Itinerary: Stage 4: Montreal to Newfoundland
Newfoundland? Actually, since 2001, it is technically the province of "Newfoundland and Labrador." Labrador, like the dog.....and I guess, Newfoundland...like the dog also. Must be not much to do up there so they invented dog breeds. But more on that cold faraway place in a minute.
We will leave Montreal and drive a couple of hours down (yep it's 'up' on the map, but it is downstream) the St. Lawrence River to Quebec, scene of the great 18th century battle where the French lost to the British and it became the keystone of the Brits efforts to drive the French from North America. The generals of both forces were killed in the battle, Brits won.....and as history would have it, Quebec is the only French speaking province. Wait a minute...but the Brits won. Yep, once again it seems that the more things change the more they stay the same. The Brits won, both generals died, and Quebec only speaks French 250 years later. Go figure.
There we have reservations at The Chateau Frontenac ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_Frontenac), the famed turreted castle like hotel on the cliffs overlooking the River. This was a MUST on Linda's list of accommodations for this trip.
Some have questioned why we are planning so far in advance, and have asked "do you have every day planned?" The answer is "No." But we did need to estimate driving times, stops and number of travel days between key spots or we would not be able to stay in places like this...they would be full. Plus..planning is 1/2 of the fun! And it is Free!
We then leave Quebec and drive several hours down the west (and less traveled) bank of the river, crossing by ferry at the most downstream place possible, where the ferry takes 75 minutes to cross the river..it is that wide.
Then we are off to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia (for any of you Scots out there, this is "New Scotland"), and then by ferry to Newfoundland.
Most people never think of Newfoundland. But if you ever do, you think of dogs, fish, or for the aviators out there, Gander. Bet you can't guess how Newfoundland got its name? :) John Cabot, in 1497, just 5 years after Columbus, 'discovered' Newfoundland and named it eloquently since it was new found land. Europeans, on the verge of the Renaissance, were a pretty linear folk.
I say 'discovered' because the natives, the Beothucks, who were driven to extinction by European settlers (mostly killed by disease), did not know they had lost it. Fuerthermore, it is now widely accepted that Cabot was not the original European to sail to Newfoundland. Archeologists agree that a settlement site discovered in the 1960's in Newfoundland is definitely that of the 11th century Vikings. They called in Vinland, "because the grapes grow wild and they make the most delicious wine." Hmmm, see if we can get some estate-bottled cab when we are there! Well...you can! Not estate-bottled, and not grape wine, but Newfoundland is known for its wild berry wines. Check out Auk Island Wines at http://www.aukislandwinery.com/
Now about Gander. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gander,_Newfoundland_and_Labrador
Located on the northeastern shore of Gander Lake, it is the site of Gander International Airport. Formerly an important fueling point for transatlantic aircraft, especially during WWII, it today remains the preferred stopping point for aircraft that need to land because of on-board medical or security emergencies. The Gander airport played an important role in world aviation in the immediate hours following the 9/11 attacks when all of North America's airspace was closed and 39 transatlantic flights bound for the United States were ordered to land at the airport. Over 6,600 passengers and crew unexpectedly found themselves forced to stay in the Gander area for up to three days until airspace was reopened and flights resumed. Residents of Gander and surrounding communities volunteered to house, feed, and entertain the travellers in what became known as Operation Yellow Ribbon.
Next up: Back to Nova Scotia by ferry, then to Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and back to the USA entering Maine via US 1.
No comments:
Post a Comment