Thursday, May 16 2024 ( Day 10)

 St. John's, Newfoundland / 6:55 a.m. / 10 degrees to Marystown, Newfoundland / 7:40 p.m. / 14 degrees for a total of 716 km driving.

Good-bye to the fog in St. John's, the unfortunate side is that we did not get to see Signal Hill and Cape Spear due to the fog but had a wonderful time none the less,  As we make our way through the Irish Loop / Avalon Peninsula (Hwy 10), the fog and pot hole roads continue to follow us periodically.  

We decided to check out Cape Race Lighthouse (National Historical Site).  The lighthouse contains one of the most powerful lights in the world, single white flash every 7.5 seconds; additionally, a foghorn may sound a signal of two blasts every 60 seconds.  It is located on one of Canada's busiest shipping lanes.  The road appears to have been definitely repaved.  There is a note "this road is not maintained".  We followed it and before the end there is a Ranger Station along with outdoor toilets.  At the end of the road, is the lighthouse and a center (not open yet for the season).  We crossed 8 wooden (one way) bridges on the Cape Race road.  It is a 20 km drive one way.  We met a nice couple and their 2 dogs from Austria.  They will travel all of Canada, USA before heading to Mexico over the next 2 years.  

Next stop was Cape St. Mary's Ecological Centre, the most accessible seabird colony in North America.  Bird Rock is the 3rd largest nesting site and southernmost major breeding area for the thick-billed murres in the world.  We encountered fog once again and then had a slight break to get some pictures.  You could definitely hear the birds.

As we continue to travel the loop we see Placentia and then Argentia (this is where the 16 hour summer ferry terminal is located that goes to North Sydney, Nova Scotia).  We saw the construction of the Wellhead Platform (WHP) that will consist of a concrete gravity structure.  It is the West White Rose project.  The plan is to flood the graving dock with seawater in Placentia by spring/summer 2025, then float it to its location in the White Rose oil field.

We decided to drive further today as we will be taking the 1:00 ferry from Fortune, Newfoundland tomorrow and are not sure what the morning will be like (ie. fog) or the road conditions.

We stopped for the night in Marystown, Newfoundland at Braxton Suites.  This was a great room especially with the kitchen facilities, stove, small fridge but a 1/4 was a freezer.  Table and chair, couch, large bathroom and lots of closet space.  They even provide board games.  We would stay here again.  Only drawback was that the internet was slow but we let them know.

Note: Marystown population is 5,316 but they have everything from Sobey's, Walmart, Canadian Tire, Subway, McDonald's, 2 Tim Hortons, etc.

Cape Race Lighthouse


Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve

Wellhead Platform (WHP) concrete gravity structure (West White Rose)


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