1. Week Newfoundland

On Monday, May 16, 2022, we took the ferry from North Sydney, Canada to Newfoundland. The crossing took 6 hours and didn't feel that long thanks to a pirate playroom for the children. There were even free showers available, which we gladly used.

I spent hours looking at the water with a spark of hope to see a whale. The chances are quite good on this route, but luck was not on my side this time.
Once we arrived at the harbor, everything happened quickly. We barely had time to buckle up before we were already leaving the ferry.
We were greeted by a heavy rainstorm on the island. Nevertheless, we drove resolutely to the first national park. We realized that we had arrived in nature because there were no more paved roads and the cell phone reception was gone.
In Cape Ray, we set up camp on a site with electricity. Since the season hasn't started yet, we are allowed to stay here for free.

May 17, 2022, Tuesday
We go on a discovery tour and find the most beautiful views around the campsite. First, we walked to a small waterfall, which was well filled thanks to the heavy rain. We continued on a "fitness course" through forests, over rocks, and through beautiful landscapes with wide views. In the end, we reached the beach. We have never experienced such a varied hiking trail. The most challenging part was braving the moist Atlantic storm.

After lunch, we continue north, but as soon as we reach Highway 1, we are shaken by the wind. For our own safety, we had to stop driving. The Wreckhouse winds reach speeds of over 200 km/h. It's a bit calmer away from the highway, so we tried our hand at fishing in the afternoon. We didn't catch anything, but it was a lot of fun.

May 18, 2022, Wednesday
Under blue skies and sunshine, we drive to Barachois Pond Prov. Park. It is beautifully situated on a freshwater lake with a beach and surrounded by mountains and forests. The temperatures invite the children to play on the beach and in the water. When we wanted to join them, we realized that the water was ice-cold. After four steps in the water, our feet were numb. We decided to postpone swimming.

We then explored the neighboring playground. Suddenly, clouds moved in, and it started to storm and rain. We spent the time taking a nap.
When the rain stopped, we hiked to Erin Mountain. The path was narrow, winding through dense trees and bushes, and parallel to a small stream. We were able to observe birds and squirrels and even discovered traces of moose.
Once we reached the top, the view was amazing. We were overlooking Barachois Pond, surrounded by forest.
On the way down, we had the children as additional luggage on our backs. And as luck would have it, dark clouds moved in, and it started to rain again. But with the right clothing, it didn't bother us.

May 19, 2022, Thursday
The rain lasted all night, so we continue to Gros Morne National Park. The chances here are great to get a photo of a moose. And indeed, during our drive through the park, we saw two moose and a caribou. The landscape is amazing, simply beautiful and diverse, just like the weather.

We spend our afternoon at Broom Point, trying our luck with fishing again. Unfortunately, we were at the wrong bay, as the locals told us. But the view of the raging sea and the snow-capped mountains in the background was overwhelming.

May 20, 2022, Friday
Under a bright blue sky, we go on a hike to Western Brook Pond. This is one of the largest fjords formed by the melting of a glacier. Boat trips on the lake are even offered, but they can only be paid for in cash, and there is no ATM in sight. So we decided to simply hike to the inner part of the fjord. Unfortunately, that didn't work out either because after 4 kilometers, we encountered a raging river. You can still see the remains of the bridges that used to be here, but for us, it was the end of the line.

Even though we didn't make it to the inner part of the fjord, it was a beautiful day of hiking with rabbits in the bushes, frogs at the riverside, and moose tracks on the trail.

On the weekend, we head to Twillingate. Along the way, we stop for the beautiful views at various waterfalls, lakes, and rivers.

When we arrive at our destination, we can hardly believe our eyes. Behind huge rock formations, we discovered an even larger iceberg, drifting from Labrador.

The fjords are close together here, very high, and just as rocky as they are inhabited by pine trees. It's a great backdrop that we enjoy during the drive. In addition, the moose are becoming more active. Today alone, we spotted them three times by the roadside.

Around the lighthouse in Twillingate at Crow Head, there are various hiking trails that we explore. We can't get enough of walking along the coast and looking out over the sea.

We won't go on a whale watching tour as the whales only pass by here in the summer months.