I talked to the travel agent  today  and  this is  really happening!!!!  Some of  you that have  been on these  boards for  a  long time may know  recall  that I lived on Harmon  AFB in Stephenville when  I was  a  kid.  In fact  I left   45  (yes  really!!!!)  years  ago this spring.  I have  always  wanted  to go back  and this is  MY  year. Since  the  Prime  Objective  of this trip  is to revisit   Stephenville, I decided  that  to get there I had  to take the ferry over  into  Port aux Basques, just  like  we  did  in 1960. I will  make  a stop in Sville  before  hooking  up with  a   tour group for a week's journey  sightseeing  ending up in St  John's.

This has  not been  the easiest   trip to plan  since  I dont  drive and  Stephenville  is  not  one of the   hot tourist   stops. Until  I hook   up with the  tour group, I  will  be  taking  buses. To start this  journey,  I fly  out of  Dallas  and  get into Halifax   that  evening. I have  one full day in Halifax  and  two nights  ..then   hop a  bus  for a  looonnngg  ride  to  North  Sydney.  I stay  the night and   take  a  mid morning sailing, docking in  PAB  around suppertime.  The plan there is to visit  with  a long time internet   friend  for supper. I stay the night  in a  hotel  and  hop  a  morning bus   for the  ride  up to  Sville, getting in  just  before  lunchtime. I  will   visit  as many of  the  places   I remember  from being  there  as  I can  and  stay the  night.  Next day.,..yep another  bus  into Corner Brook  where  I meet  up with the group. Highlights  of the tour  include Gros Morne, Gander, Twillingate, Witless  Bay  and  St John's.

So I have a few  questions.....anyone know  a  good  place to stay in North Sydney and  Port aux Basques? I am  looking  for  a place  close to the  ferry  terminal.  Google  turns  up only one  hotel close  to  the ferry in  N.Sydney...the  Best Western. Also I am not sure  how much free time  I will  have in St John's....I may actually stay an extra  day  on my own,  but  I would love  to meet  up with  anyone  else  who wants to get together. The  meet  up goes   for anyone  who is  in the other stops  of  my trip

Here is  the breakdown of  when and  where...

Halifax  arrive  the night of the  19  June, Thursday  ....full  day  the 20th, Friday....leave  for  N Sydney  the  21st, Saturday.

N Sydney, arrive  the night  of  21st, Saturday  and  sail  mid morning the  22nd, Sunday

PAB..arrive suppertime the  22nd, leave  Monday morning  the  23rd

Stephenville  on the  23rd, Monday

Leave  Sville  Tuesday the 24th  for Corner  Brook  to meet  up with  my  tour.

I will be in St  John's on Sunday and  Monday, the 29th and the  30th.  I am scheduled  to fly  back to Dallas early on  1 July, Tuesday, but may  extend  an extra day on my own and  leave back on the  2nd which is  a Wednesday.

Any  suggestions and  advice.....yes, please!!!   I realise  the  weather  may be  still  a  little cool  in June, so what  should I pack?  I need to travel  light  if I can.  What about currency exchange?  Should I convert some  cash before  I leave or  can  merchants, etc  handle  the  American dollars?  I know  the exchange rate  is very close  right now.

I still  cannot  quite believe  that  this  is  real!!!!!!!

 Eileen

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Sing loud wherever your journey takes you ~ Great Big Sea 2004

What time does your flight get in to Halifax on the 19th?  Mebbe I can meet you at the airport and we can grab dinner.  Or maybe lunch on the 20th would be easier.  I know that'd probably be easier for Tina to join us.  I have no idea what Honey's sitch is, mebbe she could join us too.  Tina?  Honey?  You guys in?

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In the social order, I accept the bottom rung, until the wine is pouring and the Lord commands a song!

Pack for any weather - layer it. Twillingate in June should garner you some nice iceberg photos. Bring the camera. I love Twillingate - they have the world's best partridgeberry pie there. have a slice on me.

There are some B&Bs in North Sydney, but there's also one more hotel other than the best western. I can't remember the name, though.Go to the NL tourist site for hotels/motels/B&Bs. Get thee to a bank when you get there and use your ATM card or go inside and exchange. The ATM  will give you the correct exchange, but don't use it too often or you'll find some hefty fees on your statement for the month. Or use Traveller's CHeques. You will have a ball. Talk to as many people as you can, and use a diary. WHat wonderful memories you'll have!

Anne

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And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com

The end of July is a great time to go. The native orchids will be bloomimg in Gros Morne but be careful not to  sqaush the habitiat by lying on the greound to get a close up shot. Look for Michael Burzynski or his wife Anne Marceau at the Park. They willl add another element to the trip that one would never expect.

Have a great time.

Grace

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www.ravenvision.ca

Bring on the clowns, the jokers and buffoons
I've had the time of my life,
the life of my time in the company of fools.