If You Are From Newfoundland and Labrador ... You Should Be Proud!

We'll soon be leaving Newfoundland & Labrador. 

But, before we do, here is some helpful travel information for anyone that might be planning a trip to this Province. Most of this is gathered from official Canadian government records, local myth & legend and tourist brochures. I haven't bothered to verify any of this, but I also haven't made anything up.

Isle aux Morts

A typical village scene in this beautiful province.

Along The Viking Trail: Part Two - Port au Choix south to Deer Lake

Moving southerly now ...

HAWKE'S BAY

Rainy weather dictated our activities somewhat on this first days drive along the southern half of the VIKING TRAIL. At this time of year, some seasonal business operations, small town museums and points of interest are shutting down. We missed out on a couple of places we would have stopped to investigate ... like the Nurse Bennett Heritage Home.

We were able to visit the Torrent River Salmon Interpretation Centre and Fishway. Years of logging and other resource developement in the area had an adverse effect on the Atlantic salmon and before 1965 only a small population survived. The Fishway is a  success story that combined the initial efforts of the local community and the eventual participation of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

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.

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

Hiking the East Coast Trail, NL, CANADA

We'll Return for More of the ECT!

LOGISTICS

Private Vehicle: Tim's Lake > Kanata & overnight at J & K's.

Airport Shuttle: J drove us to Ottawa International Airport and stored our truck 

Air Travel: Porter Air from Ottawa, ON > Halifax, NS > St. John's, NL & return trip

Trail Accommodations / Hosts: (1) Points East, Pouch Cove / Elkie proprietor

                                                  (2) Harbour House, Petty Harbour

                                                  (3) Brown Rabbit Cabins, Tors Cove Pond / Isa & Bill proprietors

Synopsis: We hiked with a group of eight, some old friends and some new. We spent some time in St. John's before hiking the trail and then a couple of days in Trinity at the end of the trip before returning home. Our accommodations were all good, any shuttle arrangements to and from trailheads worked out, the weather co-operated, we ate some good food, drank the local beers and absorbed a small bit of Newfoundland & Labrador culture.

East Coast Trail Photography

Touring The Atlantic Provinces

Logistics: Kinburn, ON > then East through ON NY VT NH MA NB NS NL QC PE

Vehicle: 1994 F350 RC LB SRW 4x4 7.3l diesel with 1988 Maple Leaf Camper

Travelling Companions: Mae & Earl in a Volkswagen Van
Days: 35

Dates: August - September

Activities: Overlanding, canoeing, hiking, photography

Distance: 6000 kms (est.)

Photography: Old, poor quality, scanned images ... sorry!
CANADA National Parks: Gros Morne NP
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Red Bay, Gros Morne NP

Post Description: This happened too long ago and I can't remember the details. Read the photo captions, the story is in the photography and it's 'mostly chronological'.
Event: 22nd Wedding Anniversary

Mid-August, we were packed and departing for points East. Our 1994 Ford was loaded with camper, canoe, food and wine. Mae & Earl loaded up their VW Van, once again assuming it still had many more kilometres to go. We plan on about a 5 week trip. We decided to travel through the USA on the trip out and return home through Quebec. The trip resulted in more ferry crossings than we had done before, a visit to L'Anse aux Meadows ( the oldest known Viking settlement in NA), hiking trips into Gros Morne NP, a stop at Cape Spears (NA's most easterly point of land), one inland and one coastal boat tour, A Farley Mowat sighting during a ferry crossing and our most amazing wildlife sighting ever ... 30,000 nesting pairs of Northern Gannets at Cape St. Mary's ... and one Moose.

Photography