Newfoundland: Trout River Pond

Trout River Pond

Gros Morne National Park

Trout River, NL

June 17, 2013

If Google Maps is to be believed, 'technically' the body of water in the foreground is Trout River Small Pond.  If you are thinking, "that's a lake, not a pond!", welcome to Newfoundland.  Where lakes are ponds and ponds are.....I have no idea.

Newfoundland: Woody Point Deadhead

Woody Point, NL

June 15, 2013

Not that kind of deadhead, silly.

Newfoundland: The Tablelands

Gros Morne National Park

Woody Point, NL

June 16, 2013

I'm in a Gros Morne state of mind these days so here's another shot from this summer's trip to the rock. I'm surprised I've not posted more shots from The Tablelands, this is only the start.

This boardwalk is one of the 'official' walks into the tablelands, though you can ramble anywhere you want to if you so desire.  I hear that this bowl is a magnet for backcountry snow lovers, packing boards and skis for a rip down the slopes.

Nothing says ultramafic rock like the peridotite found in the tablelands.  One must experience this place first hand to truly get a sense of how other worldy this landscape looks and feels.  

Newfoundland: The Road to Tickle Point

Tickle Point

St. Paul's, NL

June 20, 2013

It seems like such a long time since we walked out this rocky road to scope out the fishing shacks of Tickle Point.  You can see a bank of fog lurking in the distance, it disappeared as quickly as it arrived.  Thick and grey.

Newfounland: Hard as #$@&

Trout River, NL

June 19, 2013

Nothing says thug like a fishing wharf/wharehouse....who knows, maybe they meant 'tug life'?  That's how it's probably pronounced on the rock, right? ;-)

Newfoundland: Wonderful Western Brook Pond

Western Brook Pond

Gros Morne National Park, NL

June 20, 2013

I could fill up a post full of travel brochure cliches to describe the stunning vistas one can view on the Western Brook Pond boat tour.  I'll let the image speak for itself.

If you find yourself in Gros Morne, do yourself a favour and take the boat tour of the park, it is worth every penny.

Newfoundland: Stunning Green Gardens

Green Gardens

Gros Morne National Park, NL

June 18, 2013

Spoiler alert, this is one of the many rewards you will receive when hiking the excellent Green Gardens trail in Gros Morne National Park.

This shot marked the point where we turned around and headed back up the several hundred stairs that stood between us and our car.  I would love to attempt the complete loop of this trail, but maybe when I'm up to fording Wallace brook....in June.

Newfoundland: Green Gardens

Green Gardens Trail

Gros Morne National Park

June 18, 2013

Green Gardens: yet another stunning trail to hike while in Gros Morne.  

This one involves many, MANY stairs to traverse.  You head down the stairs towards the coast.  Unfortunately, what goes down...must go up.  Pacing yourself on the reverse/uphill trek is recommended.

The portion of the trail that winds along the coast is the pay off.  There are several backcountry camping spots along the coast which I'd love to check out on another visit.

Sheep can be seen grazing along this trail on the many meadows/fields.  The landscape almost reminded me of the Scottish Highlands in parts.  A highlight of our visit, for sure.

Newfoundland: Trout River Pond

Trout River Pond, NL

June 17, 2013

This is the reward you claim when hiking the stunning Trout River Pond trail in Gros Morne National Park.  I am glad our friends/guides encouraged us to complete the hike, they kept talking about "the payoff".  Boy, they were not exaggerating! 

The trail is a ~15 km round trip.  The first half winds its way through typical softwood forest.  It is only once you emerge from the trees that you start to get stunning views of the tablelands.  

It was odd how quickly I became accustomed to sitting in front of a landscape that more resembles Mars than Earth.  The contrast is indeed extreme.  One side of the pond (aka lake) is treed/wooded while the other side is stark and rocky.  Those rocks form what is known as the Tablelands, one of the few places on Earth where one can walk on the Earth's mantle!

I highly encourage one and all to experience this trail and Gros Morne National Park.  It is truly one of our national treasures.

Newfoundland: I'd rather have....

Woody Point, NL

June 15, 2013

Fill in the blanks...

