Gulls Marsh

Much as I hate to admit it, sometimes ya gotta do what everyone else is doing. Maybe it's the Aquarian in me that wants to go left if everyone else is going right. But, for today, I followed the stream of humans to the Western Brook tour. One of the iconic "things to do" in Gros Morne National Park. Here's how it goes: You park at the trail head, walk an easy, flat two miles into the head of Western Brook where you hop on a little boat for a tour through the gorge. My one twist was to arrive to the trail head really early so I'd have the walk to myself. It was a beautiful morning walk with howling winds. The extra treat was to see the caribou herd off in the distance. About three quarters of the way there was a chance to add an extra mile loop that I took. I didn't see another soul until getting to the boat where I was surprised to see a whole operation. There was a substantial building and two boats. The boats had been brought in, in sections, on sleds over the tundra on a winter day years back. Day-to-day they drive ATV's in with supplies and then trash removal. Onto the boat I hopped and was treated to some spectacular sights and factoids. Lots of people. But still fun!
The western part of Newfoundland is a geologists' dream! There is ancient, ancient rock formations everywhere. Imagine the gorge in photo four being filled to the brim with ice. And then how much water there must have been at the melting point. On the return trip back to the dock the narration was replaced with traditional Celtic music that seems to be everywhere! People sang along and wiggled in their seats. Sometimes you just gotta do what everyone else is doing!
After the boat tour I went to a place called Green Point which is a geologic section, right on the beach where you can see the layers of rock which were pushed up into a lateral formation. You can count the layers back forever and ever. Fossils, like the sea urchin one in the photo makes me realize what a dot in time one human life is!Read more