Nordic Boats Quebec
Nordic Boats Quebec
Trip to Newfoundland Labrador
On Wednesday, August 27, 2003, we have a great day to travel to Labrador. We travel the Trans-Labrador. Our first stop was L'Anse Amour, the site of a tomb 7,500 years old. It was found by a group of students who felt that the model of the rock was quite unusual. Under the rock, they found a baby wrapped in a dozen years, face down, painted red with a flat stone in the lower back. The artifacts associated with the landfill is a walrus tusk a number of stone projectile points and bone a bird bone whistles, grinding paint, a hanger bar, a harpoon toggle and a decorated ivory eagle.
On the road is Love lighthouse, the highest in the province of Newfoundland. Even their presence has not stopped treacherous coastal vessels. In 1922, HMS Raleigh, a cruiser of 12,000 tons to avoid an iceberg aground. His remains are scattered on the shore. During the Second World War, two ships collided in the thick fog in the Strait as it was a warning from a submarine in the region. Ironically, the other two ships have been lost in the fence that day too, but in another area. The Strait of Belle Isle is not only an iceberg dead, but also a shipwreck dead.
Until Red Bay Road archaeologists be found in the first industrial factory whaling in the world. Founded in 1540 by Basque fishermen in the region between France and Spain whale oil was used to illuminate Europe. At its peak, more than 2,500 whale hunters in Labrador, has produced about 20,000 barrels of oil per year. Using boats, a boat is not a sandwich, that right whales harpooned and brought ashore for processing. In the harbor of the island in a wheelchair excavations are still ongoing. Many objects are exhibited in the local museum, including pieces the remains of San Juan, a whaler, which is near the home of modern Bernier, Trapped in the same type of storms associated with the Labrador coast. There are many sites on the mainland, but have not been explored because they are on private property. Basque industry died about 1600 because of their involvement in the Spanish navy.
At Red Bay, the paved road ends. A new gravel road leads to Cartwright, the opening coastal areas for tourism and business development. After about 40 miles down the road, we parked the night in one of Many gravel pits used for construction of the roadway.
Today, we spent six hours by road from the gravel road from Red Bay Cartwright, a distance of 312 km / 187 miles. The road is about ten meters wide and is very determined. The speed is limited to 70 km / h or 42 mph. Along the way are panoramic views of pine forests and mountains, similar to the conduct of the Paso del Norte through the Adirondack Mountains. About 80 miles Cartwright is the union of the road Goose Bay has provided a 250 km.
Most cities along the route are exceeded by the new road. There are few services in-house route. In Bay Lodge, gas and sundries are available at the counter Mona, no diesel. Diesel is available at port Marie in C & J Automotive. St. Mary's is the departure point for Battle Harbour Island and the National Historic District. Known as the unofficial capital of Labrador, Battle Harbour was an important base for fishing for cod in Labrador during the 19th century. The area is more or less as in 1909. Fishing has continued until 1990s and was then given to the people. Until the advent of the road this year the island was quite inaccessible except by boat. Today, performers dressed in traditional tourist guide in a fishing village typical of the age 19 and 20. The accommodations are available for the night.
50K Port Maria Port Hope Simpson River is Alexis. Accommodation Restaurants, sleep, fuel and hospital thereto found. This is the last vestige of civilization for the next 187 k. There are very few places to turn off the road to rest. Most people on the park roadside. Most vehicles in circulation had been found the construction of more than 50 k. stretch.
The roads are Cartwight opposite Highway: a bumpy and wavy. And other trailers parked in the parking ticket office lot near the dock.
He spent a quiet day at Cartwright. We boarded the Sir Robert (not James) Bond Ferry at 4:30 for a 7:00 sailing. The boat was filled to ability, everyone went home on vacation or get the best weekend of three days before returning to school or work. The ship is far from luxury. At night, many people who do not have a broom closet-sized room, slept on deck. So strange boat is food service. Cafeteria has been open only until 06:30, half an hour before departure. Only snacks and bar are open for own candle. Wunderstrand wanted to see a mile from the white sand beach landmark for the Vikings, a two-day trip to L'Anse aux Meadows. When we reached the coast and Porcupine Point, the sun had lying. Following a night of fun on the ferry, which docked at Happy Valley Goose Bay, NF. We woke Labrador a typical day: cloudy moist and cool.
