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Old 06-26-2011, 03:01 PM   #1
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Newfoundland

Made it up to Lanse aux Meadows. The only proven Norse site in North America. The remains/ruins aren't much to see, so they have reproduced what they believe the buildings looked like - from other known Viking sites.



Why the Vikings came, and maybe what they did. Current thought says this was a waystation. They stopped here for supplies/repairs/drop off cargo and went further south to gather goods for sale/trade in Iceland. It appears they lived here for less than 10 years.


Not much to see, just some depressions in the ground.


One of the replica buildings. 3' thick sod walls and timber roofs.


Inside one of the sod houses


Clayton Coburn, our tour guide. His picture is on the brochure for the site. He was born here and grew up playing on the 'Indian Mounds'. Was around when the archeologists were digging here in the 60's. Interesting guy with wonderful stories.


An iceberg in the bay, visible from the site.


While walking around the grounds, we saw these ducks in the bay. 12 adults and 20 ducklings. Several of the ducklings are underwater when this photo was snapped. Notice how clear and brilliant the water is.

After leaving the site we went down a backroad and found:


Since we had no idea, we had to check it out.

Turns out the river normally flows quite a bit underground, and salmon can be found in these underground pools. During springtime or heavy rains, the underground portions are filled to capacity and excess water must flow on the surface.


The overflow river.


Hiking out to the underground pools we find the forest floor heavy with large rocks, and everything covered with moss.


The river goes underground


The river surfaces

We got some good sun today. After an overnight low of 38, it got up to 67 for a brief period. Now it is 53 and rainy as I sit in my van and talk to the world though the wonder of the internet.

Tomorrow we are off to see Arches Provincial Park.

Mike

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Old 07-04-2011, 02:30 PM   #2
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Re: Newfouidland

I'm enjoying your pictures. My folks used to go there all the time.

Z
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Old 07-04-2011, 10:45 PM   #3
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Re: Newfouidland

Great pictures and interesting info about the Vikings. I could not remember the dates and so looked it up. All these settlements were around the year 1000! About 500 years before Columbus 'discovered' America.
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Old 07-05-2011, 05:50 AM   #4
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Re: Newfouidland

Quote:
Originally Posted by witoke
Great pictures and interesting info about the Vikings. I could not remember the dates and so looked it up. All these settlements were around the year 1000! About 500 years before Columbus 'discovered' America.
There's also a theory out there that the Chinese discovered America (west coast) before Columbus, in 1421.


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Old 07-08-2011, 06:15 PM   #5
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Re: Newfouidland

Limited internet speed and/or access has hamperedy ability to post more pictures.

So, some impresswions:

- Newfies are the freindliest people on earth.
- Roads are neither good nor bad, simply fair to poor.
- The fiords in Gros Morne Park are spectacular!, the weather has been less than spectacular. Mostly cold and damp mixed with fog. Today it got up to 68 and I'm not sure how to deal with the heat.
- The ocean waters are unbelievably clear - clearer than the tap waters.
- The cod is wonderful.
- 500,000 people live here, 300,000 in St. Johns, 30,000 in Labrador and the rest scattered.
- Many (if not most of the time) times the road you are on is the only sign of human actvity. Other than the coast, very little habitation exists.
- Almost no soil means no farming, no livestock. Fisheries was it. Now tourism and some lumber/paper.
- If you want a good look at Newfoundland, get a copy of a movie shot here "Shipping News".

Later,

Mike
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Old 07-09-2011, 10:16 PM   #6
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Re: Newfouidland

68 degrees. Sounds like my kind of place. Keep the pics coming Mike and glad you guys are having a good time. One of these days maybe I can afford to go back there.
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Old 07-14-2011, 03:20 PM   #7
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Re: Newfouidland

5 days sitting in a dealership lot waiting for repairs with no internet!

$1500 later we have a new #1 injector and are back on the road, but broker and behind schedule.

You may have to wait til I get home (Aug 1-5) for more updates.

Sorry

Really sorry about the $1500.

Really sorrier about the 5 days.

Mike
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Old 07-14-2011, 05:20 PM   #8
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Re: Newfouidland

Sorry to hear about your troubles Mike. Maybe we can pass around the hat among the Forum members and take up a collection. I hate it when a vehicle breaks down on vacation!
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Old 07-18-2011, 04:39 PM   #9
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Re: Newfouidland

Ok Mac, I'll donate, but the money shoould go to DaveB.

Mike
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Old 07-20-2011, 09:20 PM   #10
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Re: Newfouidland

Well, I guess I know how you feel Mike. My bad spell seems to be over but I still feel for anyone who has trouble on the road. I hope the dealer you found was as good as the one I found in Bakersfield. Those guys were great and it was actually nice to find there are some dealerships out there that do good work. In all the gooffy problems I've had lately, it's still an aventure. Hard to believe someone can have a good time camping in a dealership for a night or two but sometimes it's better than being at home. Hope your travels excell. Keep us posted.
Dave
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