July 10 - Stephenville

Another sunny day and hot for Newfoundland. Chalet worked out well, but need better food planning for future remote stops. Nescafe and a muffin I bought yesterday to get me to next services? Weird to see lilacs still blooming in July but it's a short summer here. Lupines too. Only 42 miles to do today, road quiet after a burst of ferry traffic and not much going on in Stephenville destination (Walmart, an old us airforce base. some old French communities nearby) so actually did some reading before departure. And listening to Obama 'a promised land' while I ride-i miss him. Met 3 van-supported touring cyclists, practicing for an upcoming tri. They'd been asked about the cyclists with the horns. Nice guys, but clearly not vikings. Off the t-can onto route 461 to ride by small community of st George's and have lunch by the sea. Then a McDonald's milkshake upon arrival (before 3!). The old military base is now an abandoned airport, with a vision - 'new gateway to beautiful Western Newfoundland and future site of a world-class aviation and technological hub'. Will see, seems pretty desolate in Stephenville. Airbnb and avoided chains for dinner. Orangemen's day here, commemorating an Irish battle in 1690. 41 miles.