This past June we drove to Nova Scotia, and from there, took the ferry to Newfoundland.

C_25_0188 The MV Highlanders departs North Sydney, Nova Scotia.

P_25_0011 We had a beautiful sunny crossing.

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C_25_0250 C_25_0193 This is from the ferry as it entered Port aux Basques harbour.

C_25_0197 The drive from Port aux Basques, along the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH in Newfoundland), to Cornerbrook was along the west side of the Table Mountains, with the Gulf of St. Lawrence to our west.

We then spent our first night in Cornerbrook.

The next day we headed north, through Gros Morne National Park.

C_25_0208 Rocky Harbour is a town within the park. Note the unique flag.

C_25_0206 C_25_0217 This photo was at Arches Provincial Park, on the drive on the Northern Peninsula.

C_25_0221 This grove of dead trees was at Arches.

C_25_0234 The coastal area was very flat, open to the Gulf winds, and thus quite barren.

C_25_0229Thrombolites This photo of thrombolites was taken at Flowers Cove. It was a nasty evening, with strong cold blustery winds.

It was not a fun time trying to photograph this site.

C_25_0240 The next morning was much more pleasant as the winds had subsided. So we stopped here on our way northward.

Thrombolites are the oldest life forms on this planet, dating back 570 million years, producing oxygen that paved the way for all subsequent life.

Thrombolites are not rocks, but today have a rock-like appearance.

They are found only here and in Australia, though these ones are much larger.

C_25_0231 Along the road sides in the Northern Peninsula we found many piles of firewood. The locals are allowed to cut on public lands, so they pile their wood along the highway and pick it up as they need it. And no worries, no one will steal it! Only in Newfoundland.

C_25_0245 This vacation home is in Shoal Cove East, on the shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

In the next blog, we continue or trip to the north tip.