Friday, August 19, 2022
Rocky Harbor to Grand Codroy, NL
Heavy drizzle off and on, mid 60s
We were on our way south by 8:45 to Grand Codroy RV & Tent Camping Park in Grand Codroy. We are now firmly on our way back to Nova Scotia.
We’ve had a persistent problem with the sewer dumping system of our camper. Waste is contained in two tanks, one for grey water (from washing dishes and showering, etc). The black water tank holds the rest. There is a valve controlling the drain for each tank so we can periodically dump our waste water into sewer systems. The valve for the black water tank now completely fails to close. As you might imagine, it’s a troubling, nasty situation. And there is no way to service the valve without tearing the camper’s undercarriage apart. On our way south, we stopped in Pasadena at the only RV dealer along our 185-mile route and, glory be, they had an auxiliary, snap-on valve that would solve the problem until we could get it properly repaired.
We stopped for groceries and beer in Corner Brook and, while there, made a visit to a memorial to Capt James Cook. Cook spent five years in the area making the first real navigation charts of the area. Cook used an early surveying instrument known as a “plane table” to do his work and the results he produced were highly accurate. The memorial park was at the high point in the city overlooking it and the Humber River. Little did we realize how steep and twisted the narrow residential streets would be getting there. And we were hauling our camper!
The area we were driving through is some of the most productive farmland in Newfoundland. And the surrounding wetlands are internationally recognized as a priceless migratory bird refuge.
It was raining pretty hard when we arrived at the campground. The group had a happy hour in a pavilion with lots of snacks. There was plenty for me to eat but not so for Sandy. She had to make herself a grilled cheese with a side of grapes.
Saturday, August 20, 2022
Grand Codroy, NL
Cumulative mileage: 5,608
Sunny, breezy, mid 70s
Two other members of our group, Patty & Sandy, joined Sandy and I for a day of hiking and sightseeing. As a point of interest, these two women teach rock crawling in four-wheel drive vehicles for their day job! We first headed to the Codroy Valley International Wetlands Center. The Center was closed but we walked their wetlands trail. It was a bit overgrown but afforded some pleasant woodlands with periodic views of marshlands. Had we been birdwatchers, we might have been more impressed but we didn’t see much.
Then it was off to the south end of the six mile Coastangs Trail that followed the coastline south of the Codroy River. Finding the trailhead was a challenge and, when we were thoroughly stumped we asked a couple who were sitting on their porch. The woman set us on the right path and then engaged us in conversation. She was delightful and, as we parted, said, “I’m so glad you took the wrong turn!”
Finally finding the trailhead, the women hiked the entire trail while I did my trick of driving to the north end of the trail and hiking backwards until we met up. It was a beautiful trail that alternately hugged the precipitous highlands, waded through chest high grass/weeds and wildflowers and ducked inside tuckahoe woodlands. We met about a third of the way south and made our way back to the car. Neat hike!
After the hike we drove north across the mouth of the Codroy River on a Bailey bridge and walked out onto the beautiful sandy beach there.
Continuing north we stopped at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church and cemetery which looked out over the water and the Codroy Fish Plant. We explored the church’s cemetery and wondered at the limited number of family names on the tombstones. There were some sad tales including too many infant deaths and indications of disparity in wealth with wood memorials mixed in with elaborate granite headstones, often with the same surnames.
Just a bit further north we came to Cape Anguille with its namesake lighthouse and inn. Cape Anguille is the westernmost point in Newfoundland.
On our return drive to the campground we could see some of the beautiful farmland for which the Grand Codroy is known. Finally, we passed through “glorious”, don’t blink, downtown Codroy, crossed the “upper” bridge and, don’t blink, Upper Ferry.
