Gros Morne, Newfoundland

Our next leg of the trip saw us take the ferry from North Sydney to Port-aux-Basques (A), Newfoundland, then about a 4 hour drive or so to our first campsite outside Trout River (B), a little fishing village on the Western side of Gros Morne National Park. We stayed there 3 nights, then moved on to the lovely Shallow Bay (C) for 2 more. We spanned much of the park this way.

The park itself is widely recognized for its geological value and was given UNESCO World Heritage recognition for that reason. I would be surprised if we top it on this trip for its combination of beauty and variety of terrain. It really made for some lovely hikes--and driving (it was about 2 hours from site to site, one side of the park to the other). 

Coming into Port-aux-Basques:

We found quite possibly the best free stopover spot on the trip just 15 min or so from the port called "Arret pour une nuit" ("stop for a night"). 

Right away we could tell that Newfoundland was different. Despite it being a free stopover, this is one of the best places we've stayed on the trip with its view of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence on one side and the Appalachian Mountains on the other.

Seaside sunset in Arret Pour Une Nuit.

The next day we moved on to the campsite called Elephant's Head RV Park in the hills above Trout River.

And here's the little Trout River (photo 1: view from campsite).

On day two completed two hikes, the seemingly extraterrestrial Tablelands and the Green Gardens. These were to hikes that may not be topped the entire trip. The Green Gardens in particular has variety enough to feel like 5 hikes or more in one.

Tablelands

Green Gardens

There were other highlights. A boat tour of the fjords in the Western Brook Pond (which is actually a large lake--for some reason Newfoundland calls lakes "ponds," which must mean ponds are called "puddles" [?]).

And last, but by no means least, was the quality beach by Shallow Bay campsite, where we stayed the last 2 nights. This is a top notch sandy beach, one I wasn't expecting in Newfoundland.

Kenting having a pint of Gros Morne Pale Ale:

Kenting can put 'em back with the best of us.

The key for Kenting is he doesn't take the beers too far and is up early the next day for play like a good little boy.

Another epic hike up Lookout Mountain:

We were happy enough with this trip and had a pint or two afterward in the RV to unwind the yarn. 

We finished the trip back at Arret Pour Une Nuit before the ferry to Cape Breton the next morning.

While the sun may have set on this Newfoundland trip, we'll never forget it! And I hope we get to the eastern side where the real action is someday.