Making Memories: On the Viking Trail to Iceberg Alley, Newfoundland

On our previous road trip to Newfoundland we only managed to drive across from Port aux Basques to St John's, so this time our aim was to visit Gros Morne and drive the Viking Trail all the way up to L'Anse aux Meadows 

The first days drive from Toronto was approximately 1,500 kilometres (or 930 miles if you prefer). We simply wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, quickly.

About an hour before it got dark, entering into New Brunswick, we saw this moose by the side of the road. Fortunately for the moose, and us, there was a fence between us ...

As tall as a horse ... almost

We saw a loon attacking a family of ducks and ducklings ...

At Alma beach you get to sit outside and watch the tides rise, while eating lobster served on a newspaper. This is not a restaurant 

This is one place the children remembered from our previous trip and wanted to visit again ... 

The Bay of Fundy is known for having one of the highest tidal ranges in the world. Take a look at NASA's view of the tides

Here you can walk the ocean floor, but you'll have to quickly walk back to the shore as the tide comes in ...

These two photos below from our first trip

Once upon a time, this skull used to belong to a whale

The photo below from our first trip when the weather was much nicer!

Yes, this sure is lobster country. I think you find the best lobsters on the planet here ☺

At Hopewell Rocks, the rocks are about 50 to 70 feet tall and have been shaped by tidal erosion. 

Too many tourists here! I prefer lesser traversed trails ☺

Driving in ...

This is one big boat!

Saw lots of dolphins this time, and a few whales on our previous trip

Spent most of my time on the top deck watching the peaceful ocean, and taking in the sea breeze, while everyone else was watching movies indoors  ☺

This is what the weather is like usually

But over the next few days we experienced the best weather possible.

Entering Gros Morne National Park

I love driving Route 430 on the Viking Trail from Deer Lake to St Anthony. 

This drive reminded me of my childhood, and the coastal drives we used to do by the Atlantic Ocean in West Africa back in the '60's

Some amazing rock formation, all carved out by waves and tides

If you love history, you must watch this short documentary called The Vinland Mystery

This is the land of icebergs

While we were having lunch, we noticed the iceberg in the background had moved several hundred metres away ... 

from here ....

To here ...

More icebergs!

L'Anse aux Meadows is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world

This is where the Vikings first landed in North America

2,885 kilometres away from home ...

Lobster traps

A common mode of transport in these parts

Gas stations are not very common on this route. I couldn't find a Shell gas station so I switched

These are the Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park.

What you see here are rocks from the ocean floor and the earth's mantle formed as a result of plate tectonics

We saw two black bears, less than fifteen minutes apart on highway 431 ...

This made our day

The second bear

Rocky Harbour

The food, the service and the friendly folk at Fisherman's Landing Restaurant was memorable! We went there twice ☺

Western Brook Pond is a fjord located in the Long Range Mountains

On our way back we saw two coyotes playing by the side of the road (sorry this picture is out of focus)

Sydney, Nova Scotia

This duck was on her way home, and so were we ...

Back home. At 5,970 kilometres, this is one of the short road trips we've done

Grateful to GOD for the journey! 
☺

If you love road trips, please check out road trip to the Rockies