Leaving Newfoundland for Labrador

Aug 31 - Sept 1, 2024

With sadnesss on my part we began or drive out of Newfoundland, but she showed us beauty and awe as we went.

A cow and calf moose alongside the road

Gardens are planted alongside the roads, often many kilometers from their owners homes, where sufficient soil was made available by the road construction

A caribou came to say goodbye

Wood is stacked along the highway after being felled in the winter and allowed to dry all summer before being collected by the owners. Everyone knows whose wood pile is whose even though there is no signage, and no one disturbs another’s wood pile

The next two items, the fishing net and quilt, are in the ferry office, which only is open 2 hours before a departure.

We first heard this saying from the pastor in Corner Brook who said his wife would say it to him if he was complaining about aches or the state of the world, etc. It’s now in my repertoire to say to my dear husband.

Ferry crossing canceled for the rest of the day and questionable for tomorrow because of gale force winds. After looking at our boondocking options, exposure to the winds, the cost of gas, and the need to be at the office at specific times to take advantage of the first come first serve policy for cancelled passengers, we opted to stay at the campsites across the street from the ferry office. This is the first time we’ve paid for camping since staying in Acadia NP in Maine almost 3 months ago. It hurt, but it meant hot showers and cheap laundry and was only $22.22US. 

Several crossings were canceled the next day and and when the 1300 update still said out of service we were resigned to staying another night and paid the campground fee. 

But then around 4 we got wind that that they were going to sail so we got in line to hope for a space and were granted one! Other folks that were stuck with us also got in , including Steve and Chris from Groveland, Mass that we met in Norstead.

It was a bouncier voyage than any of our previous ones

With interesting clouds

But finally Quebec and Labrador were in sight - and looking very flat

Caught the lighthouse at the right time

Stopped to get our bearings while overlooking the ferry as it prepared to return to Newfoundland. The ferry lands in Blanc-Sablon, Quebec, just 5kms from the Labrador border.  When we left we Newfoundland we were on Newfoundland time, now we are 90 minutes earlier and on Eastern time, and tomorrow when we drive the 5kms to Labrador we will be back to Newfoundland time, 90 minutes later, and then as we travel inland in a few days we’ll be on 30 minutes ahead on Atlantic time. Thank goodness our watches and phone automatically adjust!

Found a spot near here along the water to spend the night.