Across Canada: August 20 - 25, 2023 Arches Provincial Park, L' Anse aux Meadows, St. Anthony

 

We crossed the island from east to west, passing through part of Gros Morne National Park. We planned to stop there on the way back. We stopped at Lobster Cove Lighthouse for a walk. The coastline here is not as rugged as on the east coast. 

For the night we boondocked at Arches Provincial Park, along with 9 or 10 other vehicles. The rock arches have been carved out by the water and wind. A pretty beach to walk along. 

We drove straight to St. Anthony to pick up some groceries, then back a little to the Viking RV Park. We enjoyed our stay there. Not much atmosphere, but friendly hosts, clean washrooms, laundry, and fresh bread and pies to purchase. 

Just down the road from the RV park is Quirpon, a fishing village settled by the French long ago. There is a traditional bread oven there, reconstructed with the help of French artisans. 

This scenic open boat lies on the grass nearby. 

The next day we went to the L'Anse aux Meadows National Site, and discovered that we had arrived at the same time as busloads of cruise passengers. The park hosts told us that when cruises come, there are no official tours, and recommended that we return the next day. 

Instead, we visited Norstead, a reconstructed Norse village. Here the vessel Snorri rests, a boat built according to old plans and sailed across the Atlantic in 1997 from Greenland to Newfoundland. The boat is named after the first boy to be born in Vinland, as this area was called by the Norsemen. 

The reconstructed buildings are interesting, with costumed interpreters giving lots of tidbits into the way of life. This church building is typical with its sod roof. 

The next day we returned to the National Park site and had a wonderful tour from a gentleman who grew up in the area, playing on these mounds without realizing their historical significance. 

Sod-roofed buildings made of peat blocks are here, too, reconstructing the village that might have been here 1000 years ago. 

Costumed interpreters were great fun. This fellow offered to get rid of Tim so I could marry someone else. He was sure that Tim was a slave because he didn't have a beard. 

We visited the Grenfell Museum in St. Anthony's and ate a fine lunch at The Lightkeeper's Restaurant. Water is available in town, and we also dumped our tanks for free by the fire hall. There is a grocery store. 

We loved this northern part of Newfoundland. Lots of places to hike, spectacular views, and friendly people. We hated to leave. We also visited Goose Bay for a hike. One could spend days and weeks here.

On the way down the island, we stopped at Flower Cove and saw the Thrombolites - living rocks. A beautiful sunny day with a sharp wind. 

Yellow-legs and Plovers waded in the shallow bay alongside the short trail to the Thrombolites. 

Lighthouses on a spit of land - how the chill wind would blow there. 

Back to Arches Provincial Park for a night where we caught a wonderful sunset through one of the stone arches.