Day 53 – Robinsons NL – Cycling Across Canada

Day 53 – Robinsons, Newfoundland (Sunday, June 28, 2015)

I attempted sleeping on the ferry in a lounge chair but it was rough. I may have got a few hours at the very most. At any rate it was a lot less than normal nights in poor sleeping positions.

I had breakfast on board just after the ferry had docked.

We disembarked at Port aux Basque at 7am Newfoundland time and were immediately greeted with unique Newfoundland landscape. In retrospect (I am now writing this in Rocky Harbour) I realize now that Port aux Basque is worth visiting but at the time I was more interested in getting some miles in before crashing early to catch up on sleep.

I had lunch at a road side restaurant near Jeffery’s NL and learned from the local people that there aren’t many places ’til Corner Brook. So I resigned myself to stay at my original destination, Midway Motel and Lounge.

The day was good for cycling. It started cool but a nice tail wind picked up from the south bringing with it (I guess) the warmest day of my trip. I found the heat sucking the energy out of me.

As it turned out the Midway Motel (Robinsons, NL) was closed and the property was up for sale. When I arrived I was tired from lack of sleep on the ferry and quite hot so I pitched in the rear and crashed. Corner Brook was another 110 km I had no other place to go.

At about 7pm the owner came by and we chatted. I explained my situation and he was more than happy to let me stay. Apparently even when the motel was open he had reserved an area at the rear for cyclists passing through. (See the comment below.)

A river.

A picture of the ferry at a distance from Port aux Basque. I had forgotten to get a closer picture but this shows the blend of the ugly oil bunkers with the rugged nature of the town from the perspective of the highway.