Day 26- July 22 The Viking Trail

Day 26- July 22    The Viking Trail


We headed up the Great Northern Peninsula and FINALLY saw a moose!  You would think after crossing 9 provinces and so many moose signs we'd see a moose every hour on this trip.  During our drive we noticed piles of logs neatly stacked along the highway.  The locals would cut down trees for the winter and haul it out during the snow with sleds.  Then they let it season for a few years before they haul it to heat their homes.  There sure were LOTS of neat rows of evenly stacked cut logs.

Finally a moose!

Such neat piles of wood

There were also lots of wind blown trees as this drive is along the coast.  Lots of small fishing communities along our route today as well.  We also saw  many garden patches along the road amoungst the trees and crudley fenced in to indicate their plot.  The soil is very fertile along the roadway, but it was strange to see gardens but no houses for miles.


Sideways growing trees!

Barren land

Our first stop was at Hawke's Bay at the Torrent River Salmon Sanctuary to learn about the salmon ladder.  We spent about 25 minutes walking around and saw where the fish go up the side of the waterfalls on long man made stairs.  With the aid of water, it allows the fish to go up stream past the rapids to spawn.  We saw a few salmon making their way up the river.

Learning about salmon ladders

Our next stop was at Plum Point for a stroll along the board walk and lunch at the motel.  The view along the Strait of Belle Isle was amazing.

Plum Point

Brody enjoying the view

Finally got to L'Anse aux Meadows (prononced Lance & Meadows) and drove right to the end of the road.  Took pictures of Leif Eirikson who was the first European to discover North America. 

GPS shows us at the tip of Newfoundland Great Northern Peninsula

Leif Eirikson

We explored the National Historic Site and story of the Norse who came here around 1000 AD.  Watched a great video on the only authentic viking site in North America.  We walked through the replica huts and checked out the mounds where the original huts were.

The Meeting of Two Worlds Sculpture

Going into the replica sod hut

This Viking was going to eat Mickey

Glad Brody suggested this excursion, wouldn't want to argue with him!

Scott getting artsy with the new camera

Mounds are from where actual Norse huts were

Spent 2 fantastic hours exploring the Nationals Site, this was Brody's suggestion to head north to check out the viking village.

L'Anse aux Meadows

It was a long day as we turned around and drove back to our site at Gros Morne RV.  It took a little longer and it was getting dark and the moose were out.  Ended up seeing a moose and her calf on our trip home and then Scott saw 3 more big bulls running in the ditch.

Hard coastal shores

Drove 9 hours in total today for another fantastic day exploring and learning about the history of  this great country of ours.