murph
Well-Known Member
It all started innocent enough. Versys Rob sends me a PM stating that if the stars align and he does a voo doo-dance with a doll with pins he may be allowed to walk away from his chores for the weekend. I had inside information that he had obligations with his fiancée on Fri night but he said he could get away after work. No way I was going to be the fall guy so I insisted he check his calendar and with his girl. Light bulb comes on and he says he will be free on Sat morning.
Where to go? The Avalon has been done to death and though I like the Burin and Bonavista areas they too have been ridden aplenty. Twillingate??? Maybe but as google earth was being perused my eye fell upon Cottels Island, Bonavista Bay.
St Brendans has been a gaping hole in my map for years but every time I was at the dock the boat had just left, scheduling was wrong or the old Galatea was full or broken. A dozen times I looked wistfully but goddamn it, come hell or high water I was going and that was that. Pitched it to Rob and sure enough he had been at the dock at Burnside with the same issues. Game on.
Quite unlike me but I did some research and found the latest population census was a mere 147 souls and declining. There was a store so supplies could be had. New boat on the run with lots of capacity and the schedule was doable. Pics showed dirt roads so I declined to inform the Honda owner as he gets a bit sooky at the thought of dirt on his beloved ST. Shag him. He will have to deal with it.
I showed up on time and he asked me not to yell at him for not being ready. As he rushed around and did final packing I suggested the time saving measure of kissing his girl goodbye for him. No such luck. We rolled west around 10:15 with the possibility of showers. Foggy in the Doe Hills with some sprinkles but not wet yet. A detour in Adeytown to show him a great beach campsite with fire pit, picnic table and a huge pile of firewood. All free. Of to Clarenville where I got wet from the road spray of a heavy shower so I put on some gear after a coffee and fuel up. West to the Eastport area where we rode all the roads killing time till the ferry. Big crowds and people were telling us we should stay for the big Seafest dance and fireworks on the beach in Eastport. Not my style. I prefer the isolation of a little island with quiet people.
Off to Burnside ferry dock where the area was full of parked cars and trucks with boat trailers but no vehicles were lined up for the crossing. Odd??? While I went in off exploring Burnside Rob found out that this was the week of the St Brendans come home year celebration. The island was full and chances were the ferry would be chinched on Sun. While we waited in the sunshine for the boat which was on a load and go basis (and had just left when we got to the dock) we made the final decision. In. Loaded around 5:15.
A calm crossing and off we went to explore. Right to the end of the dirt road in Shoal cove. Hauled up alongside two fellas yarning on the dock and one fella knows Rob and the other fella looks at me and says "You're Murph". RTR member ChummyJigger. Within a few minutes we had a place to pitch tents and the inside scoop on the festivities. The only place to eat was the Island Snack Shack trailer so I went to see about supper. She was too busy to feed us for awhile but said she would take care of us. While we waited Rob is chatting away with another customer like his long lost neighbor. He was. He lives across the street from him in CBS. Turns out he is part of the live band brought in to play at the time tonight.
We ate burgers and homecut fries at the picnic table overlooking the small beach and found out the store was just open for to buy a cold six pack. After a couple of beers we walked to the Fire Hall where the crowds were gathering and the music was starting. Not so much "wine, women and song" but more of a "beer, leer and hear" type of night. Everyone knew everyone except for the two townies in hi viz motorcycle gear. Everyone dressed to the nines and I may have stood out in a Ride The Rock tee shirt and red suspenders. We stayed till oneish and wobbled back to the tents while parties were going everywhere. Music and people and cars till all hours.
Hopefully Versys Rob will attach some photos of the day but I am relatively sure the night ones will be foggy.
Where to go? The Avalon has been done to death and though I like the Burin and Bonavista areas they too have been ridden aplenty. Twillingate??? Maybe but as google earth was being perused my eye fell upon Cottels Island, Bonavista Bay.
St Brendans has been a gaping hole in my map for years but every time I was at the dock the boat had just left, scheduling was wrong or the old Galatea was full or broken. A dozen times I looked wistfully but goddamn it, come hell or high water I was going and that was that. Pitched it to Rob and sure enough he had been at the dock at Burnside with the same issues. Game on.
Quite unlike me but I did some research and found the latest population census was a mere 147 souls and declining. There was a store so supplies could be had. New boat on the run with lots of capacity and the schedule was doable. Pics showed dirt roads so I declined to inform the Honda owner as he gets a bit sooky at the thought of dirt on his beloved ST. Shag him. He will have to deal with it.
I showed up on time and he asked me not to yell at him for not being ready. As he rushed around and did final packing I suggested the time saving measure of kissing his girl goodbye for him. No such luck. We rolled west around 10:15 with the possibility of showers. Foggy in the Doe Hills with some sprinkles but not wet yet. A detour in Adeytown to show him a great beach campsite with fire pit, picnic table and a huge pile of firewood. All free. Of to Clarenville where I got wet from the road spray of a heavy shower so I put on some gear after a coffee and fuel up. West to the Eastport area where we rode all the roads killing time till the ferry. Big crowds and people were telling us we should stay for the big Seafest dance and fireworks on the beach in Eastport. Not my style. I prefer the isolation of a little island with quiet people.
Off to Burnside ferry dock where the area was full of parked cars and trucks with boat trailers but no vehicles were lined up for the crossing. Odd??? While I went in off exploring Burnside Rob found out that this was the week of the St Brendans come home year celebration. The island was full and chances were the ferry would be chinched on Sun. While we waited in the sunshine for the boat which was on a load and go basis (and had just left when we got to the dock) we made the final decision. In. Loaded around 5:15.
A calm crossing and off we went to explore. Right to the end of the dirt road in Shoal cove. Hauled up alongside two fellas yarning on the dock and one fella knows Rob and the other fella looks at me and says "You're Murph". RTR member ChummyJigger. Within a few minutes we had a place to pitch tents and the inside scoop on the festivities. The only place to eat was the Island Snack Shack trailer so I went to see about supper. She was too busy to feed us for awhile but said she would take care of us. While we waited Rob is chatting away with another customer like his long lost neighbor. He was. He lives across the street from him in CBS. Turns out he is part of the live band brought in to play at the time tonight.
We ate burgers and homecut fries at the picnic table overlooking the small beach and found out the store was just open for to buy a cold six pack. After a couple of beers we walked to the Fire Hall where the crowds were gathering and the music was starting. Not so much "wine, women and song" but more of a "beer, leer and hear" type of night. Everyone knew everyone except for the two townies in hi viz motorcycle gear. Everyone dressed to the nines and I may have stood out in a Ride The Rock tee shirt and red suspenders. We stayed till oneish and wobbled back to the tents while parties were going everywhere. Music and people and cars till all hours.
Hopefully Versys Rob will attach some photos of the day but I am relatively sure the night ones will be foggy.
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