Newfoundland at last

 

We’re at the furthest point of this journey, and it feels like a very long way from home (5,205 miles)!  The overnight ferry ⛴️ to get here was smooth sailing; our van was tucked in next to a million giant trucks while we dozed upstairs.  

Drove to Gros Morne national park, walking on the Tablelands ( ancient rock formations ) and camping in the park.  Things are just starting to open, with some possibly open or not.  We’ve learned to keep expectations fluid & delighted when a restroom is open.  Simple gifts.

We stayed in the parking lot of the Gander aviation museum.  Wonderful history of this community response when 7,000 air passengers suddenly were diverted on 9/11 when US airspace was closed.  Glenn found a favorite plane as well.

As many of you know, one of our goals for this trip was to see the nesting Puffin colonies, one of the largest in the world.  Our scheduled boat trip was today;  this was not in the cards - and the boats were cancelled due to high waves and swells.  Our next bet on puffins was to try later in the week, without guarantees.  So in the spirit of chasing birds, we drove down to St Mary’s ecological reserve to see thousands of northern gannets.  Success!  And a wondrous experience on the cliffs covered with nesting birds.

We celebrated our furthest east destination at a local pub in St John’s.  Now to plot our way back to the ferry, then the journey back begins 🍻

PS. The red chairs are a thing in the Canada national parks - there are 400 scattered across country.  The 2 chairs above are in Terra Nova park.