Gros Morne (Continued)

Left Water's Edge Campground to go back into Gros Morne National Park so Beau and I could hike the 5km Tablelands Trail.  The trail was busy and the weather was good, but windy.  We enjoyed walking through the orange colored rocks that make up the Tablelands - hills with flat tops and made up of rocks from the Earth's mantle, one of the few places on earth that the mantle is exposed.  The trail was good, no huge boulders or tree roots (nothing grows here except along the sides of the trail that sits on an old roadbed that used imported stone that supports some plants).  But the trail was UP (even though the park ranger said it was flat) - granted it was a gentle climb, but 2 1/2 km up without a break and at elevation was a bit much for this gal who spends her time at sea level in South Carolina.  We huffed and puffed some, but Beau and I both made it to the top where we were treated with great views of glacier created canyon called Winterhouse Canyon.

This is start of a Pitcher Plant that grows near streams 

Unusual rocks with mosaic lines that you can see if you zoom.

After our walk, we stopped back in historic Woody Point to satisfy Jack's craving for soup and sandwich for lunch.  We stopped at the only restaurant where I could park easily and we were the only ones there.  The restaurant was a very small old home that used the original kitchen (painted plywood cabinets.....very vintage).  They only had six tables but it seemed like the true rural Newfoundland cafe.  It is primarily a breakfast place associated with the small Inn across the way.  Jack ordered  his soup and sandwich and I splurged (both dollar and calorie-wise) on a Lobster Roll.  We both enjoyed our lunch, folks were great, and by the time we left, they did have some takeout customers. 

We enjoyed touring the quaint town and stopped for a few photos.

Quaint downtown Woody Point

Everyone has huge wood piles - some like this jumble, and some stacked neatly in different shapes

We have seen quite a few cemeteries with these very white gravestones and at first thought they were very old.  They are not, some are very recent...guess it is gravestone preference here.

We then headed north and stopped in a small town (still within the borders of the National Park) of Rocky Harbour and got a campsite at the Gros Morne RV Park - fairly large campground with full hookups.  The weather turned rainy and it sprinkled on and off all night and we woke to dreary skies and more sprinkles.  Made a leisurely breakfast of apple pancakes with a mix I had purchased at an old mill store while we were still in the States.  Decided to stay here an extra day to do a little grocery shopping and a few other errands and save our touring for the next day which was forecast to be beautiful.  Good intentions, but the grocery store was not much better than a gas station convenience store. We did get a couple things we needed (at exorbitant prices).  Stopped at a glass art gallery and saw some gorgeous things but most had too many zeroes in the price for us.  We returned to our campsite and made a nice Sunday dinner of homemade tomato sauce and pasta.  

Woke to beautiful blue skies and Jack thought that instead of slowly going up the coast and making stops, we should make a beeline for iceberg alley.  Our definition of bee line is like those lazy bees you see in the dead of winter who are barely alive and flitting/flopping around, so we only drove 1 1/2 hours north to Port au Choix - near the northern boundary of the National Park (told you it was a bigg'un). Harbour.  Before leaving town, stopped to walk the Salmon Point Trail with views of the Harbor as dark clouds began moving in.

Rocky Harbour's Harbor

We stopped to fill our propane tank, necessary for our furnace  on chilly nights, hot water heater and  our stove) and drove into Port au Choix to stay at Oceanside Campground, run by the local Lions Club.  Got a great spot looking directly into the Gulf of St Lawrence (which ties into the Atlantic Ocean).  This area is known for occasional icebergs, but no luck today.  

Camped on the beach at Port au Choix

However, the weather is fabulous - 60 degrees and mostly sunny.  We settled into our campsite to enjoy the great views and Beau and I took a long walk on the bluff above the Gulf and then along the beach. 

 

Looks like sand, but is actually rock!

Beau loves exploring

We are facing southwest, so sunset over the water should be gorgeous, EXCEPT the sun doesn't go down til 9:30, after my bedtime (because Luna decides 5 am is a good time to get everyone up because she wants to play).  ugh.

A very nice day.  Tomorrow, we will get to Iceberg Alley and stay in the area near St. Anthony where there are reports of many icebergs.  Stay tuned.....