Day 11 – The Viking Trail

We headed up the Western coast on Hwy 430 a.k.a. The Viking Trail. The weather started out fantastic although still on the windy side. I get the impression that the wind is pretty normal, especially on the coast. The weather here is very unpredictable. It changes quickly and often. Not only does it vary considerable over time, but changes from kilometer to kilometer depending on elevation and relation to land and sea. The people are incredibly friendly, the weather not so much.

The geography changed as we came north. Spent part of the day between the mountains and the coast. Gradually, the land flattened out and varied between highlands of scraggly evergreens, to marsh and bogs, then barren highlands of limestone, and back to more lush forests. We are camped at Pistolet Bay Provincial Park on the far north end of Newfoundland…a long way from home and starting to feel that way.

Tomorrow will be our last full day in Newfoundland. Going to visit the Viking site in the morning and hopefully do a little whale watching (no luck yet). Would love to see an iceberg too.

We have been seeing small fenced areas along the highway. They look like small wooden corrals and we had no idea of their purpose. Turns out that they are gardens. The soil is difficult to work and very acidic. Several years ago when the highways were being built, people started planting gardens on the sides of the road in the over turned soil. They are surrounded by wooden fences to keep the moose out.