L’Anse aux Meadows

January 22, 2016 by Let's CUT the Crap! 68 Comments

We entered and registered at the motel through the main lobby. While investigating the door at the other end of our room, we discovered it was another exit to the outside. There were no step(s) down there either. Who worries about mothers-in-law here?

Early on Sunday morning around 8:39 a.m., like Saturday, we saw no traffic on the road. Houses were vinyl sided against weather and salt. Wood needs painting often and it’s too expensive. Vinyl saves work and money. At first only one or two boring colors were on the market, but now a good vinyl paint is available in many colors.

It’s strange to watch history movies, music videos, and listen to music on a bus on video screens like on an airplane. This is a new experience and I had no sense of where I am. The day before and today so far, we’re stuck on the bus covering miles of empty highway (few cars) in rainy, foggy weather, the landmarks drab. At least it’s only drizzle and not a downpour.

We’re lucky the bus is new, the seats deluxe with comfortable footrests. On this kind of day, I could kill for a coffee though I’ve had three at breakfast. The mist hangs low and is dismal. Fog shrouds the scenery around us, painting the landscape in a veil of heavy, listless gray.

Our fellow travelers were foot tapping and singing along to earlier music. By 9:53 a.m., several were already snoozing. The music slowed to something soothing for a rainy day at home. It should have been peppy again to keep us awake. Even my sister closed her eyes and snored. I never sleep in a moving vehicle, as someone has to keep an eye on whomever is driving.

I can’t get over the towns we’ve passed through. We were almost to Cape Onion, the farthest northern point of Newfoundland. Plenty of parked cars, water puddles and houses, but no people. Hallelujah, a truck passed in the opposite direction. Everyone on the bus sat straighter. I hope we see a moose and truly shake it up today.

Sue at traveltalesoflife.com would have had her bicycle in her carry-on and gone off to find another adventure, I think. Would you Sue?

At 10:06 A.M., we passed the house of Annie Proulx, known as a Saltbox house. (Finally a bright spot!)  Annie is best- known author of The Shipping News and Broke Back Mountain, both of which made fantastic movies. She lives in Wyoming and Newfoundland, and is the author of many engrossing books. I know I took a picture of her house, but it’s disappeared.

Norsemen left Greenland and came across Labrador first at L’Anse aux Meadows (now a World Heritage Site). Leif Erikson landed at wonderful sandy beaches with trees as far as the eye could see. The population here has been at most 100. (Today about 20, the number unchanged in many years.)

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In the museum, a replicas of a Norseman and woman:

George Dekker, a local in 1960, wondered about some mounds. Archeologists found Norsemen not Indian paraphernalia, i.e.: cloak pin and iron boat nails. The site has risen at least two meters. After the dig, the building were revuried for future generations.

Insulation (sod, I think):

Replicas of buried house sites:

Inside actors play the part of the life of Norseman life. They were cooking with seal oil, a most unpleasant smell, unlike what we today know as oil.

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Sealing is one of the occupations at which Newfoundlanders could make a living, but it was dangerous. Our guide told us not to criticize the killing of seals because this work supported the Newfoundland people. They do not kill babies.

 On the bright(er) side:

Two churches stood across the road from each other, one Catholic and the other Anglican. The priest and minister were outside talking. A couple of young men came along in a car.

“Turn back, young fellas, before it’s too late.”

“Go home you crazy apes.”

They took off and a loud yell followed.

“Maybe we should have warned them the bridge is out.”

* * *

Winter in Canada – Should You Get Out of Bed?

Next on January 29^th – Grenville Centre and St. Anthony’s.

© 2015 Tess @ How the Cookie Crumbles.

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