Aug 14 - 18 Gros Morne NP, Springdale and Twillingate

We passed back through Gros Morne NP and were able to take in the Anchors-A-Weigh show in Rocky Harbour.

The next day we traveled to Springdale for an over night at their Municipal Campground where to our surprise they were holding a concert and mussel feed (with Vegis and Fruit) all free as a thank-you to the campers both seasonal and passing through.

Our next destination was Twillingate a very delightful coastal community. Where we had music for our third night in a row, we went to a kitchen party!

 These are Newfoundland Ugly Sticks (a musical instrument).

 Karen Churchill and Friends

 Longpoint Lighthouse

 Prime Berth Fishing Demonstration Museum. This is Fresh Cod salted the old way.

 Twillingate Back Harbour area

Aug 11 - 13 North to St Anthony and L'Anse aux Meadows

After our trip into Western Brook Pond we travelled about a hour north to Port aux Choix and stayed at a campsite right on the ocean but unfortunately there was a record windy day. 4 rigs stayed on the beach but us and one other huddled behind the main building, The campsite was  run by the Lion's Club which seems very prominent on the island. The building was their meeting place and a community bingo was held there that night.

This fishing boat  was leaving the harbour at St. Anthony.

The next day we toured around the northern tip of Newfoundland, but the main stop was at L'Anse aux Meadows a National Historic Site which tells about the Viking (Norse) settlements here (the first European settlers). The site has remnants from earlier archaeological digs and a few reconstructed buildings.

Aug 11 Western Brook Pond & Port au Choix

The weather was a little better  today so after we left our campsite we drove to the parking lot and did the Western Brook Pond hike (again) and Boat trip. On the hike in we saw our first Newfoundland Moose.

 Our tour boat

 The water fall below looked from a distance as smoke on the top of the mountain.

 The waves and spray action on the return trip. Funnels of water whipped up all around us, even the occasional spray right over the upper deck.

We then headed north about an hours drive and camped at a campsite right on the coast at a place called Port au Choix. The waves were really pounding in here with the wind.

Aug 8 -10 North to Gros Morne National Park

Heading northward we made a resupply stop at Cornerbrook and I HAD to have  haircut. Carrying on we went to Rocky Harbor near the center of Gros Morne National Park. The following day we explored the Tablelands area of the park.

 This area is unique in that one side of the valley (left) is actually rock from the earth's mantle and the right side is pushed up crust. Both have been glacially eroded.

 This is Newfoundland's provincial flower the bottle plant.

 Cod drying on the rack.

 Lots of people sell their woolen knit items,  just hang them out on a line and advertise.

 We hiked into Western Brook Pond (Lake) to take a tour on this boat; however it was very rainy and extremely windy so the trip was cancelled.

Aug 5 - 7 Rose Blanche & Codroy Valley

After spending the night at the Visitors Information Centre we headed out to  the Grand Codroy Campsite in Doyles Newfoundland.The next day we backtracked and toured out to the Rose Blanche Lighthouse. A lighthouse made of granite.

The following day we toured around the Codroy valley. The owner of the campsite had published a handy guide to doing both these trips.

Aug 2 - 4 Fort Louisbourg, Louisbourg & Ferry to Newfoundland at Last

We enjoyed our visit to Fort Louisbourg (Acadian - French)

Our campsite in Louisbourg. Right beside the waterfront and next door to their Crab Fest celebrations. We were able to purchase a huge plate of crab with potato salad and coleslaw each and in the evening were entertained by some very good Cape Breton Bands.

Site of Canada's First Light House. This is the third one although you can see remnants of the earlier ones.

This was our ferry to Newfoundland. Takes about 2 hours to load her up.

Our crossing time was about 6 1/2 hours

July 30 - Aug 1 Kouchibougual National Park, Baddeck & the Cabot Trail

We paid a visit to Kouchibougual National Park and stayed in their campsite. A very nice park with forested campsites and lots of walking and bike trails. We walked to a boardwalk over the dunes to a lovely beach.

The next day we made it to stayed along the Nova Scotia Coast and then moved on to Baddeck in Cape Breton Island where we visited the Alexander Graham Bell Museum and took in a Ceilidh in a small church hall.

Alexander was known for a lot more than telephones

 At this point we found out our ferry to Newfoundland had been cancelled and we were re-booked on another one 2 days later and to a different port so we had to adjust our plans.

We spend a day touring the Cabot trail and came across a woodshop which made eastern larch cutting boards in many designs and styles. All put together with small pieces laminated together.

 Hooking is a popular old time craft

We saw 2 moose just off the Cabot Trail