A warning light flashed on the bus dashboard. We stopped at an Irving Station (gas /variety store / liquor store) for a break and Shaun, our driver, had the problem checked out. Almost anything is available at some of the larger gas stations. It was a treat to move around and flex stiff joints and muscles inside the store. Some of our group grabbed coffee and snacks. Others used the facilities.
We’d met Margaret and her husband, Jack, when we first arrived at the airport. She came towards me with a brown paper bag wrapped around a bottle. “Oh. I see,” I said.
“Water,” she said. I thought she was fooling around.
Later, she called out and caught up with us while we were boarding the bus.
“It’s not water,” she said. “I didn’t know. He said it was water and I believed him.
“Ha. I knew that!” She wasn’t kidding.
I laughed. I know a wine bottle when I see one. She blushed.
We did a lot of driving today: long stretches of empty highway, lots of roadside trees and more drizzle. I felt we were going in circles.
Gros Morne National Park is a world heritage site. The land has risen two meters (rebounding of the land) where the Vikings (now called Norsemen) landed. Temperature 1,000 years ago was five degrees warmer. The scenery is spell-binding. We didn’t get off the bus here. The following video gives you an overview of this wonder.
Credit: The Tablelands, Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism
More about Moose:
- 1904 Four moose released from New Brunswick (not native to Newfoundland)
- This is the heaviest concentration of moose in the world
- Moose love balsam, birch and fir
- Haven for 5,000 moose in Gros Morne National Park
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dc42JAHNPw (check this out)
- Full grown moose ( about 12-1,400 pounds) can eat 50 – 60 pounds of young trees per day
- One area fenced off at Gros Morne to protect the trees / outside of fence, trees naked
- 500 moose allowed to be removed / hunted: a controlled hunt
- Woodland caribou are native to this area
- Native predators are insects brought in by international shipping
- John’s and 100 km. zone = 23 accidents in August 2015 even before month ended
On the lighter side:
In Saskatoon, a boxcar came loose and a guy brought home a wheel barrel full of salt cod, but he didn’t know what to do with it. It was hard, you see. So, he shingled a shed roof. It leaked a little, but lasted about two years.
Cod Quick Facts:
- Cod is king
- Cod Fishery starting to renew after more than 20 years
- 3-week recreational fishing allowed now (fish coming back)
- Sent salt cod to the Prairies in the 1930s
- Used to ship salt cod with liquor run (Someone released the wrong car. only whiskey; no cod)
Newfoundland Quick Facts:
- NFL lumber can be shipped to the US
- Most of the lumber cut here, therefore tariffs less than in British Columbia
- Considered private
- Logging mill keeps nine days supply
- Burn the sawdust to provide electricity
- Dairy farming big business
- Used to be sheep but coyotes can decimate them
- Put a donkey or a llama with the sheep and coyotes don’t come near
The Lighter Side:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribou_(train)
A conductor told a pregnant woman on the Newfie Bullet she shouldn’t have got on due to her condition. She told him when she got on the train she wasn’t pregnant.
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Tentatively on November 6th – Continuing along the Viking Trail
© 2015 Tess @ How the Cookie Crumbles. All Rights Reserved.
For more related posts, click on Newfoundland / Labrador tab at the top of the page
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I have not registered for NaNo, but will be occupied for the next while. Will post as I am able.
October 30, 2015 at 7:42 pm
Enjoyed the video,, nice touch…
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October 30, 2015 at 7:45 pm
What beautiful images of Gros Morne National Park.
But I have to know… Did Margaret share that wine? 😀
I’ve done NaNoWriMo for three straight years. I felt like I would always do it. But not this year. It’s a very intense thing, especially for someone like me who feels compelled to follow the rules.
Wishing you a wonder-filled weekend, Tess. Mega hugs
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October 30, 2015 at 7:57 pm
The more you post about this, the more I want to see!
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October 30, 2015 at 8:10 pm
The video is stunning Tess. Oh yes another spot one must visit. Thank you for lighting a fire under me for this east coast destination.
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October 30, 2015 at 10:04 pm
Darn – I nearly went to Labrador a few years back, but didn’t. But I got there on your posting thanks.
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October 30, 2015 at 10:17 pm
So did you end up seeing a moose?
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October 31, 2015 at 3:22 am
A quick retort from the woman on the Newfie Express.
xxx Huge Hugs Tess xxx
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October 31, 2015 at 9:16 am
Another wonderful entry, I loved watching the video. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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October 31, 2015 at 11:04 am
I could live there. Lots of open spaces; few people. Yummy.
