Saturday, June 16, 2018, was our first full day in Newfoundland! All we can say is "Wow!" We are camped at the Grand Codroy RV/Tent Camping Park on the banks of the Grand Codroy River. This valley is know for its fertile soil, magnificent wetlands and rugged coastal terrain. To get a better understanding of the area, the campground owner suggested a drive out to Cape Anguille - the westernmost point in Newfoundland. As we left our campground, the valley opened before us.
The headwaters of the Grand Codroy River stretch into the North Branch and South Branch River basins. These tributaries drain the mountainous highlands and plateau of the Long Range Barrens before joining to form the Grand Codroy River. From this point the Grand Codroy flows along a wide, fertile floodplain to its outlet, bordered along the way by heavily forested hills and plateau swamp and marshland. It makes for a striking scene.
On our way to the Cape Anguille Lighthouse, we stopped to admire the historic Holy
Trinity Anglican Church. Since arriving in the Maritimes, we noticed that no blog entry was complete unless it had an impressive church and a lighthouse!
The original church was destroyed in a windstorm in January 1912. With the community donating free labor and materials the first service in the new church was held on August 16, 1914, one year after construction began. The church was declared a Registered Heritage Structure on May 15, 1993. Traditionally the church has been used as a landmark by the local fishermen to locate their fishing grounds. It also has the best view of the Town of Codroy.
The village was part of a settlement process that began with English settlers in 1822, but between 1820s to 1840s saw migration of Acadians and Irish Catholics. The village name is believed to be a combination of the word 'cod' (for fish found around Codroy) and French word 'Roi' or king. Unfortunately, cod is no longer king. These old fishing boats are a testament to a bygone era.
Just past Codroy is the turnoff to the Cape Anguille Lighthouse. The headland of Cape Anguille is the westernmost point of the island of Newfoundland. We stood mesmerized as the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence pounded against the shore. The water was so clear, that we watched a seal swim in and out of the breakers. Unfortunately, he was too quick for a photo.
Cape Anguille is in the southwest region of Newfoundland, Canada. It marks the southwestern edge of the Anguille Mountains. The mountains, fence and road all lead to the point.
The rocks in the Codroy Valley are over 400 million years old. The flat tops of the Long Range Mountains were worn down from the ancient Appalachian Mountain chain by erosion to the hard granite core. The forest on the side of mountain is rooted in ancient sand dunes. The rock exposed here is the youngest rock, composed of soft shale and gypsum.
Dave celebrates as he reached the westernmost point of Newfoundland!
We took dozens of photos of the Cape Anguille Lighthouse. This is our absolute favorite. The clouds in Newfoundland change every moment!
After all that rock-hopping, we built up a powerful hunger. How could we resist this cute little trailer take-away! Kathy enjoyed a chicken club wrap, while Dave dug into some extra crispy fries. While we waited for our grub, we had a lovely chat with a couple from Ontario who grew up on the island. They were back visiting family and friends. They gave us all sort of tips for side trips along our way around the island.
One of the tips they gave us was to stop at the Codroy Fish Plant. The plant provided us with frozen lobster tails and lobster pieces, and let us pick two fresh lobsters from their lobster pond. We were so overwhelmed by the size of the pond, we forgot to take photos. Just think of a warehouse lined end to end with crates and crates of lobsters. The fresh seawater constantly circulates to the keep the lobsters healthy.
After a quick stop at the RV to secure our purchases, we drove over to the Grand Codroy Estuary Wetlands Centre. On the way, we stopped at the bridge over the Grand Codroy. We are really loving the cloud formations in Newfoundland!
The Estuary is one of Newfoundland's most productive and valuable wetlands and a hotspot for birds. Designated in 1987, it is the only site in the province recognized by the Ramsar International Convention on Wetlands as a "wetland of international significance."
The Estuary supports thousands of migrating waterfowl every spring and fall. We saw a pair of loons. We waiting patiently to hear them call to each other, but the water was so clean and clear, they had no problem finding each other.
As we hiked further up the wetlands trail, we found ourselves in a farm meadow overlooking the farm across the river with the mountains in the background. If you wanted to have a vacation spot in Newfoundland, this would be the place!
When we returned to the RV, we checked up on Abbott and Costello. They are ready for dinner!
We have one more day here, so stay tuned!
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