Ferry Crossing
The lead time is 2 hours prior and we were there 45 minutes before that which gave us time for breakfast at Tim Hortons. Then on to a lightly occupied ferry for the crossing. Departure and arrival manoeuvrings take longer than expected so we actually arrived 7.5 hours later. Nothing but ocean in between. Snooze, eat, read and watching a bit of the IIHF World Championships (with Canada demolishing Sweden in one of the 2 games being played.
 |
| departing North Sydney |
 |
| arriving Port aux Basques |
Newfoundland
It was a long enough day that we choose to go only as far as the near by JT Cheeseman Provincial Park at Cape Ray. Loads of RV sites available on a nicely running river leading out to the nearby ocean. We did the 2 kilometre walk the following morning before pulling out and heading north. Onwards to Stephenville on the French Ancestors Trail. There we stocked up at Coleman’s Supermarket and carried on east out towards Cape St George where we parked on a side road in Abraham’s Cove. The bottom of the road was a fishing operations with 4 boats hauled up and log ramps laid over the coarse gravel and steep shoreline for launching those boats. On either side the shoreline disappeared as cliff faces rose from the water’s edge.
 |
| campsite at JT Cheeseman PP |
 |
| Bogs at Cape Ray |
The fishermen were up and out with their boats after arriving by trucks that we never heard. I did take a few photos of their inshore fishing when I awoke around 7:30am.
 |
| Abraham's Cove Fishing works |
We headed out early (for us) to reach Gros Morne National Park with time to explore. Around a 3 hour drive saw us into the village of Rocky Harbour - in time for lunch. Then off to the Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse and a walk before heading further north to one of the two open National Campgrounds (at Green Point). Green Point is a very interesting and geologically significant site: “In 2000, the global stereotype for the boundary between the Cambrian and Ordovician systems was designated here at Green Point. It is located within a bed of shale and limestone exposed in the southwest facing cliff and shore platform.” Our campsite was for a two night stay and started with us having dinner of camp fire cooked steaks with a healthy salad.
 |
| Lobster Cove Lighthouse |
 |
| Donna and (we think) a seal skeleton |
 |
| Art in the Red Chair (17+ around Gros Morne for public use) |
 |
| The boundary between Cambrian and Ordovician Geological systems |
Next day it was back towards Rocky Harbour and pulling in to Berry Hill. From the trail head we did the 10km return walk out to Baker’s Brook Falls. The trail follows an old logging trail built over the bogs and passing through the boreal forest of balsam firs and other trees, including larch. The highlight is the two stage falls at Baker’s Brook. Things I did not know about Balsam Fir: “Fir needles taste pleasant when nibbled. The sticky resin is a traditional antibiotic and sealant. The inner bark was a scurvy remedy, and the resin is still an ingredient in cold medicines and cough syrups. The resins of both spruce and fir were used as glue and mixed with bear fat to waterproof bark canoes.”
Later that day we went back to Green Point to play with the rocks. Followed that up with a lovely campfire to take the chill out of the light drizzle that intermittently hit us. Our next day's plan is to head to Twillingate...
