16 June 2013 Gros Morne: Southeast Brook Falls and Woody Point

Today, Sunday, was a site-seeing day in the Gros Morne (translation: "big rounded mountain standing apart from other hills") National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We traveled south from our campground about 10 miles to the Southeast Brook Falls trail-head. We all (including Carlos) took the easy 700-meter hike to the falls. It was a great little hike in the sunshine to the falls--reminded us of our hikes in the Olympic Mountains of Washington, except that there is more lush vegetation on the forest floor here, because of the less dense canopy. Saw some moose droppings on the trail; alas, we have seen no moose.

Southeast Brook Falls Trail-head
(All National Park written materials are in English and French)

 On the Southeast Brook Falls Trail

Southeast Brook Falls

After our hike we continued south about 10 more miles on Highway 430 and then west about 20 miles on Highway 431 to Woody Point, driving along the south arm of Bonne Bay. We went through the small fishing villages of Glenburnie, Birchy Head, and Shoal Brook--tidy little towns with clean yards, lots of lobster traps and firewood stacks. The weather turned to mist, some fog, and rain.

Fishing boats in Woody Point

We spent some time in the village of Woody Point, having lunch at the Granite Cafe on the waterfront. The place filled up for lunch on Sunday, and a quick squall blew the rain horizontally for a bit. Granite Cafe was named in honor of the granite brought by early Basque fisherman from their homeland as ballast for their fishing boats, then leaving the granite behind as it was replaced with fish. Woody Point still supports a fishing industry; in addition, the community now hosts the annual "Writers at Woody Point" festival and other creative endeavors, including music and theater performances. There are several heritage buildings on the waterfront of the town, as well as some shops and restaurants. 

The Gros Morne National Park Discovery Center at Woody Point is a learning resource. One wing of the main floor encourages children to learn about the park and the rest of it is geared to outlining the geographic, geologic, biologic, and hydrologic settings and issues related to management of the Gros Morne National Park. A huge hooked tapestry of the park hangs on the wall behind the reception desk. It was done by six ladies who hand-hooked (as in rug hooking) it over three months in 1978. The loops are very tiny--only one of the ladies who made this piece is still alive.

Tonight we attended the "Neddy Noris Night" at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival in the village of Cow Head. It was "in the round"--a platform in the middle of a large room, with four performers who sang traditional songs of Newfoundland and Labrador, accompanied by a tin whistle, an old accordion, a guitar, a mandolin and hand-held drum. A pleasant time. Other days have different comedic and dramatic performances throughout the season.

Tomorrow more exploring and a few plans for the next leg of our journey.