My past week was filed with laughter, lighthouses and sunsets and no shortage of craggy coves and tiny bays. After my cousin’s wedding in Toronto, I joined my brother and his girlfriend for a wedding in St. John’s, Newfoundland, followed by a 2000km road trip across the province’s tawny and green hills to Gros Morne National Park.
turns staring out the window, we watched the rocky landscape change as we left the city and the pine trees get taller and taller until we hit the Gros Morne, with its towering fjords and barren tablelands. This was my first visit to Newfoundland and I was blown away: it’s a gorgeous, humbling place. I’ll be posting on the climb up Gros Morne peak (this year’s version of my birthday mountain) and some of the province’s history, but until then here are a few photos from the trip.
Gros Morne National Park is a UNESCO heritage site, shaped by continents that clashed and ground together, its glaciers making their slow descent from summit toward the sea. Located at the West of Newfoundland, the park was recognized because it illustrates a fairly rare occurrence of continental drift, where the earth’s mantle and crust from the ocean that usually remains covered are actually exposed.
Because of the movement of its glaciers, those fjords I spoke of earlier were formed in a spectacular fashion, towering over beaches and forest alike. We were all fascinated with the plate tectonics that created this crazy park, especially in such a small geographic radius. With a geology expert in the visitor centre and great museum that shows the continental clash, it was exactly what we wanted to learn — and then we had a chance to climb the mountain itself.
As birthday mountains go, it was a great one! Nice to finally get a climb in with my family, and thoroughly appreciated the generosity of the Button family for lending their car without a blink of an eye for us to take it across the entirety of the province and back in just a few short days.
Photos from Newfoundland:
More to come from Newfoundland, but these scenes stand out as some of the more memorable from the past week. A big thanks to the Buttons for hosting me and my brother and Sarah for being willing and enthusiastic partners for an epic road trip.
-Jodi
Great view for a birthday! I’m always fascinated by the drying or curing of foods like fish, things that many of us grow up thinking, “My god you can’t eat that! It’s seafood! Lying in the sun!!! It’ll kill ya!”
Thanks Kevin! It was a great trip and I’m looking forward to delving into the history and culture a bit more in future posts.
That is an outstanding shot of the lighthouse. I love that sky!
Thanks Erik! It was hard to choose which of the sky photos I wanted to use – I’ll be posting a few more in the next piece on Newfoundland. Hope you’re well & thanks for reading!
Great shots! I have traveled to Halifax several times, but never made it across the pond (ocean) to Newfoundland. The image at Fjords in Gros Morne National Park alone has me planning a trip to the region next summer. Looking forward to seeing more images.
Thanks! I hadn’t realized just how beautiful the province was either. I’d also love to get up to Labrador and the new National Park in the far north – looks just stunning. If you do head that way, camping is a great option: we stayed at Berry Hill campsite, just next to Gros Morne and a quick drive to Rocky Habour (for eats / groceries). It was a lovely, secluded campground in the woods and for tents only – highly recommended.
you just saved me some leg work. Thanks!
how extremely beautiful it is there. GORGEOUS! thank you for sharing this with us – i just love lighthouses.
Jodi, these are incredible photos. The eye for photography! And of course the scenery helps but not as much as the eye. Lovely to see you here and hope we cross paths somewhere along the way!!!
So pretty!!! I’ll have to add this to my list of places to go.
This looks GORGEOUS! I’d love to visit sometime.
That 1st photo is absolutely breathtaking!
Great pics Jodi! Newfoundland is a place I’ve always wanted to visit but haven’t been yet. Hope all is great out on the road.
Greg
Thanks Greg! It’s been a lovely summer of time with friends and family, and seeing new places in my own backyard – like this one! Hope your radio show is going well.
The view from your picnic spot in Gros Morne National Park is unreal. I honestly don’t know anything about this part of Canada. Thanks for sharing it!
