Our RV's batteries are not holding a charge so we can't rely on them when we are not plugged in. This means we can't use the microwave for cooking, we don't have lights, and we can't recharge the cell phones, camera batteries, or plug in needed nighttime devices. We figured out that our generator is not working properly. It runs, but the inverter is not working and therefore not charging the batteries. That means we can't camp anywhere but in an RV Park because we need electricity, especially to run the furnace, as it is very cold in the part of Newfoundland that we are in right now.
We called Rod, the RV rental guy, to discuss the issue with him. Yesterday, he sent us a Youtube video to watch to show us how to use a generator. He doesn't realize we have people on this trip who own trailers and who probably know more about them than he does. Once he was convinced that the generator wasn't working properly, he told us to take it in to a tire service place to be looked at. He also said he would be taking $100 a night off the price of the rental for all the issues we had been having. When he heard about he flooding in the shower, he was dumbfounded and sorry, but had no insurance plan to cover my lost lens.
Grant, Julie-Ann, and John went off to the tire store. It looks like a lot of fun, doesn't it?!
I decided to not go with them and instead went off across the street to the Newfoundland Insectarium and Butterfly Garden. I am very happy that I did not go with them. I had a wonderful time spending several hours among the free flying butterflies. Their exhibit of the Leaf Cutter ants and a working bee hive were also quite impressive. I was also able to hold a Ghost Mantis in my hand.
This is my hand holding a Ghost Mantis in my hand. A Ghost Mantis is a relative of the Praying Mantis.
Two adorable kids looking at the fish in the pond. If only their parents had seen the boy drinking water out of the pond moments before I took the shot.
Sorry, they won't let you hold the spiders!
The queen has a yellow dot on her back.
This roadway allows the bees to leave the hive and go outdoors and reenter when they are ready.
Above is a video I took of the Leaf Cutter Ant Exhibit in action.
Grant, Julie-Ann, and John spent several hours in the tire shop, and nothing was accomplished. The technician agreed that the inverter was not working, but because it was a tire shop, he couldn't fix it. Once they got the RV back, they did some shopping, grabbed a bite to eat, headed back to get me, and we were back on the road again.
John likes to put his camera on the vivid setting at times when the sun isn't shining bright. I have to try to tone the photos down a bit when putting them on my blog.
We stopped a few times for photos. At one place we saw the wreck of the S.S. Ethie. There is even a story about how a dog helped to save all the lives of the people on board. I wonder if he was related to Sgt. Gander?
We camped for the night in Port au Choix, on the northern peninsula. Port au Choix means Port of Choice. According to the town's website, "The Town of Port au Choix is truly a paradoxical place. On the one hand, it occupies one of the most remote geographic areas in Canada on the island of Newfoundland’s beautiful Northern Peninsula. On the other, its place in history is as a crossroads for 5 peoples and their associated cultures across nearly 5000 years." You can read more about its unique history by following this link.
We stayed at at the Oceanside RV Park. If you come here in August, I would highly recommend this site. It is run by the Port au Choix Lions Club. It was quite beautiful, too bad for us it was so cold, or it would have been a lovely place to have an evening campfire while you listen to the waves crashing against the rocks. The rocks that protruded into the ocean here are like nothing I have ever seen before, although most of the shoreline in Newfoundland is so very different from the shoreline of Connecticut. Plus, one coastal area here is so very different from another. The type of rock in each region is unique to each area, it makes each place uniquely beautiful and memorable. I think it may have something to do with the fact that 3 tectonic plates merge in the Newfoundland region.
the first of many signs on this trip
We all hopped into Dave's RV and drove into town to have dinner at the Sea Echo Motel and Restaurant. Our crew was looking for a lobster dinner. Sadly, no one had lobster, as we were informed that lobster trapping season had ended in these parts two days ago and all the lobstermen had pulled up their traps for the season. I had a delicious dinner of fish and chips. While waiting for my dinner, I hopped outside to take some pictures.
After dinner, Julie-Ann, Karen, Terry Lee, and Carolyn decided to walk back to the campground from the restaurant. I asked if the remainder would mind if we drove to see the historic Port Richie Lighthouse in the fog. No one minded, so off we went. It was only 5 minutes from the campsite, so not a big deal. Grant had lent his jacket to Karen so she could keep warm on the walk back to camp, and the keys to our RV were in the pocket, so if they girls got back before we did, they could go in our RV and warm up.
On the way back, we saw some caribou resting in the fields. They were quite a distance away. These are the times that I find myself missing my good lens.
John's camera was able to zoom in on the critters better than mine!
When we got back, we walked on the rocks, observing them and the fog for a while until we got too cold and needed to go in to warm up. I am very glad I packed gloves and earmuffs. It was too cold for a campfire tonight.
Grant and Julie-Ann decided to use the Lions Club's BBQ grills at the campsite to cook up the chicken wings for tomorrow night's dinner. This way we could keep our grill clean. In hindsight, it was a good thing, we found out later on in the trip that our RV had a grill, but no propane to run it.
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