Red Bay, Labrador

Last night after writing the blog, we went for a walk in the fog. No wind and the little vampire black flies were all over us. Julie woke up with welts across the back of her neck under her hair. Kyle wanted in the camper, this is not like him... After he spread out on the couch, little black flies emerged from his fur and we swatted flies for a half an hour, many were filled with blood. Apparently he didn't like the little blood suckers either.

This morning we woke up to clearer weather and by the time we decided to hit the road, the cloud ceiling had lifted enough that we could see the ocean. As we drove north, the coast was devoid of trees and very speckled with rock outcroppings and little ponds. Passed over a few rivers with water red in colour.

Pinware River 

Forteau

After an hour of navigating patched potholes road that they want to call a highway, where the speed limit is 80kph and if you were to do the speed limit, it would beat the crap out of your vehicle, we arrived at the end of the "pavement" and Red Bay. 

Have to say that the Red Bay National Park exhibit was worth the torture we were subjected to. This exhibit about Basque people from France/Spain area 400 years ago, came over and set up camp here to whale for oil. Was amazing!  Totally enjoyed the history lesson. Had no idea how or why this was done or by who. Added to this is the fact that a Basque merchant ship sank in the harbour and was excavated, then returned to its resting place for preservation. Great Day!

Whalers used this Chalupa to harpoon the whales. This was found with the sank merchant ship.

Right Whale left fin bones

Saddle Island where the merchant ship sank

Red Bay

Inner part of Red Bay

Red Bay from the Road.

While at the exhibit, talked to other people that said they had a problem booking passage back to Newfoundland, so en-route we tried to phone for a reservation and no one answered, so decided to go to the ferry terminal. At the terminal, the ticket agent said that we could board tonight but the next 2 days were booked... Came back in an hour to wait for the boat. Needless to say, we didn't get to the Quebec coastal villages.