in Canada are quite different. To be fair we have not stayed in many, but the ones that we have visited have been well, sad.

Canadas economy is struggling in many places. To the north the oil shale areas are booming but the decline of fishing as well as current economic factors make the economy tough in many other areas. Most of the private campgrounds have large campers set semi permanently in sites. Like mobile home parks but with more mobility. Most of these people live here and so it is a different experience than visiting a "campground". Once again I have to stop and be thankful for all that I have. I have a home and a travelling home and I am grateful for that.

Today we will travel east to towards the Atlantic Coast. The weather forecasts are so complicated here that after the first few minutes I lose track of what the announcer has said, but I think more rain. But no matter what the weather we are moving on to the central part of NL.

Here are a few more photos from the last week of traveling.

Fishing nets hanging at Broom Point

House at Broom Point. Every summer for generations the Mudge family moved here to catch and process cod, salmon and lobster. Three brothers, their wives and children in the small 3 bedroom house originally only accessible by boat.