Summer on The Rock

I FINALLY went to Newfoundland!!!
Since that is where Marc is from, and I was in St Johns once since we've been married, we decided a trip to his home town of Rocky Harbour was long overdue. Rocky Harbour is a small town right in the middle of Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. He left a week before me and visited family and friends in St Johns, on the other side of the island, and I flew into Deer Lake an hour from Rocky Harbour for a week of sunshine, family, friends, hiking and amazing scenery.
Since I usually write and have no pictures, I will change this blog entirely. So much so that you'll think you're on someone else's blog...

The hospitality shown by Marc's relatives was truly amazing, and we ate, drank and talked and I got to meet a lot of people that I can't wait to see again. We did take some time out to burn off some calories and go for a hike or two,

The main hike is called the Long Range Trail, and it starts with a short walk in to Western Brook Pond, then an hour boat ride into the "Pond" to get to the trailhead. Up the fjord to the plateau on top, and then along the plateau south to Gros Morne itself. There are 4 campsites, but having stuff to be at we only stayed 2 overnights.

Foggy walk in to Western Brook Pond

Western Brook "Pond" - the boat to take sightseers for a loop around and us to the start

Fog clearing in the Fjord that surrounds the Pond as the Boat is leaving

Trail friend

Looking back down Western Brook "Pond" 

Walking along the Plateau

Campsite next to a small pond

Campsite view in the early morning

More walking

Looking down into another Fjord

The next few days were spent exploring around Rocky Harbour. The sky gave for dramatic pictures. This is where Marc grew up playing on the beaches.

Newfoundland "Beaches" 

Rocky Harbour Lighthouse. Notice the dramatic sky?? Huh ? Pretty dramatic wouldn't you agree?

Marc has LOTS of relatives in Rocky Harbour. Among them are Bonnie and Jason and their kids Emma and Benjamin. Not only did they feed us and ply us with alcohol several times, but Bonnie and Jason and both kids came for an overnight hike in to Green Gardens. The trail leaves the parking lot, heads up over a hill and down the far side to the ocean. Benjamin, all of 6 years old, carried his little backpack and drove us onwards like a little slave driver. He would allow occasional stops, but after about 36 seconds would follow it with "Can we go NOW?". 1.5 hrs each way, and he never slowed up or allowed us to! 

 There is a 50 foot wide swath of meadow on top of the cliffs, and a staircase so you can get down and play on the beach. 

Meadowy bits

with Stairs

Rocky bits

Emma and Benjamin playing

Campsite

 The next morning Benjamin kept exclaiming how amazingly well he'd slept for his first night in a tent. Jason and Benjamin had set up the tent on the actual tenting platform, which is made of 2*4 wood, and I can't recall how many times Benjamin mentioned the "incredibly soft wood" which had made for such a great sleep. Jason may not have completely agreed with him, but it was really very funny.

We made the hike out in good time and headed back in for our last night on the Rock. Unfortunately all good things have to come to an end, and we flew back to real life in Vancouver. It was a wonderful time and I can't imagine a single thing that would have made it better.

Life has been crazy busy in the few weeks since, and I'll have to catch up a bit more. I also know there's been a lot of holidaying out there, and I'm anxious to hear about some of that too!