We went out to breakfast hoping that the restaurant might have a generator. No such luck. So we kept on up the road to L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site. We arrived a bit before it opened since we didn't get breakfast. It was raining and several people were waiting by the door to the information center. A Parc Canada guide came to the door and explained that the center was closed since they had no power. Please come back after the power returned. It was unfortunate but their emergency power was also not working.
We drove a bit more and were at the very northern inch of Newfoundland. There was a small restaurant there. We stopped and a lady came out to tell us that she had no power and the restaurant was closed. She suggested we go back 15-20 km to the small store and buy some bread, peanut butter and jelly and make sandwiches.
We returned to the cabins where we are staying. Allan and I decided to remain at our cabin. The others decided to take their chances driving to St. Anthony 30 minutes to the south in hopes of getting some Tim Horton coffee.
The power remained out all morning here at the cabin. They returned at about noon and just as they got out of the van the power returned. Lynn and I had hopes of doing laundry. However, when we checked with the clerk she informed us that with the power out all morning she was way behind and we probably wouldn't be able to use the laundry facilities today.
While in St. Anthony they were able to get coffee and something to eat in between the power being on and off.
Once again we headed to L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, which is the only known Viking site in North America and the earliest evidence of Europeans in the western hemisphere. Upon arrival the power was on but the cash registers were not up and running yet, so admission was free. As you might imagine that was a nice side effect of losing power.
We toured the visitors center and watched the introductory 15 minute film. Then we were given a guided walk to the reenactment site about .5 miles away across a somewhat barren landscape.
Cow Parsnip - Heracleum Maximum
This is the "flower" of the bakeapple. It unfurls and presents the bakeapple/cloudberry. It is used in jams and jelly. It has seeds larger than raspberries.
This is the very nice park tour guide. He grew up and lives just down the road from this archeological site. As a boy he played on the mounds that were thought to be remnants of the Indians. When he was about 12 the area was excavated by Swedish archeologists and the evidence of Norse were found that dated back 1,000 years.
Years later when Parc Canada took over the site they covered the excavation sites to continue to preserve whatever is left and at some time in the future they may use the latest technology of the time and open up the site again.
Blue Flag Iris - Iris Versicolor
Blue Flag iris like this one grow wild all around and about this area of Newfoundland.
Beyond where the archeologists worked, the park created a living history site. They recreated structures to replicate what the evidence indicated was there from the time of the Norse presence.
I think the Norseman may have had mead in his cup. And this might not have been his first cup of the day. He was pretty friendly.
Lynn and I were greeted by this fella who wanted us to donate our silver earrings to him and he wanted us to be his slaves. An interesting offer but we both managed to exit the site when we were ready. I think Jeff kept a close eye on this guy during our entire visit...
This woman is knitting a hat using a special needle and her thumbs.
They are thought to have been at the site for about 10 years. The native peoples are suspected of letting them know that they were not welcome.
They probably wove to make patches for their sails. The thread was made of wool.
The structures had no windows but this is the view looking out the door to the bay.
The walls of the structures were built from two rows of peat with gravel in between the the two walls of peat.
Beach Pea - Lathyrus Japonicus
No wonder I can't get sweet peas to grow in Florida. They grow wide in this barren land.
After dinner some of us rode back to St. Anthony and out to Fishing Point to look for whales and icebergs. None were spotted.
Harebell - Campanula Rotundifolia
These harebells were spied growing out of a crevice high above the ocean.
It was a beautiful evening. On the way back it was 9:30ish and about dusk. In two different places along the side of the road Brian spotted moose. We were all glad that they stayed there for us to see and that they were not on the road.
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