<– Day 4 Aug 5th: Lobster Tales and Other Stories | The NF Trip 2019

UPDATE: It seems I landed flat on my face. It turns out that there is a Saint John, New Brunswick, and a St. John’s, Newfoundland, (thank you Ian). It’s all very hard to see that accurately from where I am on the West Coast. So my apologies! 

On Tuesday the crew drove from Saint John, NB, to Linwood, Nova Scotia, a distance of just under 300 miles.

Yesterday the Newfoundland 2019 (or Rust) crew woke to a beautiful morning near the bustling city of Saint John, New Brunswick.

Here is a beautiful pic of St. John, NB:

I learned Tuesday that the crew had been in Canada almost 24 hours, yet still hadn’t been to a Tim Horton’s, the second greatest thing Canada has ever produced; the greatest thing the country has produced, of course, are stand-in movie locations: Vancouver as Portland (I’m looking at you Grimm) or the Drumheller Valley in place of the US West (Unforgiven).

Continue reading →

<– Day 3 August 4th: Maine’ly Driving Late  | Day 5 Aug 6th: Scooting Across to Nova Scotia –>

Jim, Kevin and Merlin parked for the night Monday night at the Rockwood campground in Saint John, NB.

Amazingly, the Canadians allowed the Newfoundland 2019 (or Rust) crew into Canada yesterday. Clearly they must be desperate for tourists! Well, that and the fact that New Brunswick is so far from the Yukon that they probably still haven’t received word about our 2017 visit to Canada. Whew!

My guess as to the route they took on Monday August 5th.

The crew started the morning in Sanford, Maine, at a Walmart Parking lot.

Beginning at the Sanford, Maine, Walmart.

My guess is that the crew hit Highway One along the Maine coast line, then followed it to Bar Harbor. Now, if you are new to this adventure, you may be wondering, why doesn’t the narrator know what’s happening? Well, that’s because the crew’s phones are being jammed and they are unable to communicate with the rest of the Western Hemisphere … it’s the only possible explanation. So, I’ll make a few literary leaps …

I HOPE they got themselves a Lobster Roll, as great ones can be found all along the coast (the best one we found in 2013 was actually in Massachusetts). Even some McDonalds sells lobster rolls during the summer! Just don’t fall for lobster rolls that brag about their Langostino lobster (It’s no more lobster than Almond milk is milk). Here’s a lobster they may have seen in Bar Harbor.

This sums up much of the Maine we saw in 2013: Lobster, Lobster Rolls, and Ice Cream. We saw more signs for those three items than anything else!

From Bar Harbor, they likely followed the picturesque Highway 1 north to the border with New Brunswick. Fortunately, Merlin has saved me from using stock photos at this point, as he shared a few pics along the route:

Continue reading →

<– Day 2 Aug 3rd: Newfoundland Found, First Group Camp | Day 4 Aug 5th: Lobster Tales and Other Stories –>

The crew’s goal today was to reach Sanford, Maine.

They began the day bright and early, as this photo shows. I think we all know that it’s the Gladiator that makes the scene so impressive. They had roughly 8 hours of driving ahead of them, so, literally, they were both mainly driving and Maine’ly driving.

Today, shortly after leaving Bill’s property in Monticello, the Newfoundland crew had to bid adieu to Russ. Due to a family health issue, he felt an obligation to be with his family. We all wish him and his wife Stacey all the best in this difficult time.

After goodbye, the crew lined up for a cool photo:

Then, they began their trek to their destination, a spot near Portland, Maine. I do not keep the location secret so they can avoid the paparazzi; nor are they hoping to avoid all their adoring fans. Instead, I just don’t know! But, when I do, I will share the news! Their route should be close to the one shown below.

Here they are on their trek, a photo taken by Pete.This sure looks a lot like Alaska to me … I wondering they are sneaking back there without me? Guys? Guys … you are breaking up.

At some point, the group pulled into a cozy Walmart late last night. If you’ve never stayed at a Walmart parking lot, they are great, free places to pull in for the night. There’s even a list of which Walmarts don’t support camping, as not all do.

And, as I mentioned to Jim, the pro tip of the day is that the Super Center Walmarts all seem to have a bathroom at the rear of the store that, in my experience, is cleaner and less crowded.

Camped at the Sanford, Maine, Walmart.

<– Day 2 Aug 3rd: Newfoundland Found, First Group Camp | Day 4 Aug 5th: Lobster Tales and Other Stories –>

<– Day 1: Newfoundland 2019 (Or Rust) | Day 3 August 4th: Maine’ly Driving Late –>

The Ingram’s and Ogles won the Newfoundland 2019 (Or Rust) trip yesterday by reaching Newfoundland first on Saturday. The problem is, they reached the wrong Newfoundland … I don’t know how they found it, but apparently there’s a Newfoundland, Pennsylvania. Those folks from Paris (Paris, Illinois), weren’t messing around! Well played folks!

After celebrating their achievement, they left for Monticello, New York, where they joined most of the rest of the crew for the first group camp. Below we have Bill’s CJ-5 and trailer from Alaska Or Rust 2017.

Jim and ‘Kelvin’ will be bunking in Jim’s new camo-palace.

Joe’s tent is the same setup he used for Alaska Or Rust.

Russ has got himself a new trailer, with his rebuilt wagon well tested on the drive up to Monticello.

Continue reading →

The NF Trip 2019 (Or Rust) | Day 2 Aug 3rd: Newfoundland Found, First Group Camp –>

Russ (at the wagon) and Joe Bee’s CJ-3B are filling up for their meeting with the group.

Over the last couple of days a group of intrepid explorers–tough, thoughtful, highly trained, without fear, able to withstand the worst summer conditions–have set out for the wilds of Newfoundland, Canada. Many of these brave souls participated in the 2017 Alaska Or Rust trip.

Having survived western Canada two years ago, they are ready to join forces once again to explore the wilds of eastern Canada. They are equipped only with the latest techo gadgets, GPS locators, and A/C units in their trailers, along with healthy doses of humor,  Some are in classic jeeps and others in modern ones, but all have joined to share in the goal of adventure, friendship, and camaraderie.

This is a rough estimate of the Newfoundland trip. I don’t know what the final route will be.

Together, they’ll be exploring the other worldly area of Newfoundland, places with strange names, such as the unique town of Dildo, where they might just get a photo with Captain Dildo … yes, I kid you not.

Ann and I will not be joining them on this trip, so I’ll do my best to keep folks up-to-date on their travels. In fact, I haven’t been involved in the planning process, so I’ll only be learning where they are going as they travel. I also don’t know who all the participants will be.

Naturally, a trip like this can’t begin without some last minute heroics. This year’s award goes to Joe Bee, who worked his butt off to finish up engine and brake upgrades to Russ Lawton’s Wagon.

Bill Reiss also spent time checking over his Dually CJ-5, which turned out to be a good idea, as he discovered a tire-popper in one of his tires.

Continue reading →