My posts have seemingly gotten further and further apart - but not because I've lost interest in blogging! Just haven't gotten many chances to sit down and do it. BUT that changes tonight, as I have somewhat settled into my accommodations and have a night to myself (and my first full day off since arriving) - so I no longer have an excuse to not blog!
So, a quick re-cap: I drove home from Port Alberni, BC in mid June. I made great time bombing it across the United States (thanks to Montana's 80mph speed limits!) and got home in 4 nights, 5 days. This is my second time driving home from PA and my third big road trip (other one was driving out to PA). But this is the first time I did the driving solo. Not gonna lie, I was a wee bit scared/anxious - but I did it! And made it home in time for Father's Day drinks lakeside with Mom and Dad! I was home for just over 2 weeks this time, just enough time to visit as many as I could and spend some quality time at Mom and Dad's. This was also the last time I'd see my sister-in-laws baby bump! I will have a little niece/nephew when I go home next time! I simply cannot wait to be an Aunt! That little babe is loved so much already and they aren't even in this world yet!
July 5 was the day I started travelling in a new direction - EAST! I have been trying for a verrrrrry long time to get a contract out on the East Coast and it FINALLY worked out! I am here in Happy Valley Goose Bay until the end of August. One very cool thing about this contract (among many others)? I get to re-connect with some agency friends! I get to live with C for a week before she heads out (I met her on my very first contract EVER and toured the small towns of Southwestern Manitoba with her) and get to see M fairly frequently as she is now working with the flight team here in Goose Bay (we were roomies while on my first Dawson City contract). It has been so, so, SO great to catch up with them and be somewhere that has some familiar faces. Agency nursing certainly has its perks!
Anyways, back to my drive. My first day was to get to Tadoussac, Quebec. An incredibly gorgeous small town of 900-ish right on the St. Lawrence. I had a long day of driving through Montreal and Quebec City so I go in late in the evening and couldn't take advantage of everything Tadoussac has to offer (whale watching, fjord touring, hiking etc). But I stayed in a beautiful B&B called Auberge Maison Gagne. The host was lovely, the room was quiet and cozy (I did not want to get out of that bed in the morning), and they were so accommodating when my departure time was earlier than breakfast time. I got a delicious early breakfast in the sun-filled dining room looking out to the St. Lawrence - it was a good start to a long, long day.
The second days destination was Labrador City via hwy 389 from Baie Comeau to Labrador City. The drive to Baie Comeau was stunning - along the St.Lawrence as it got wider and wider. The Routes Des Baleines is just incredible. Starting in Tadoussac and going all the way to Blanc-Sablon (this is where I might be accessing the ferry to Newfoundland on my way home!). Then from Baie Comeau it was a twisting, winding road reminiscent of driving to Tofino - except this drive was like, 7 hours. I got to Manic 5 - a huuuuuuge Dam - just massive driving up to it, and totally unexpected. This is where you can gas up (for a hefty fee - they're capitalizing on being the only gas station for hours and hours), thankfully I didn't need to stop! This is also where the road turns to loose, dusty, rocky gravel...... For what seems like AGES..... This was the most trying part of my drive - I had moments of WTF am I doing.... I can't do this for hours.... My poor car.... and most frequently saying "just pass me a**hole!". It switched back to pavement which helped me gain some time back. But man was this drive lonely, not many driving on these roads, and no stops to get out and stretch my legs or pee (I will not pee in a bush... I just wont). I saw a super cute bear though! He ran right out in front of me and ran ahead of me for a while, looking back at me like I'm in the wrong, then he finally bailed into the bush again! Good timing bear, you woke me up! haha. I got to Labrador City around 9pm (time changes added an hour once getting into Labrador). Which meant it was dinner and bed for me! I'm glad I did that drive as it certainly had some stunning scenery when getting closer to Labrador City, but I sure won't do it again I don't think!
My last day was an easy 5-6 hour-ish drive on one road to Happy Valley Goose Bay. THANK THE LORD it was paved! Which is rather new I've been told, only in the last couple years. I got to Happy Valley Goose Bay around 330 in the afternoon and checked into my temporary home - the hotel. Nice place, but was eager to be able to settle in somewhere else a little more permanent. The town is SO spread out. And, at the end of the highway from Lab City was a T-intersection that said Goose Bay to the left and Happy Valley to the right. Wasn't expecting that! I started work last Friday, which is always nerve-wracking when going into a new contract, but everyone has been so incredibly lovely that the transition has been fairly easy. With only getting 1-2 shifts of orientation at each contract, I've had to learn quickly. The trickiest things about each place I go is figuring out the flow of the department. The nursing part is the same everywhere, thank goodness! I'm 4 shifts in and slowly but surely getting the hang of the flow. It's a busy spot with lots of people coming in via flight from the coastal regions along with the general public in town. A big learning curve - the accents! Of course there are lots of Labradorians here, and many from Newfoundland. So sometimes when I am talking to someone with a rather thick accent I find myself responding slowly as I am trying to figure out what they've just said to me hahaha they talk so fast, and have different phrases then I am used to hearing. It has been really good here so far though! I am excited to see where the next few weeks take me!
I've had some time to explore - M and I went for a drive outside town to North West River. It's about 33km out of town and has beautiful beaches and views of Labrador. We found a little random trail to Sunnyday Hill which had stunning views of the rolling hills and waterways of Labrador. I feel like I will be heading out this way rather frequently on my days off. The weather here has been fantastic so far, mainly sunny warm days, but not humid like back in Ontario. The bugs also haven't been too awful yet! I am expecting way worse! haha
So there's a peek into the last little bit of my travels! Sorry for the long one, but I have not blogged for a long time and clearly had lots to say! Hope you enjoy the photos, I will be sure to blog some more as I check out more of Labrador! See ya all in September! Happy summer!
