Along The Viking Trail: Part One - St. Anthony south to Port au Choix

If you are intrigued by the lives of the Peoples that combined to form the earliest history and culture of Canada, then you won't be disappointed by what you can learn in this part of Newfoundland and Labrador. The drive we are now on, follows the path of a brief Norse habitation along the North Atlantic coast of North America... and it's fascinating!

The VIKING TRAIL

Newfoundland and Labrador Route 430 is a 415 kilometer (258 mile) long paved highway that traverses the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador. The route begins at the intersection of Newfoundland and Labrador Route 1 (The Trans Canada Highway) in Deer Lake and ends in St. Anthony. 

We will travel it in the opposite direction. Officially known as the "Great Northern Peninsula Highway", it has been designated as the "Viking Trail" since it is the main auto route to L'Anse aux Meadows, the only proven Viking era settlement in North America. It is the primary travel route in the Great Northern Peninsula and the only improved highway between Deer Lake and St. Anthony. It is the main access route to the Labrador Ferry terminal in St. Barbe.

whOOse watching yOOur property ?

Many of us that travel, rely on friends to watch over our home  while we are away. 

It's always a relief to know that everything back home is in good hands.

I recently recieved a Property Check Report from The DARK Side ... our watchful neighbour.

"Just a little miffed.

So I was over at your place today, trying to open the windows from the outside.  Can't be done unless you can find a good hand sized rock.  Of course Mr. Neat & Tidy has gathered them all up and created a nice attractive pile..............somewhere.  Only thing left are these big ass stones and I left my Egyptian slaves in Egypt. 

Sooo I head over to the garden.  No squash, no beans, no carrots, not a damn rutabaga in sight.! There was one, you can count it, don't even have to take off your socks, One teeny tiny red tomato. So I took it! And now there are no tomatoes.  And then I found many many acorns.  So I took them!  The garden was ashamed that there was so little.  The forest was proud.  I told the garden I would return.  

I am now at home making Margo an acorn salad.....ummmmm yummers"

Crusty ... feeling relieved, I think?

Less Stuff, More Life

My Favourite Direction is North

Well no, maybe I should have said ‘my favourite direction is remote’, instead. 

I haven’t been to the extreme southern latitudes, so I can’t really comment with any authority. I would probably like the southern tip of South America as much as I like the north of North America (NA). 

This current road trip through Labrador took us to North West River a few days ago; a small, fishing village at the junction of Grand Lake and Lake Melville. It’s the most northeasterly place in NA that you can drive to. Population a few hundred, small tidy homes, place smells like fish, old HBC outpost, it’s a friendly spot. Clarence, the resident town greeter informed me that he often relaxes by watching sea trout jump out along a nearby point at the towns' shoreline. Clarence is in his early 60's and has lived here all his life. He fished commercially for 25 years, worked janitorial duties in the local Grenfell Hospital, was stationed as an armed polar bear security guard in a government operated camp further up the Labrador coast at Nain and he is an authority on the history of the town.

Battle Harbour, Labrador

We sailed on Iceburg Hunter, 16.8 kms one way from Mary’s Harbour to Battle Harbour.

Water was calm, weather was clear, some cloud, some wind and quite warm. Dolphins and humpback whales on the voyage over and humpbacks on the return trip.

Road Report: The Trans-Labrador Highway

Featuring Guest Author: Nancy Shepheard

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The TRANS-LABRADOR HIGHWAY (Highways 500 & 510) begins at the Labrador border, just past the town of Fermont, at the end of Quebec Route 389. The main highway, (not including side trips to coastal communities) cuts through Central Labrador for approximately 1183 kilometres before terminating near L’Anse-Au-Clair, once again, at the Quebec border. 

Wikipedia: Trans-Labrador Highway

Overland to The Rock: Quebec City to Baie Comeau to Fermont, QC

August 15

The drive from Quebec City to Tadoussac is through the Charlevoix Region of Quebec. Lots of grade change (12% max), fairly mountaineous, a windy highway at times, many sections with views of the St.Lawrence shoreline, small villages, a popular area with lots of traffic - cyclists, bikers, RV’ers, truckers. The area is big into whale watching tours and sea kayaking throughout the spring to fall. We stopped at the Shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre for a short tour of the area - spectacular building, smaller chapels, monastaries, museum, cemeteries. Once past Tadoussac the terrain flattens somewhat and there is much less grade change until the Baie-Comeau area.

What you'll see ...

Overland to The Rock: We Have NO Itinerary and We're NOT Far From Home ... to Quebec City, QC

AFTER an unexpected delay of several weeks and due to a situation completely out of our control, we've finally embarked on Trip #138 (see our Trip Index) ... it's our latest. Even though we'll be travelling from our home in Ontario and through several provinces before returning, our focus will be on the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Affectionately referred to as 'The ROCK'. Our previous visits here, were a 1996 road trip with Mae & Earl (The Outlaws) and a 2010 trip to hike several sections of the East Coast Trail with a group of friends. We plan on being away, this time, until early October ... for 6 or 7 weeks.

                                                                                                                     Karen Ron Rhonda Cliff Carol Helen Gerry

1996                                                       2010