We had originally (okay, yesterday) planned to go to the east side of the province where the prime, or at least most popular, birding spots are. Unfortunately, Hurricane Chris had other ideas. It is heading for the same Avalon Peninsula that we were going to. It looks like it will be windy and rainy for the forecastable future, not exactly a good time for a boat tour to see Puffins. So we altered our route.
We are going to spend at least a couple of more days on the west coast, going to the southern section of Gros Morne National Park, then, depending on the forecast, move eastward at a leisurely pace. Our destination for today was Trout Rivet and the campground there.
We had moderately early start on the road north. There is really only one road nortn, the Trans-Canada Highway. The wasn’t a lot of traffic as we started out. I suspect that it is only busy whenthe ferry arrives. It is a good highway, mostly three lanes, with two lanes on the uphill side...and there are a lot of hills. It is open, rocky and green country that reminded us of the Alaskan tundra, but is actually heavy brush and heath with many small ponds dotting the landscape.
We didn’t stop until Corner Brook, the second largest city in the province, and home of at least three coffee shops and several Tim Hortons. After a stop at the local visitor center for more brochures on north country, we found a small coffee roaster, Brewed on Bernard, for coffee and the Newfoundland version of an oatcake, thick and circular, like a scone, and topped with chocolate. After the coffee and a grocery stop at the local Dominion store, we we back on the highway until we reached Deer Lake, where the Trans-Canada heads east towards St. John’s and Route 430 becomes the road to the Northern Peninsula and to Gros Morne National Park.
It is the only road north and goes through the park. On entering the park we stopped to get a permit. Like the US National Parks, you pay to enter (I don’t think payment is required if you are traveling through without stopping). Unlike the US parks, you pay per day...or you can get a Discovery Pass which is good for a year an is valid at all National Parks and Historic Sites. It pays for itself after about six days and we exp3cted more than six days at National Parks, so we now have two Discovery Passes.
It was about 20 twisty, narrow, miles up 430 from Deer Lake to the intersection with Route 431. 430 continues north through the northern larger section of the park and all the way to the top of Newfoundland to St. Anthony. We took 431 to Trout River and the Trout River Pond campground, stopping at the park’s Discovery Center near Woody Point. Here with picked up a trail map, a free fishing permit for the park and a passport stamp.
We arrived at the campground around 3:30 pm and found a nice open site for the next couple of nights. The only thing we didn’t notice when we were looking at campgrounds was that this one doesn’t have electric sites. The propane side of the refrigerator is still not working well, so we’ve been opting for power when it is available. It is definitely a situation that we need to solve before our next trip.
Tomorrow it is off for some hiking.
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