We awoke to a beautifully sunny, but windy, morning. Alas, we packed our bags and after breakfast caught the ferry back to Mary’s Harbour. Then we set off on our trip to Cartwright. The roads are quite an experience but we managed 70 to 80 km most of the way. The land is total wilderness. There are no towns, houses, or any sight of anything human – except the cut timber lining the roads and the sleighs and snowmobiles waiting beside it. Both Labrador and Newfoundland are rich in wild flowers, and the sides of the roads were a blanket of white feathery flowers that look as if they would feel like silk to touch. The Mealy Mountains continue the rocky landscape of the Northern Peninsula in Newfoundland. In fact one of the explorers said that Labrador was a land of rock and not fit for habitation. He wasn’t far wrong!! The trip took us about 4 and a half hours.
Cartwright was very different from the coastal towns we have become accustomed to. Up until this point, there has not been much poverty. But this was not the case in Cartwright. It is a lumber town with some fishing as opposed to being a fishing town. We did see Flag Staff Hill where the 2 cannons that defended the town from the “privateers” in 1775 are located. The wind on the top of low hill was reminiscent of Patagonia! We also saw a helicopter fuelling at the gas station where we filled up the car. Apparently it was on a mission for the North Warning System. I hope I got that right – there was an acronym but I can’t remember it! Apparently one of the sites are about 30 km outside Cartwright. Then we met another couple from Hamilton who are as crazy as we are in making this trek back through Labrador to Quebec.
The ferry was about half an hour late in leaving Cartwright. It is quite big but not nearly full. The cold, dark, green ocean is smooth and since the journey is 12 hours we got a cabin. The coast line is very hilly and there are lots of stoney islands. As of yet we haven’t seen any whales, seals, or any sign of life. Its actually been quite balmy today at 16 up to 22 C.
I have managed to catch up with my blog, but will have to upload pictures at another time. Its too late – and I am going to try and sleep in our tiny little bunks.
Cartwright was very different from the coastal towns we have become accustomed to. Up until this point, there has not been much poverty. But this was not the case in Cartwright. It is a lumber town with some fishing as opposed to being a fishing town. We did see Flag Staff Hill where the 2 cannons that defended the town from the “privateers” in 1775 are located. The wind on the top of low hill was reminiscent of Patagonia! We also saw a helicopter fuelling at the gas station where we filled up the car. Apparently it was on a mission for the North Warning System. I hope I got that right – there was an acronym but I can’t remember it! Apparently one of the sites are about 30 km outside Cartwright. Then we met another couple from Hamilton who are as crazy as we are in making this trek back through Labrador to Quebec.
The ferry was about half an hour late in leaving Cartwright. It is quite big but not nearly full. The cold, dark, green ocean is smooth and since the journey is 12 hours we got a cabin. The coast line is very hilly and there are lots of stoney islands. As of yet we haven’t seen any whales, seals, or any sign of life. Its actually been quite balmy today at 16 up to 22 C.
I have managed to catch up with my blog, but will have to upload pictures at another time. Its too late – and I am going to try and sleep in our tiny little bunks.
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