In search of icebergs, Tom and I turned off Route 1 (the Trans-Canada Highway) to drive the Viking Trail to St. Anthony where Icebergs were recently seen. We stopped along the way to explore The Arches Provincial Park and to spend a night boondocking along the coast.
Traveling from Deer Lake to St. Anthony
We enjoyed beautiful scenery as we drove through Gros Morne National Park and along the west coast of the Great Northern Peninsula. We crossed many bridges and passed many beautiful rivers, lakes and shorelines. Signs many signs along the way warned of moose but, sadly, we didn't see any.
We did, however, see many big piles of crab traps and firewood stacked along the highway. Next to many of the wood piles were ofter wheeled carts or sleds. But, we never saw signs indicating the firewood was for sale. We couldn't have used it anyway, due to fire bans across Newfoundland and Labrador. But, still, I love a good bonfire and I was curious about the endless piles of wood. I learned from a local that residents can purchase a permit from the federal government ($25) and are issued a lot of federal land on which they can cut wood. They pile it up for the winter using atvs and snowmobiles to haul it in the carts and sleds. Well, that also explains the many atv and snowmobile crossing signs! And, the lack of "firewood for sale" signs is because the firewood is only for personal use. They can use it or give it away but they cannot sell it.
Other curious sites along the highway were the gardens. They seemed to be in the middle of nowhere without houses nearby. We learned that, because most residents in the Northern Peninsula live along the coast, it's nearly impossible for them to grow produce at home due to the wind and salty climate. The best soil for growing is actually along the highway where the dirt has been turned up. So, they just choose an appealing patch of land along the highway, fence it in and plant a garden. Apparently, these gardens are becoming increasingly common as locals are concerned about relying on food to be shipped in from the mainland.
Boondocking
After exploring The Arches Provincial Park, Tom and I starting thinking about where we might stay for the night. We found a perfect boondocking site using our iOverlander app. It was just a little north of the provincial park, along the Viking Trail, on a cliff overlooking the coast. We were the only ones there so we had plenty of room to explore and let Aly run.
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