A Stange Day and a Reconsideration

The day started with the dawn chous warming up around 4:30am. The Wilson’s Snipe started it all, followed by the Swainson’s Thrush, then the rest pitched in. There was a particularly loud Northern Waterthrush in the wetland fight behind Speedy, also the locale of the snipe.

This prompted us to get out for an early bird walk around the campground. It was actually pretty clear at that time and we saw only 10 species, but we found a particularly birdy patch where there was Lincoln’s Sparrow singing. It seemed to bring in a whole host of birds who flew in and out, perching in the open. It was a good short walk.

We definitely had the best part of the morning. By the time we left, it had clouded over and started to get misty and foggy. We stopped at the Visitor Center for a short look around and it was a steady rain by that point.  

Because of the charging problem I noticed yesterday, we wanted to find a powered campsite for tonight. We had seen an interesting place on the way to Trout River called The Waters Edge at Shoal Brook on the West Arm. Unfortunately, they were booked up for tonight. We headed back in the increasing rain to Deer Lake. We stopped for lunch in Speedy in the heaviest rain on the trip, so far.

After lunch, we made our way to the Deer Lake Municipal Campground where we could get a powered site. It is a campground that is being upgraded and currently lacks a bit of charm, but it is right on the lake. We are now plugged in for the night. The weather cleared up not long after we arrived and it is partly cloudy right now. The forecast for tomorrow is for temperatures in the 80s and a good day before going back to rain next week.

With the electrical problem yesterday and the muffler, brakes and getting stuck on muddy grass earlier, we have lost confidence in Speedy, so much so that we have decided not to go on to Labrador. We could probably drive the Trans-Labrador Highway with no problem as it is recently paved, but there are 140 miles of gravel on Quebec 389 which is too worrisome with the problems we have been having. There are no services except for a couple of gas stops on 389. It would be a bad place to breakdown.

We will probably spend another week or so on Newfoundland, even with the rain. The ferry is rather pricey and it seems a real waste to go right back. After that we will meander back home, the speed depends on availability of places to stay in prime season.

We are quite disappointed in ourselves, but just don’t trust the van in the backcountry.