Our first stop was the visitor center, which was closed: open only Monday through Friday I guess people forget the influx of people from vessels each 8:00-9:00 pm Saturday, wishing information on the city. We had heard VR was allowed to park in the municipal parking room. But I do not know where he was and that our plan does not show it. We decided to go to a Tim Horton think Dunkin 'Donuts USA, and obtain the necessary power, a cup of java, and some instructions. Having accomplished so much and good advice from locals who had been on the boat with us, walked to the door when we heard, he cried: "Chicago? I wore my jacket road Chicago Heights. We turned around and met a couple from Chicago. He had worked for Serco, meteorologists at the air base. After any time on conversation, we asked if we wanted a site visit. The Greek chorus roared a "yes".
Goose Bay Airport Once one of the largest military air bases in North America. United States built a mega-runway long enough to ground all planes and once employee base SAC in 1991 to 16,000. In the 1980s one of the spacecraft using the track of a track. We were escorted to the tower of the forecast weather and taking into account a culinary tour of the facilities. The facility is divided into three sections, the means of observation, military intelligence, and forecasting. They are responsible for meteorological observation and reporting of an area of 240 K diameter the size of New England in Maine. We could not climb the tower adjacent air. The Royal Air Force, Royal Air Force, was to begin maneuvers Low flying in minutes. We had missed the launch of a U.S. AWACS plane a couple of hours. We went on deck and looked Tornado fighter jets took off from the runway, afterburners and thundered on its way, a very exciting spectacle. Among the departures of aircraft RCMP arrived and put in front of us. Other small commercial aircraft have also shared the track. In other words, Goose Bay is a living being, vibrating. Also thanks to its facilities, the German Air Force (Luftwafte), and the wing of Canada 5.
At the base is a CANEX, a U.S. PX. Any who can buy it there. What makes this place unique is the wide selection of food available for Labrador. specialty items are made in Germany and Great Britain, giving men and women a sense of home. The German club has a restaurant open to the local population, but it is closed for after the tourist season in mid-September.
A sunny day in Labrador. We have seen some trails in a brochure Birch Brook Nordic Ski Club. The trails are well maintained and pass through different types of forest ecosystems. A white poplar bears the scars of a bear when she tried to climb it. On top of a hill, called Lookout Rock, we have a panoramic view of Lake Melville and surrounding areas. Along the way, we seen a lot of fresh bear droppings black. We knew it was the black bear, because of the preponderance of blueberries and crackerberries. It was enough to make jam. NO!
We continue the drive to North West River and Lake Sheshitiu more than twenty-five miles to Lake Melville. The cities are separated by a river, a chasm of cultural differences. Sheshitiu is Innui and resettlement is a community of hunter-gatherers in northern Canada. They have common and have little idea of private property and permanent residences. It is a city that travel through, but do not want to stay. Their possessions were supposed be communal property and therefore are treated well. On the other side of the river live the Inuit and Metis. Curiously there is no restaurant in the city, only a grocery store. What the city has to offer are the beautiful beaches and trails. There are also two major museums: the Museum of Labrador and the Labrador Interpretation Centre.
The Museum of Labrador is divided into four sections: the hunter-gatherer /, the Hudson Bay Trading Company Grenfell Medical Mission work among the population and the Interior Hubbard Expedition 1903. We spent about an hour there, looking at the exhibits.
The Labrador Interpretation Centre was inaugurated by the Queen Elizabeth II in 1997. A modern building with thousands of artefacts from different Peoples years Labrador solution. On display is a 100 year sealskin kayak, still seemed very useful. Mannequins Models of real people Labrador. The Centre also has a large auditorium showing two films on the different sections of Labrador.
Home was Guests at the Hotel Aurora and took the satellite phone for our trip to Churchill Niagara morning. This service is free, guaranteed by a credit card, over a period of twenty-four hours, by which you can contact the police mounted in the case of an emergency.
