French Ancestors Route (near Stephenville)

Rain started falling about 3am as forecasted.  Then lightening and thunder, then torrential downpours until about 8am. Needless to say, we didn't get up very early this morning. About 10:45, we ventured out on the bike towards Stephenville. Temperature was a balmy 20ºc with a mix of sun and cloud. Weather kept on getting better as we rode south from Corner Brook. Destination, Port au Port Peninsula and Cape St George. Great roads today, punctuated with the odd rough spot, but we are used to the rough patches by now. Great scenery, with very few trees along the shoreline, we kept riding instead of stopping to take pictures. First the south coast, wind was creating large rollers on the sea. Around the north side the rocks were wind swept and trees could only grow where they were sheltered in depressions. Gave for some fabulous views. Cute little villages all along the coasts with many new or near new homes. What surprised us is the size of the homes with 2-3 bay garages attached and huge garage/workshops adjacent to these homes. People are not hurting around here, for that matter, it appears to us that the equalization payments of the "have provinces" have been well spent in all of the Maritimes, on peoples new homes, vacation trailers ATV and all sorts of recreational vehicles. Businesses selling lawnmowers also must be making a killing. Talking to fishers, they work about 2 month of the year and get EI for the remainder, making about 200k annually...... Maybe we will see something different as we head further east but the road is getting shorter by the day..

Check out the house and garage to the left, the norm, not the exception..

The Gravels - French Newfoundland

Description of Port au Port Peninsula