East Coast 2013 - Day 10

September 8/13 - Gros Morne

The drizzle would not relent, at least not for long. We broke our fast in the picnic shelter, ironically the very same picnic shelter in which we were trapped about ten years ago, when caught in the tail end of Hurricane Gustav. Downed trees had trapped about a dozen of us strangers in the Lomond campground, huddling in the picnic shelter and sharing what provisions we had....until the fine folks at nearby Killdevil Anglican Camp had rescued us, fed us, and gave us cabins to dry out, shower and get some sleep while a crew worked to get the road open.

But I digress. We decided to spend the rainy day driving around, since the weather was not so conducive to hiking or other outdoor pursuits. We drove further up the Route 430 (aka The Viking Trail) as far as Cow Head before turning back to explore Rocky Harbour and Norris Point, including a memorable lunch of fish cakes and homemade soup at the Sunrise Cafe. Jane had already procured the obligatory moose burger the day before in Wiltondale.

Back at camp, we settled in for a damp evening, setting up in the picnic shelter and grabbing some firewood during the sporadic presence of the "park guy". It's that time of year, you takes yer chances. Then again, we had the picnic shelter all to ourselves, so who's complaining? After a delicious dinner of Hamburger Helper, which only tastes nearly so good when we make it camping, we read for a few hours beside a warming fire. The tent was wet but not WET, suggesting a less than comfortable though bearable evening was in store.

Then some guy wandered in from the Killdevil Camp, offering us a cabin if we wanted. It was the same guy from ten years before, and though I remembered him, apparently they rescued people quite regularly from the Lomond campground and we were just not very memorable. The weather was miserable, he noted, and the camp was empty for a few days until the next group came in. He left us to ponder the offer, wondering at our coincidental opportunities a decade apart.

In the end, mainly once darkness fell, the rain intensified and the firewood ran low....we decided what the heck?!?!? Leaving our rapidly flooding tent, we grabbed our bedding and drove the short distance up the road to the camp. One other poor soul had also taken them up on the offer, an older woman from Maine travelling by herself and likewise tenting in Lomond.

This time when we ran into the same guy and advised him that we would very much like to take him up on his generous offer to borrow a cabin for the night, I pulled the name "Malcolm?" from the dark and creepy recesses of my brain. Yes indeed, Malcolm Turner, two times a Saint in our books. Thank you once again, friend.

Breakfast of peameal bacon sandwiches and coffee

Moose 1 - Juke 0

The long and (wet) winding road....

Our view for most of the day

Norris Point lookoff

Along the Viking Trail

Truly a day "for the birds"

Rocky Harbour with Gros Morne Mountain obscured by clouds

A few sticks of wood to take the chill off....

Hamburger Helper(TM), when you need a helping hand!