Thanks Cheri. I didn’t know much about it either. I’m excited to share the history shortly – most people don’t realize the province only joined Canada in the 1940s and that it was under attack during WWII. Lots of interesting history and background there. Hope SF is treating you well!
Beautiful photos! Cape Spear, Gros Morne and St. John’s are on my Canadian bucket list. Thanks for inspiring me to get there!
Thanks lady! We’re so close and yet it took me many years to get here too. Hope people consider it as they tour Canada – while the West is gorgeous (BC, Alberta, etc) the Maritimes have landscapes and geology and history that merit a closer look any day. Safe travels to you as well.
Between you and Candice Walsh, I think I am fully convinced that I need to visit Newfoundland! Gorgeous shots, Jodi.
Thanks Amanda! Candice and I actually managed to get together for a drink right before I left, which was terrific! It’s a lovely place.
Man I have got to get to Newfoundland soon. Great photos!
Stunning photos Jodi! Glad to hear you are doing well and enjoying that side of the world! What are bakeapples? Did you eat it?
Thanks Mark! Bakeapples grow in arctic tundra or boreal forest and produce a raspberry-looking berry like you see here, but it’s far more tart. Honestly, it tastes a lot like those asian ‘plums’, the ones that they ferment and sell everywhere in Burma and N. Thailand, but in berry form. It’s officially the rubus chamaemorus plant, but has a bunch of different names. Bakeapple in the Maritimes, cloudberry elsewhere in Canada, knotberry in the UK. They use it to make wines and liqueurs as well, and lots of jam. Fun plant!
Newfoundland has such a special place in my heart. Near Twillingate was the home to Grandfather. I visited him many times and each time was very special to me. Your pictures bring back so many memories. Thank you.
I am finding many parallels between in NL and Ireland. The people, the scenery, and the weather. I love it.
Did you get screeched in?
Hi Pete! We were going to head up to Twilingate to see if there were icebergs, but we had no time. My grandfather actually served in the air force in Gander for quite some time, but this was the first visit to the province and I am looking forward to getting back. Having never been to Ireland, I can only take your word for it but it certainly makes me want to go – like you, the scenery and weather and proud history make it a very compelling place. No, didn’t get screeched in :)
I love the photo of the lighthouse! I’ve always wanted to visit Newfoundland, and photos like these remind me why.
Always wanted to get over that way and explore Newfoundland. And the smell of cod is wafting into my nostrils now…
That’s only a good thing if it’s the cooked version ;)
Jodi, NFL is probably the one area of Canada that I would like to explore the most. It’s one of the few provinces I’ve never visited. The photos are stunning – especially the one with the Lighthouse at Cape Spear.
Thanks Samuel. I’m sure you’d enjoy it and there’s so much to see and do that you’d have no problem filling your time.
Amazing photos. Love the one of the boat and the angle that you took it from.
That was one of my favourites too. The light was so flat and so it didn’t come out as colourful as I had hoped but the reflection of the boats on the calm water made for a really lovely introduction to Greenspond.
Love photos from Newfoundland…one place I’ve been trying to get up to for years…I know I will soon.
Our first visit to your site. Really enjoyed our visit and will certainly be back for some more beautiful travel photography.
Come on over to our site and say hello!
Thank you and welcome!
Great Photos Jodi! I am so glad that you are having a wonderful time at home, it is so nice to reconnect with family and friends. The Fjords look gorgeous, I totally have to get there.
gorgeous photos!!! i have to admit newfoundland was never on my radar – thanks for introducing it in such stunning visuals!
As a Newfie, you just made my homesick. And hungry for cod. Thanks for that….:)
Great pictures…captured more than you think with it.As a french canadian it never cross my mind to go there…now “cela mijote”..
Merci,
Nathalie
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This is amazing! I was just browsing around your blog, getting inspired for future exotic travels, when I came across this post about my home! I’m glad you enjoyed your time here! And it has inspired me to explore my island this summer :)
That’s great Katie! Happy you enjoyed the post. I had a terrific time in Newfoundland and would love to get back – so much to explore. Safe travels to you!