A New "Level" of Tired

Received a note from a franchisee who has been following our 'adventure' and she asked if we were tired yet. My answer was "we've discovered a whole new level of tired!". But it's a good tired.

Seems like it's been forever since I've written. Our last day in Newfoundland was bittersweet. I woke up a bit under the weather, (just feeling 'off center' a bit. I got a couple of loads of laundry going while we visited with Shawn & Charlene, doing what we call an 'exit review'.

Hunter & Natalie were making the most of their day. Earlier Hunter had hit Grandpa up for 'a few quarters' since it was the 'last day'. He opened his wallet and handed her a five - and told her to share it with Natalie & Joshua. We later heard she had gone in the store and asked Shawn how she could divide a five dollar bill in three ways. He told her to just tear it in three pieces! :>) So after some discussion, they decided that she & Natalie would each get $2 and Joshua only wanted $1 (really!). Then Natalie found a 'twonie' (that's a Canadian $2 coin) in her back pack - and they made those quarters last all day by 'budgeting' them wisely.
Natalie has become quite good at the 'claw' game and managed to 'win' her 5th stuffed animal - a giraffe, which she gave to Hunter. (Of course, one has to wonder just how much each of those animals really cost by the time she's 'won' them!) Hunter has 'named' it "Nat Newfie" - and it has become her 'buddy' for her long travel days.

Charlene had sent word early that day that she was fixing lunch, and it was a true Newfoundland treat - fresh fried halibut! I have never tasted halibut before, but I have to tell you, it went right to the top of my list of favorites! Especially the way she prepared it. Hunter even asked for seconds. I've learned my lesson about me trying to fry fish, but I don't seem to have trouble eating it if someone else does the cooking! They were 'steaks' that she had dipped in egg and rolled in crushed corn flakes and then pan fried. Superb!

After lunch and I'm still not feeling 'right', and developing a whopper of a headache, I headed back to the trailer to get a bit of quiet before we had to head south to catch the midnight ferry. Four o'clock came way too soon for all of us, and it was time to break camp. Ready to go, I headed up to find Hunter. Charlene waylaided me and said the girls were 'hiding out', for they had seen Roger & I hooking up the trailer and knew their time together was coming to an end.

Don't know if I was feeling the girls 'pain' or just having 'one of those moments' that sentimental old grandmas sometimes have, but standing there talking to Charlene, I had a bit of a melt-down and got a bit teary-eyed myself. Whatever, I managed to embarrass myself quite good.


Roger pulled the truck up, loaded up Hunter's bike - rounded everyone up for pictures. Charlene had 'tricked' Hunter and got her to try on a fleece Newfie vest (saying it was for Natalie's cousin) - and then presented it to her as a parting gift. Some bake apple syrup and partridgeberry jam for Roger and I, and we were on our way. We have never left Newfoundland without her sending some of Newfoundland's unique bounty with us - whether it's 'bottled moose' or a bag of frozen fish or berries. These folks have become very special to us over the years - and they run a GREAT park, which makes it more fun than work to make our annual visit here.

Natalie couldn't hold back the tears. Hunter held it together until she was in the truck. Knew it got awfully quiet, and looked back to find her wrapped in the Newfie vest with her face buried in her pillow. It didn't take her long to cry herself into a much-needed sleep which lasted about 3 hours - almost the entire way to Port au Basque.

Pulled in to our yearly stop at the Port au Basque Hotel for dinner in their restaurant. Their location right off the highway - and large parking lot - make them a natural supper stop for us before we check in for the ferry. Hunter discovered that chicken nuggets are pretty tasty dipped in brown gravy - right along with her fries.

The ship was just coming in as we got in line and Hunter & I walked over to watch. Our wait got lengthy - and Grandma got nervous - as it seemed everyone else was waved on, but us! Sure enough, we were the last on. Roger and I were so ready for bed. Thankfully, we were on the 'crown jewel' of the Marine Atlantic line this time . . . no elevators for us! A very nice lady met us at the truck and led us to the escalator which took us right to the pursuer's desk to pick up our cabin key. I lost no time hitting the sack and after a quick trip to the outside deck, Hunter & Grandpa were right behind me.

A lot smoother trip this time; not sure if it was the larger ship - or a quieter ocean, but whatever the reason, I was thankful. Arrived in North Sydney about 6:00 a.m. and headed 15 minutes down the road to the KOA. Hunter fell back asleep in the truck and we just left her sleeping, while we got the trailer set up and let the water heat for showers, etc.