Before leaving for At Goose Bay to Churchill Falls our walk and beyond, we had heard about the artwork Labrador Medical Center a few hundred meters us. The people were right. The illustrations are beautiful. Diana Dabinett, an artist from San Juan has made a series of painted silk tapestries representing different aspects Labrador: birds, marine life, animals and landscapes. These are hung in the cafeteria with large oil painting of various scenes Labrador coast, waterfalls, forested mountains. In the corridors are popular sculptures by the Innu and Inuit. All signs are in hospital written in three languages: English, Inuit and Inuit.
With the satellite phone in hand, we went to the adventure 180 miles along the gravel road to Route 500. The speed limit is 70 km / h (42 mph). The road is well maintained, but always believed. We saw two students working on different parts of the road .. The opinions are black spruce forest, aspen, birch and fir interspersed. The ground cover is mostly Caribou Moss, actually a lichen. Close Metchin River caribou ORMA It is the hunting area. On one side of the road you can see the remains caribou, which were killed for sport helmets, bone, etc.
We arrived in Churchill Falls, after six hours of driving. We have average of thirty-five miles per hour. This included frequent stops. We do not want through the area, due to the presence of potholes, etc.
We did a tour of the Churchill Falls hydroelectric facilities underground. This plant is the largest producer in the world contest for seventh in power the world, with eleven turbines produce enough for 60% of the electricity for the Province Quebec and Labrador. We took an elevator more than nine meters in the rock where the rock over three billion dollars (three billion) years, some of the oldest rocks in the world. No, I can understand that many. The trip to Labrador is a useful thing to take this tour of the factory, one of the wonders of the world unknown. The water tank used for production is size of the province of New Brunswick. It takes three days for water to flow from reaching the turbine meter.
City is one of the few people in the business still exists. All houses and other facilities are owned and operated by the CFLCL, except Gas Station Hotel and restaurant complex does. The library of a town of only 650 people is very broad and it is open longer than any any library in the province of Newfoundland, including San Juan. The city is a place of work, but not deleted. The winters are a challenge: -40 ° C and even fifteen feet of snow annually. Most people intend to stay only five years, but remain in love with life because the north. Most people buy trucks, snowmobiles (one per family member), toys boats, motorboats, and other adult entertainment. To get out of the meeting the same people at work, shopping, praying, etc., building a shack outside of town. Everything is subsidized by the Company, including food (the same price San Juan), housing and transport costs of cargo.
The guide about how to obtain a card on the state of roads in Labrador City, who dropped everything to our mind. We remembered to pick up the satellite phone is then we're really grateful. The road from Labrador City has been adventure. Some places you can go 50 mph, but almost immediately you hit a series washboard road, which has reduced its speed to less than fifteen miles per hour. There are students from outside to improve the road, but there is nothing to be improved because most of the upper was scraped and
We were lucky in our journey of 160 miles. Just lose the cap connecting to our sewer line and broke a glass of wine. Everything was covered with a thin layer of dust. Wanted an adventure and we wish was fulfilled. He could still talk to each other quite civilly – With a little effort.
We visited Wabush and Labrador City, two cities have been built in the 70s and early 60s due to Iron deposits. First, the railway from Sept-Iles, PQ. Later, he built the road from Baie-Comeau.
All tours of the mine, ended on Friday before Labor Day. Again we have been a few days too late. We saw a couple of explosions. Wabash Mine set at 12:15. It was small. The wealth of the ICC, however, triggered a full hour later.
About the Author
John and Maggie Pelley are Geriatric Gypsies. Both of us are retired from the rat race of working. We are full-time RVers, who ran away from home. We began our travels on the East Coast and, like the migrating birds, seek the warmth of the seasons. No more shoveling snow in Chicago. We have discovered volunteering with the National Park System. During our travels we have found that each town has a story to tell: some are more interesting than others. Both of us enjoy good listening music as we go. John has a CD he has recorded of Native American flure music. We have learned that RVing has a learning curve. We want to pass on some advice the help others avoid this trecherous curve. Life is an adventure. We are living it to the utmost.