Sunday September 4 – Western Brook Pond

Walkway to Western Brook Pond

Our boat - the MV Westbrook I

It was a gorgeous day today, sunny and high 50’s-great fall weather!  We had been told that every visitor to Newfoundland should visit Gros Morne Provincial Park, and the two things everyone should do are (1) climb Gros Morne Mountain (challenging 16km trail-we didn’t!) and (2) take the boat tour through Western Brook Pond.  The latter is incredible, and the 2-hour boat ride through this vast fresh water lake carved by the earth’s movements and glaciers over 500 million years is nothing short of spectacular.  At one point it was a fjord; it dammed up and became a fresh water “pond” several hundred feet deep, with such pure water it is hard to detect electrolytes in it.  Words can’t really describe it, so lots of pictures are offered here.  The one challenging thing about the boat tour is getting to and from it – a 3.2km walk each way on gravel trails and boardwalks over a wide variety of terrain.  

Becky with our walking companion

We met a very friendly French-Canadian doctor on our walk out to the "Pond", who was visiting with her two teenage daughters.  They were real fitness buffs, and hiking to the top Gros Morne Mountain was on their agenda for the trip  

Sailing into the Fjord

Rock formation known as "The Tin Man"

Typical of the scenery - note the contrail!

One of many waterfalls

 Most of the folks on the boat were chilled by the wind.  Note the New Englander in the Boston Red Sox cap - she wasn't!

Waterfall 1500' above the water

End of the Pond - you can disembark here with a guide and walk out - would only take a week!

The "French" boat approaches as we head back

Our final view prior to disembarking

Rocky Harbour lighthouse

After we finished, we drove back to Rocky Harbour and briefly visited the Lobster Cove Head lighthouse.  An exhausting, but very enjoyable day!