Not much to do here - for kids - but it has a view that is second to none! While we did our walk-about, Hunter watched a movie - "The Sound of Music" - one of her favorites. Later she went out to see if she could 'hook up' with a new friend, but only found a group of three - who spoke nothing but French.

She came back to the trailer quite 'crushed' - and then realized it was July 4th - and promptly sunk into a blue funk. With the report to do, and a long travel day ahead of us tomorrow, we did our best to cajole her into a better mood, trying to convince her that July 4th was 'just another day' and her 'celebration' had been a week in Newfoundland. (It didn't work.)

Headed out about 11:30 the next morning, after our meeting with the folks there. No way around a day of driving, but my time estimate was a bit off, especially with a lunch stop at a Subway at the causeway and then a short WalMart stop. Pulled into Caribou to catch the ferry to Prince Edward Island and lucked out, for it pulled in about 15 minutes later. About a 75 minute ride - and we passed the time playing Scrabble on the computer till the battery gave out - and got in a game of "Go Fish" - with even Grandpa joining in.

Rain had joined us - but didn't slow us down - until we got to Charlottetown - THE major city on PEI. Trying to navigate through - we missed a turn somewhere - and finally had to pull over and enlist 'Sylvia's' help (the GPS). She got us headed in the right direction - and we were doing fine until we hit a long stretch of road construction. The road was down to the red clay - and it was raining - use your imagination! Arrived at the KOA, worn out, wet - and with a slightly red trailer!

But all was not lost! This is a park that is definitely kid-friendly! A jumping pillow, hay ride, petting farm, playground, and best of all - a heated swimming pool! So, at 8:30 p.m., one very tired Grandma and one very excited - and rested - granddaughter headed to the pool for 30 minutes of swimming before it closed at 9:00! And the really crazy thing - I was in my jacket with my umbrella, sitting their chilled to the bone - while Miss Hunter was frolicking in the heated pool.

Then it was back to the trailer to cook a bite of supper. I was beginning to feel like we owned a campground again - eating at 10:00 o'clock at night!

Turns out that the cleaning lady here is getting married this weekend - so I (when will I ever learn!) offered to pitch in and help out. So about 10:30 yesterday morning, Kathleen arrives on her golf cart and picks me up for bathroom cleaning duty! I chose toilet duty - over shower cleaning - and working together we got the first one done, although we both had worked up a 'hot' before we were finished. (That's one way to get a good review, for if I clean the bathrooms, I sure can't write them up!) We then took a break and headed to Tim Horton's (on the golf cart, for it sits right next door) where I was introduced to my first 'Ice Capp' - which is an iced cappachino. Now I don't drink coffee, but it was love at first sip. I think I'm hooked.

Back to do the second bathhouse, and thankfully, all it needed was 'a lick & a promise'. While I was 'traveling back in time to campground ownership days' - Roger headed to Summerside to get the oil changed in the truck.

Hunter was 'out and about' with her new found friends: Brianna, Madelyn & Kalen - who she had met that morning at the Petting Farn, along with the cow, pig, bunnies, goats, and kittens.
(And guess what, Mom & Dad! The kittens are adoptable!) Don't worry - we nixed that right in the bud - but she had to ask. After spending just one hour in the kitten room, she knows them all by name. Her favorites seems to be "Oreo & Buttercup".

Due to the wedding - Victor & Kathleen wanted us to get the review out of the way on Friday, to free up their Saturday - so we obliged. This is a great park - but even then it takes time to write the review. Finished it up just in time to join them for their pie & ice cream social. Kathleen even does a special 'doggy treat' - which is a scoop of vanilla ice cream with two chocolate scented doggie bones stuck in the top. I sampled the strawberry rhubarb pie while Roger stuck with his usual apple. Their 3-year-old son, Andrew, decided to just enjoy the 'blue sprinkles' and skip the ice cream. That will be our Hayden in a couple of years!

Then it was off to the pool with Hunter for a bit. Roger had left the truck for me to drive back - and Hunter and friends headed down a different road on the way back to the trailer. In their hurry (they were cold) - Madeline and Hunter got tangled up on their bikes, which resulted in a crash. Think Madeline ended up on bottom, getting the worst of it, but Hunter had a good bit of 'road rash' to show for it too. She's tough though, she got up and limped home. Got her in the shower to get the sand off - doctored her up with Neosporin and "Off" - and out she went again to join them for some time around the campfire. We limited her to 30 minutes and then insisted she call it a day. Dosed her up with a bit of Motrin for her aches & pains and put her to bed, with Grandma right behind her.