Day 80: In the Land of Seafarers (Gambo – Goobies)

July 28, 2014

Traveling across Newfoundland reminds me a lot of Northern Ontario. Rocks, trees, and hills extend as far the eye can see, which isn’t always very far unless you just climbed the latest hill. The landscape is rugged and sparsely populated. However, this is not Northern Ontario and my impression is skewed by traveling on land among seafarers.

Gambo, NL is a good example of a coastal town that you miss if you stay on the highway
Gambo, NL is a good example of a coastal town that you miss if you stay on the highway

The TransCanada highway cuts cleanly across this huge rock if at times taking a circuitous route to avoid the worst of the hills and mountains. But all along the highway signs point to intriguing peninsulas, bays, and habours. If the map is any indication, the action is on these side trips. It’s on the rugged coasts where the towns, history, and Newfoundland reside. But at this point these places will have to remain mysteries and treasures for future exploration as I’m already running on reserves trying to get to St John’s.

Along the highway you see a lot of trees and these tundra-like landscapes
Along the highway you see a lot of trees and these tundra-like landscapes

Today the headwinds and hills combined forces for a fiendish assault. It’s as if this land is doing everything it can to keep me from completing my quest. I’ve been heading in a southernly direction into the wind instead of a neat line for the east. I struggled with a few large hills late yesterday and my day started with a large national park, which should have alerted me to a challenge ahead. Unless it’s in the prairies, a large national or provincial park is a sure indication of hilly, rugged terrain. Most parks were established long after settler arrived so what remained for incorporation of the lands taken from the First Nation people was the less arable land. People consider these inhospitable places “beautiful.” At this point in my trip, I grit my teeth, grimace, and mutter impolite things before I struggle on.

Road Report: 139km
I’ve said all I need to about the road.

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