Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland
Last night we both enjoyed another excellent meal at the Asian restaurant Koko's. We managed not to close the restaurant and actually got to bed relatively early. We had breakfast in our room as we had an early start.
We landed at Woody Point where some of the locals gave us a taste of Newfoundland hospitality - handing out all kinds of goodies for those of us going ashore. Here again, the drastic effects of the moratorium on the cod fishery were explained. Most of the young people left. However, these small fishing villages have transformed themselves into tourist destinations. Woody Point and others proudly display signs proclaiming them as Ideal Towns. Newfoundland has experienced much hardship in addition to its climate. WWI took away a generation of young men that might have become future leaders of the province. Their regiments suffered devastating losses. After that, we were told that Great Britain wanted its debt replayed and when it proved impossible, revoked their status as a Dominion and it reverted to Colonial status. As if the loss of a generation wasn't payment enough!
We drove from Woody Point to the Discovery Centre where we watched a short film and had just enough time to climb to a viewing area for a view of Gros Morne Mountain when we had to leave to go to the Tablelands, the landform that gave the park its UNESCO World Heritage designation. We saw the two continental plates in Iceland. Now we got to stand on the earth's mantle, the only place in the world where a person can do that. The two plates collided millions of years ago and forced the earth's mantle to the surface. The mantle is the part of the earth that covers its molten core. The rocks are black but because of oxidation, are rusting hence the brownish tones. They are extremely heavy because they contain many different metals. Where water seeped into cracks, some minerals dissolved and when they broke apart, formed what are called Serpentine rocks which look like the skin of a reptile or lizard.
Many unusual plants grow here and I reacquainted myself with the pitcher plant, a carnivorous plant that traps all kinds of insects and eats them. I remember them from my childhood in Goose Bay, Labrador
From here we drove to another small town and had a short walk along the coastal boardwalk. We could have climbed a lot of stairs to get a view but by this time it was pouring rain and foggy. We didn't think we would see much.
Then it was back to the ship for another delicious lunch at Koko's, our steam bath and icy plunge. Then we enjoyed a nap. We are heading to the sushi bar for dinner where Katerina has picked out a Pinot Noir for us.
As an afterthought. I noticed some people wearing some really nice Scenic Eclipse jackets. I asked one chap where he got his. He said that they were promised in their suggested packing list. We figured nothing ventured - so asked at Reception. What size did we want? They would be delivered to our room. We'll see.
We landed at Woody Point where some of the locals gave us a taste of Newfoundland hospitality - handing out all kinds of goodies for those of us going ashore. Here again, the drastic effects of the moratorium on the cod fishery were explained. Most of the young people left. However, these small fishing villages have transformed themselves into tourist destinations. Woody Point and others proudly display signs proclaiming them as Ideal Towns. Newfoundland has experienced much hardship in addition to its climate. WWI took away a generation of young men that might have become future leaders of the province. Their regiments suffered devastating losses. After that, we were told that Great Britain wanted its debt replayed and when it proved impossible, revoked their status as a Dominion and it reverted to Colonial status. As if the loss of a generation wasn't payment enough!
We drove from Woody Point to the Discovery Centre where we watched a short film and had just enough time to climb to a viewing area for a view of Gros Morne Mountain when we had to leave to go to the Tablelands, the landform that gave the park its UNESCO World Heritage designation. We saw the two continental plates in Iceland. Now we got to stand on the earth's mantle, the only place in the world where a person can do that. The two plates collided millions of years ago and forced the earth's mantle to the surface. The mantle is the part of the earth that covers its molten core. The rocks are black but because of oxidation, are rusting hence the brownish tones. They are extremely heavy because they contain many different metals. Where water seeped into cracks, some minerals dissolved and when they broke apart, formed what are called Serpentine rocks which look like the skin of a reptile or lizard.
Many unusual plants grow here and I reacquainted myself with the pitcher plant, a carnivorous plant that traps all kinds of insects and eats them. I remember them from my childhood in Goose Bay, Labrador
From here we drove to another small town and had a short walk along the coastal boardwalk. We could have climbed a lot of stairs to get a view but by this time it was pouring rain and foggy. We didn't think we would see much.
Then it was back to the ship for another delicious lunch at Koko's, our steam bath and icy plunge. Then we enjoyed a nap. We are heading to the sushi bar for dinner where Katerina has picked out a Pinot Noir for us.
As an afterthought. I noticed some people wearing some really nice Scenic Eclipse jackets. I asked one chap where he got his. He said that they were promised in their suggested packing list. We figured nothing ventured - so asked at Reception. What size did we want? They would be delivered to our room. We'll see.
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