Writing from St John's, Newfoundland (pronounced Newf'nLAND) - supposedly the oldest English overseas settlement and the most easterly point in the US. But mostly it's just cold. Very, very cold.
After Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, I met up with a guy from Western Canada and took the overnight ferry to Newfee. Two days and 550 miles later I got to St John's. Hitch-hiking, it turns out, is a great way to meet people but not the quickest way to travel. I guess the distance would be like hitching from London to Aberdeen. But I did find out lots of stuff about the island - mostly about moose and the weather (obsessions here), or about the price of "gas". And then more about the weather.
The island's about the size of Iceland, with about the same population and probably the same sort of set-up - lots of ex-fishing communities (which have collapsed now, sadly), some mining, and a lot of people looking for work. Most have left to join the oil rush in Alberta (I met some people on the road who worked up there) but there's enough folk here in St John's - which is a nice little place and, I think, the closest I'll be to home for the next year.
Did I mention the cold? Saw four icebergs in the harbour yesterday and loads of floating ice. Anyway got to run as I'm getting a cab to the airport. The choice was between a bus, ferry, bus and train for $300 (two days) or flying for the same price (two hours). Next stop Montreal.
Sorry if this is a bit incoherent, bit of a hangover.
Bye for now.
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