Leaving St. John's in a pea-soup fog, we picked up the Trans Canada Highway and headed north, toward Gander. Along the way, the fog waxed and waned and a steady rain developed, true to our preconceived image of Newfoundland. Scenic bays, coastal ranges and inland bogs adorned the landscape as the highway undulated northward, crossing numerous clear-water streams.
Nearing Gander, the terrain began to flatten and Route 1 angled westward toward Grand Falls -Windsor. Shallow lakes, meandering rivers and the ever-present bogs created a mosaic of wetlands across the rolling tiaga, ideal habitat for the numerous moose that inhabit this island. The western ranges began to appear east of Deer Lake, increasing in elevation toward the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Fortunately, the skies began to clear as we entered this mountainous terrain and our drive into Gros Morne National Park was accompanied by a beautiful sunset.
Over the next two days, we plan to explore the trails of this spectacular refuge, which is draped across the tallest peaks in Newfoundland. More on the Park in tomorrow's blog.