Newfoundland: Bonne Bay Particular Lenticular?

Woody Point, NL

June 16, 2013

Have I captured an elusive lenticular cloud? 

Looks like it could be, Gros Morne is nearby which might be the source of the unique conditions required to produce these gorgeous clouds.

What say you, readers?  

Newfoundland: Tickle Point

Tickle Point

St. Paul's, NL

June 20, 2013

After a pleasant stroll through coastal wildflower fields, Anglican and Catholic graveyards and sheep pastures we came upon this small collection of fishing shacks that were ripe for photographing.  I'm sure it's a popular spot for photo op's, but finding the access to 'Tickle Point' is not easy.  For some reason, the sign which explains the area is only accessible once you are on the trail, not at the beginning nor at the end.  Puzzling.

We found old rusty bus seats arranged around washing machine fire pits.  Rusted snowmobiles sat beside rotting lobster traps.  I'm glad we got photos before the THICK bank of fog rolled in.  She was some tick.

Newfoundland: Green Point Landscape

Green Point, NL

June 21, 2013

I'm slowly realizing it's hard to take a bad shot at Gros Morne National Park...or maybe I got lucky?  Green Gardens can be seen in the distance.....

Newfoundland: Green Point Boat

Green Point, NL

June 21, 2013

It was a windy 'ole solstice out at Green Point that day.  On the plus side, the gusty winds kept the bugs down so we didn't mind.  

I overlooked this photo on my first pass of my Newfoundland snaps, but I'm glad I rediscovered it.  I love the clouds and white caps as well as the random stop sign leaning up against the fishing shack.

Newfoundland: So that's why they call it Bonne Bay

Norris Point, NL

June 21, 2013

The sign said look off, so look we did and WHAT a view!  

That's snow at the top of the tablelands in the distance.  And yes, this was taken on the summer solstice.  Gros Morne is stunning, to say the least.  Put it atop your bucket list.

Hazy and Crazy

Somewhere between Stephenville and Port aux Basques, NL

June 23, 2013

Here's a shot of that haze I mentioned in a previous post.  It looked a little too smoggy/brown to be the normal summer haze.  If you missed the aforementioned post...turns out it was smoke from forest fires in Labrador! 

Newfoundland: Stephenville Shack

Stephenville Crossing, NL

June 23, 2013

T'was a windy day to be at this beach, glad the wind helped unfurl the Newfoundland flag for this shot. ^_^

The haze in the sky that day looked like smog, not your usual summer haze.  As we drove South towards the ferry terminal in Port aux Basques, the brown colour in the sky became quite pronounced.  We wondered if we were driving in to a natural disaster...were we listening to the wrong radio station?!?  Turns out it was smoke from forest fires in Labrador, some of which are still burning today.  It's days like this that remind us we are all connected on this big blue marble of ours.

Gros Morne: Woody Point Fishing Shack

Woody Point, NL

June 16, 2013 

Woody Point, NL

Shed detail

June 16, 2013 

The first of what will likely be many posts of my recent trip to Gros Morne National Park.  Stay tuned!

Cod carcass graveyard

Tapper's Cove Wharf

Torbay, Newfoundland

Aug. 12, 2012

This was a sight to behold, hundreds of filet-less cod bodies laying underwater beside the wharf.   I half expected to see legions of crabs and other underwater scavengers crawling over these cod remnants.  Oddly, not much activity down there...at least, not any I could see from the wharf.

Most folks fillet their haul at the wharf and chuck what remains in the water.  I understand why, just imagine 15 cod rotting in your compost bin for 2 weeks and you'll see why folks fillet at the wharf and not at home. 

The Boys

Tapper's Cove wharf -- Torbay, Newfoundland.  Aug. 12, 2012.

August 12th was the last day of Newfoundland's recreational food fishery, so it was quite a busy day at the wharf with everyone and their dog trying to get their boat in/out of the water.  

Lots of fishers and non-fisher onlookers were hanging about, waiting to see who would bring in the biggest cod of the day.  Mine weighed a mere 6 pounds, though I did hear (but did not see) of 20 pound specimens...