L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, August 2015

One of the places that I have long wanted to visit is L’Anse aux Meadows at the tip of the Northern Peninsula. This is where Lief Ericsson traveled in ~1,000CE and was known in the sagas as Vinland. The Norwegian couple Anne Stine and Helge Ingstad traveled in the region in the early 1960s looking for Vinland. They were pointed to L’Anse aux Meadows as a possible site. Local elder, George Decker showed them what he thought was the site of "native" ruins. There was indeed evidence of Paleoeskimo and Beothic at the site. But there was also clear evidence of the only Viking site in North America. The site has an excellent visitors centre and a reconstruction of the site, with interpreters at work. The site is impressive and we spent some hours there.  

Anne Stine and Helge Ingstad

Sod walls on the reconstructed building

Looking to sea

Reconstruction ... this was a very large building

Entrance

Evidence of the buildings from 1000CE 

Interesting sculpture on the boardwalk from the Visitors Center 

Detail of the artwork

Visitors Center

Leif Ericsson

Going north on the Northern Peninsula, Port Aux Choix, Newfoundland, August 2015.

The weather in Gros Morne was to turn for the worst and so we went further north to St Anthony. On our way we stopped at Port aux Choix, half way up  the peninsula. A long established fishing port with a magnificent harbor. In the 1960s, a local businessman was building a bar in the township and stumbled upon a burial site dating back to the Paleoeskimos of 6,000 years ago. The Parks Canada interpretation center provide an insight to their life. 

Port aux Choix harbor

Burial site

Burial site

Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, August 2015

Perfect first day in Gros Morne National Park on the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland.

Off to Newfoundland, August 2015

After a very enjoyable stay on Prince Edward Island, we head to Newfoundland, via Nova Scotia. First by ferry from Wood Islands in PEI to Caribou in Nova Scotia. Then on to North Sydney on Cape Breton Island. Then after at night in a park in North Sydney, on to Port aux Basques in Newfoundland. The ferry (MV Blue Puttees) is substantial, with two vehicle decks. The weather was perfect across the channel. I would imagine that berthing in Port aux Basques could be quite a challenge with a number of rocks close by when the ferry turns to reverse.

MV Blue Puttees ahead

Terminal at North Sydney

Looking back to North Sydney

The MV Lief Ericsson

And in to Port aux Basques

On our way to Nova Scotia from Prince Edward Island, August

After a pleasant week on Prince Edward Island we are off by ferry to Caribou on Nova Scotia and then straight to North Sydney on Cape Breton Island. From there by ferry to Newfoundland.

First sight of Nova Scotia

North Sydney, Nova Scotia

Architecture, Charlottetown

Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island is small -- only 60,000 residents. Huge numbers of lovely 19th century homes are clustered around the small business district. It makes for a highly walkable city.

Art Gallery, Charlottetown, PEI, August

The map of Prince Edward Island created in the 1760s by Samuel Wilson has  been  restored and is at the Art Gallery in Charlottetown for some months. This was the map that was used to divide up the Island  into  64 lots,  that were then parcelled out to absentee landlords. The map is huge. And the work to restore it was truly amazing.