As you may have noticed there have been no entrys for a few days. We are VERY far north and the satellite receptions is nil and wi-fi is rare. I am currently at the library in St Anthony, Newfoundland attempting to add a few days .
avellerspoint August 1
Leaving the Campground this am for the ferry ride to Labrador. The ferry is much smaller than the previous one and only takes 90 minutes for the crossing. We rode the bus to and on to the ferry, and will ride it off. This is also our tour bus. We headed north to the lighthouse, celebrating its 150th birthday and then up to the whaling village of Red Bay. This town was used by the Basque from Europe to bring the whales in and render their fat to return it to Europe. This is the farthest north on our tour and will start to head south next.
Travellerspoint July 31
Busy day! Bus left the campground at 0900 and headed north to the town of Norstead. This is the documented area that the Norse or Vikings set foot on the shores of North America over 1,000 years ago. They left Norway; found Iceland, from there only a few hundred miles to Greenland. In their search for Greenland, they found a place where grapes grew in abundance in the summer. They called it Vinland; it was actually the northwestern portion of Newfoundland. They were only here a few years, not setting up a settlement, only a temporary repair area.
In the afternoon we visited St Anthony and the works of Dr Grenfel. He came to this area in the late 1800s, bringing medicine and religion. He established several hospitals, nursing stations and other medical facilities.
The evening was the most fun. We went to a Viking Feast. All the people were dressed in period and acted in period. At the end of the JIGGS meal
(salt beef, moose, cod and many vegetables) several ‘trials’ were held to settle the disputes in the village. Guests were accused of infractions, witnesses were called, and judgment was made by the attendees. All was in good fun and the spirit of the time.
Travellerspoint July 30
Travel day from Portland Creek to St Anthony, the very northeast corner of Newfoundland. The road was marginal because of the frost heave and the heavy rain made the day a hard drive. Afternoon was free so lots of laundry and catch-up items were done
Travellerspoint July 29
Our drive today covered 260 miles on our way to St Anthony. Left Botwood with rolling hills and many bays, headed west and north into the mountainous region of Newfoundland. The mountains are only one or two thousand feet, but quite dramatic compared to the rest of the island. Our campsite, Portland Creek, was only a way point on the way to St Anthony. For lunch we stopped at a local café and enjoyed a Moose Burger.
Travellerspoint July 28
Tour bus departed Botwood at 0900 for Fortune Harbour. Many little villages along the way with typical Newfoundland décor. Upon arrival at Fortune Harbour, we boarded a very large pontoon boat and head out to see the Mussel fields. The weather was very warm and the harbor was very smooth, even though it was only a short distance from the Atlantic Ocean. Protected by several islands, the harbor is an ideal place to raise Mussels. In the process, seed is gathered on a nylon line during mating season. Once gathered they are transferred to a mesh nylon sock so they can grow more uniformly. It takes three years from seed to harvest size for the Mussel to grow. This particular farm raises several thousand pounds annually. That evening the 50’s Club held a potluck for us. Many dishes of the local people were presented for our consumption. Perhaps the most unusual was the Moose meat dish. A singer/jokester entertained us for the evening. We also received our official Newfoundlander Certificates.
Travellers Point July 27
Leisurely departed from Gander could have stayed a few more days to see it all. Arrived at Botwood and set up camp on the old tarmac of the Sea Boat ramp. Botwood is famous for the first air boat facility in North America. They determined the flying boats could safely use the protected harbor and there were several runway (waterway) directions for the landings and takeoffs. There are two museums on the property. The first is the history of the flying boats. They were posh for the day. The flight took 24 hours from New York to London, with Botwood as a refueling point. Full service was offered with dining rooms, staterooms and stewards to serve you. With the advent of the better Boeings and the jets, the age of flying boats rapidly disappeared. A tour of the city and the history occurred in the afternoon.
Travellers Point Entry, July 26,
Travel day from Saint John west to Gander. The country side was rolling hills and ponds. (Lakes are called ponds if you can see across them at point. They are lakes if they are so long you cannot see from one end to the other.) We stopped in Terra Nova National Park briefly for lunch. This park is a hiking and fishing park. They have lectures and information on all the fish in the area. After setting up in the campground at Gander we visited the air museum. Gander was built especially to service the early aircraft crossing the Atlantic. It was a refueling and maintaince facility. There have been many aircraft accidents here, but the most recognized is the Arrow Air in 1985. The plane crashed on take off with members of the 101st Airborne returning from the Middle East. All 248 soldiers and crew members perished. Gander also gained recognition at 9-11. Over 100 aircraft diverted here after the airports in the U.S. were closed. The residents of Gander took them in and helped them during the crisis.
