[ click on map for larger image]
We just arrived home ( our RV) after a 3 day trip to Labrador and L'Anse Aux Meadows. This is called the " Viking Tra
il " as a result of archaeologist's Dr.& Mrs Ingstad's finding in 1960 of a Viking settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows. This is a modern day discovery that documents a Viking expedition leaving Greenland and landing on the shores of the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland in the year 1000. Under the leadership of Leif Ericksson, a group of between 70-90 people established an encampment that served as the base for exploring south throughout the Gulf of St.Lawence. This predates Cabot and Cartier's exploits by 400 years and is probably the first European exploration of North America. A very interesting story that can be found on the Parks Canada Web Site. We stayed in a Great B&B right in L'Anse Aux Meadows called the Viking Village which I would recommend for a stay. Be sure and get Thelma (the owner) to cook you dinner. We also ate at a restaurant called Catch of the Day and was entertained by a Viking telling Viking Sagas of past. He looked just like Matti, an old friend of ours. In 1978 L'Anse aux Meadows was designated a World Heritage Site and Parks Canada has a large Interpretive Site with guided tours and reenactment of the Viking Times. We than drove to St.Anthony and went to the Grenfell Museum. Dr.Grenfell was the first Doctor in the area and responsible for bringing health care to people along the coast of Labrador and Newfoundland. He was knighted for his life long work and was an impressive museum. After 2 nights at the B&B we drove to St.Barbe to take the 90 minute ferry ride to Blanc Sablon Quebec where it is a 15 minute drive to our hotel in L'Anse-au-Clair- Labrador. We spend the afternoon driving up to Red Bay which is the end of the paved road. Another interesting story about the work of Selma Barkham, a archiv
al researcher, who in 1970 was able to study the archived records in the Basque region of southern France. Here research showed the Basques carried out large scale whale fishery during the 16 century and established 16 shore stations along the southern coast of Labrador. Red Bay, or Butus as the Basques called it became on of the largest and most used of these stations. Underwater archeologic work at Red Bay revealed the remains of four 16th Century galleons. The Viking and Basque discovery are modern day finds that were not known before 1970 !!!! We had a beautiful sunny day to explore the rugged coast of Labrador before returning to Gros Morne the following day. After two night at a B&B and one hotel Gail and I were ready to come home. When I say home I mean our RV. We have now been away 4 months and have made the adjustment to our Rv which we consider our cozy home. Sept 4 we return to Nova Scotia and look forward to our long time friends Bruce and Judy Williamson arriving for 2 weeks to explore Nova Scotia and PEI with.
Pictures:
Viking Trail
Gros Morne & Area
St.John's & Area
Yes I know the video is the wrong way up but you can not turn a video. My mistake.
Listen to his voice.
il " as a result of archaeologist's Dr.& Mrs Ingstad's finding in 1960 of a Viking settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows. This is a modern day discovery that documents a Viking expedition leaving Greenland and landing on the shores of the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland in the year 1000. Under the leadership of Leif Ericksson, a group of between 70-90 people established an encampment that served as the base for exploring south throughout the Gulf of St.Lawence. This predates Cabot and Cartier's exploits by 400 years and is probably the first European exploration of North America. A very interesting story that can be found on the Parks Canada Web Site. We stayed in a Great B&B right in L'Anse Aux Meadows called the Viking Village which I would recommend for a stay. Be sure and get Thelma (the owner) to cook you dinner. We also ate at a restaurant called Catch of the Day and was entertained by a Viking telling Viking Sagas of past. He looked just like Matti, an old friend of ours. In 1978 L'Anse aux Meadows was designated a World Heritage Site and Parks Canada has a large Interpretive Site with guided tours and reenactment of the Viking Times. We than drove to St.Anthony and went to the Grenfell Museum. Dr.Grenfell was the first Doctor in the area and responsible for bringing health care to people along the coast of Labrador and Newfoundland. He was knighted for his life long work and was an impressive museum. After 2 nights at the B&B we drove to St.Barbe to take the 90 minute ferry ride to Blanc Sablon Quebec where it is a 15 minute drive to our hotel in L'Anse-au-Clair- Labrador. We spend the afternoon driving up to Red Bay which is the end of the paved road. Another interesting story about the work of Selma Barkham, a archiv
al researcher, who in 1970 was able to study the archived records in the Basque region of southern France. Here research showed the Basques carried out large scale whale fishery during the 16 century and established 16 shore stations along the southern coast of Labrador. Red Bay, or Butus as the Basques called it became on of the largest and most used of these stations. Underwater archeologic work at Red Bay revealed the remains of four 16th Century galleons. The Viking and Basque discovery are modern day finds that were not known before 1970 !!!! We had a beautiful sunny day to explore the rugged coast of Labrador before returning to Gros Morne the following day. After two night at a B&B and one hotel Gail and I were ready to come home. When I say home I mean our RV. We have now been away 4 months and have made the adjustment to our Rv which we consider our cozy home. Sept 4 we return to Nova Scotia and look forward to our long time friends Bruce and Judy Williamson arriving for 2 weeks to explore Nova Scotia and PEI with.Pictures:
Viking Trail
Gros Morne & Area
St.John's & Area
Yes I know the video is the wrong way up but you can not turn a video. My mistake.
Listen to his voice.