So, a quick re-cap: I drove home from Port Alberni, BC in mid June. I made great time bombing it across the United States (thanks to Montana's 80mph speed limits!) and got home in 4 nights, 5 days. This is my second time driving home from PA and my third big road trip (other one was driving out to PA). But this is the first time I did the driving solo. Not gonna lie, I was a wee bit scared/anxious - but I did it! And made it home in time for Father's Day drinks lakeside with Mom and Dad! I was home for just over 2 weeks this time, just enough time to visit as many as I could and spend some quality time at Mom and Dad's. This was also the last time I'd see my sister-in-laws baby bump! I will have a little niece/nephew when I go home next time! I simply cannot wait to be an Aunt! That little babe is loved so much already and they aren't even in this world yet!
July 5 was the day I started travelling in a new direction - EAST! I have been trying for a verrrrrry long time to get a contract out on the East Coast and it FINALLY worked out! I am here in Happy Valley Goose Bay until the end of August. One very cool thing about this contract (among many others)? I get to re-connect with some agency friends! I get to live with C for a week before she heads out (I met her on my very first contract EVER and toured the small towns of Southwestern Manitoba with her) and get to see M fairly frequently as she is now working with the flight team here in Goose Bay (we were roomies while on my first Dawson City contract). It has been so, so, SO great to catch up with them and be somewhere that has some familiar faces. Agency nursing certainly has its perks!
Anyways, back to my drive. My first day was to get to Tadoussac, Quebec. An incredibly gorgeous small town of 900-ish right on the St. Lawrence. I had a long day of driving through Montreal and Quebec City so I go in late in the evening and couldn't take advantage of everything Tadoussac has to offer (whale watching, fjord touring, hiking etc). But I stayed in a beautiful B&B called Auberge Maison Gagne. The host was lovely, the room was quiet and cozy (I did not want to get out of that bed in the morning), and they were so accommodating when my departure time was earlier than breakfast time. I got a delicious early breakfast in the sun-filled dining room looking out to the St. Lawrence - it was a good start to a long, long day.
The second days destination was Labrador City via hwy 389 from Baie Comeau to Labrador City. The drive to Baie Comeau was stunning - along the St.Lawrence as it got wider and wider. The Routes Des Baleines is just incredible. Starting in Tadoussac and going all the way to Blanc-Sablon (this is where I might be accessing the ferry to Newfoundland on my way home!). Then from Baie Comeau it was a twisting, winding road reminiscent of driving to Tofino - except this drive was like, 7 hours. I got to Manic 5 - a huuuuuuge Dam - just massive driving up to it, and totally unexpected. This is where you can gas up (for a hefty fee - they're capitalizing on being the only gas station for hours and hours), thankfully I didn't need to stop! This is also where the road turns to loose, dusty, rocky gravel...... For what seems like AGES..... This was the most trying part of my drive - I had moments of WTF am I doing.... I can't do this for hours.... My poor car.... and most frequently saying "just pass me a**hole!". It switched back to pavement which helped me gain some time back. But man was this drive lonely, not many driving on these roads, and no stops to get out and stretch my legs or pee (I will not pee in a bush... I just wont). I saw a super cute bear though! He ran right out in front of me and ran ahead of me for a while, looking back at me like I'm in the wrong, then he finally bailed into the bush again! Good timing bear, you woke me up! haha. I got to Labrador City around 9pm (time changes added an hour once getting into Labrador). Which meant it was dinner and bed for me! I'm glad I did that drive as it certainly had some stunning scenery when getting closer to Labrador City, but I sure won't do it again I don't think!
My last day was an easy 5-6 hour-ish drive on one road to Happy Valley Goose Bay. THANK THE LORD it was paved! Which is rather new I've been told, only in the last couple years. I got to Happy Valley Goose Bay around 330 in the afternoon and checked into my temporary home - the hotel. Nice place, but was eager to be able to settle in somewhere else a little more permanent. The town is SO spread out. And, at the end of the highway from Lab City was a T-intersection that said Goose Bay to the left and Happy Valley to the right. Wasn't expecting that! I started work last Friday, which is always nerve-wracking when going into a new contract, but everyone has been so incredibly lovely that the transition has been fairly easy. With only getting 1-2 shifts of orientation at each contract, I've had to learn quickly. The trickiest things about each place I go is figuring out the flow of the department. The nursing part is the same everywhere, thank goodness! I'm 4 shifts in and slowly but surely getting the hang of the flow. It's a busy spot with lots of people coming in via flight from the coastal regions along with the general public in town. A big learning curve - the accents! Of course there are lots of Labradorians here, and many from Newfoundland. So sometimes when I am talking to someone with a rather thick accent I find myself responding slowly as I am trying to figure out what they've just said to me hahaha they talk so fast, and have different phrases then I am used to hearing. It has been really good here so far though! I am excited to see where the next few weeks take me!
I've had some time to explore - M and I went for a drive outside town to North West River. It's about 33km out of town and has beautiful beaches and views of Labrador. We found a little random trail to Sunnyday Hill which had stunning views of the rolling hills and waterways of Labrador. I feel like I will be heading out this way rather frequently on my days off. The weather here has been fantastic so far, mainly sunny warm days, but not humid like back in Ontario. The bugs also haven't been too awful yet! I am expecting way worse! haha
So there's a peek into the last little bit of my travels! Sorry for the long one, but I have not blogged for a long time and clearly had lots to say! Hope you enjoy the photos, I will be sure to blog some more as I check out more of Labrador! See ya all in September! Happy summer!