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October 31, 2015 at 1:19 pm
Wow. I want to go there.
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October 31, 2015 at 2:22 pm
Thais was great. Thanks Tess.
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October 31, 2015 at 6:01 pm
Interesting terrain. Loved the funny stories.
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October 31, 2015 at 7:43 pm
You haven’t lost the fab knack of writing travelogues–loved the facts you keep throwing in. . .So, did you ever see any moose? 😉
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October 31, 2015 at 8:29 pm
I want to hike there, Tess, it looks beautiful. Thanks for sharing your travels!
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October 31, 2015 at 10:03 pm
Thanks for introducing me to other parts of our fascinating country Tess. The video was beautiful, and the scenery, WOW! xo 🙂
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November 1, 2015 at 12:30 am
Reblogged this on Ms M's Bookshelf and commented:
I’ve been following “Let’s Cut the Crap” for quite some time now and enjoy her refreshing attitude toward life. She recently took a tour of Newfoundland, a place I want to visit sooner rather than later. This post tells a bit about that trip but the part I like best is near the end where she includes Quick Facts about Newfoundland and moose and cod with a bit about Saskatchewan, Canada, thrown in for good measure. (If you don’t know where Saskatchewan is, you’ll have to look it up on a map; I promise it won’t hurt.) I hope you all enjoy my Sunday Reblog!
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November 1, 2015 at 6:13 am
That video was stunning! Makes me wish my body weren’t so damaged. Sooo, you would know a bottle of wine, even in a brown paper bag? Shameful 😉
Love your facts and humor Tess, love virtual travel with you.
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November 1, 2015 at 8:48 am
Hahahahahahha! Love the funnies. Cod shingles. 😉
That place is gorgeous. Why didn’t they stop there?
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November 1, 2015 at 6:05 pm
Nice cod roof. As a northwestern, all those gray skies look comforting. Interesting facts about moose!
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November 2, 2015 at 12:38 am
Beautiful scenery to escape to. I haven’t eaten cod for years but used to quite often. Thanks for the video too, I’m laughing about the who dun-nit pregnancy! 😊
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November 2, 2015 at 6:43 am
Gosh I miss open space. I love city life, but your photos remind how lovely blue skies and landscape can be.
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November 2, 2015 at 1:15 pm
terrific joke at the end of a lovely post
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November 2, 2015 at 8:59 pm
You drove by Gros Morne but they didn’t stop for a visit to this amazing park?
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November 2, 2015 at 9:01 pm
Not this time, we did not because of the drizzle. Later. 🙂
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November 2, 2015 at 9:07 pm
Oh good … I was afraid you had gone all that way and not given the chance to go to this amazing park.
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November 6, 2015 at 4:53 am
That’s so funny about the salt cod roof, I’m trying so hard to imagine that… What a beautiful place Tess 🙂 ❤
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November 7, 2015 at 9:14 am
Fascinating Tess!
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November 7, 2015 at 3:05 pm
Thanks for sharing! And love the facts. It’s on my list already…:)
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November 9, 2015 at 7:32 am
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
To give you an idea of the delights of Tess Karlinski’s writing here is her latest on her trip to Newfoundland.. Moose, salt cod and roofing.. read on!
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November 16, 2015 at 8:51 am
As always, you’re a marvel. Thank you.
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November 9, 2015 at 3:41 pm
Hey Tess — enjoyed seeing you at Sally’s Christmas Grotto. Great big hug! ❤
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November 9, 2015 at 5:10 pm
Hi Teagan:
Just arrived at my emails. Thanks for the heads up. Been buried in paper and extra curricular activities. Nice to hear from you.
Right now can’t keep up with WP. I have come snooping once or twice this month but haven’t had much time to visit. 💞
On Mon, Nov 9, 2015 at 3:41 PM, How the Cookie Crumbles wrote:
>
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November 14, 2015 at 7:58 pm
Mmmm – cod. So difficult to get in the US, with the ban on cod set for the northeast fisherman. Cod was a staple in my parents’ house when I was growing up because it was cheap. One of my favorite dishes is finnan haddie. Mom made it with smoked cod bu it’s commonly made with smoked haddock.
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November 15, 2015 at 5:08 pm
Hi Noel.
We had cod everyday and it never tasted the same twice, except delicious. Trouble is we arrived too late for lobster. ❤ I love most fish. Sounds like you do too.
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November 15, 2015 at 6:27 pm
Well, after lobster, I love halibut, cod, sole and salmon. Practically any fish makes me a happy eater!
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November 25, 2015 at 12:44 pm
Happy Thanksgiving .
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