So we thought we'd like to see what the newly paved highway was like, and headed north. We were surprised that there was still so much snow. The 'mountains' there are just a few hundred metres above sea level. And it was July.
It wasn't the best weather, but we wanted to go to Labrador anyways. They have a 'new' ferry, which went into service this past January. It's eight years old, and was purchased from Norway. it's been renamed the 'QAJAK' (Inuit for kayak). It's an interesting design with two 'fronts', so can sail either way. But it's a shallow draft and can't take strong winds, and sails much slower that the old Apollo. It now takes 2 1/2 hours to make the crossing, instead of the old 1 1/2 hours. The ferry actually sails to Blanc Sablon in Quebec, just south of the border with Labrador. The road in Quebec just goes 60 kilometres south along the coast, then ends. The road up into Labrador used to just be paved up to Red Bay, but since we were there last three years ago, the gravel road north from there has been paved. The plan is to connect this remote part of the coast with inland Canada by building paved roads to connect with those in Quebec. So we thought we'd like to see what the newly paved highway was like, and headed north. We were surprised that there was still so much snow. The 'mountains' there are just a few hundred metres above sea level. And it was July. We only went the 80 kilometres up to Mary's Harbour... There we spotted an iceberg out in the bay.... We decided not to go any further, and made the return trip to Red Bay. It's a long drive through remote , but scenic wilderness. We only passed a dozen vehicles - ten cars and two trucks. Back in Red Bay, the kids posed with one of the Inukshuks near the Information Centre.... ..with Cookie holding the Labrador flag we'd purchased in the ferry gift shop....
Back in St. Anthony, I spotted a tall-masted boat in the harbour, and wondered if it would work with the dolls, as a ship in their adventures... But the background was far too 'modern'. So I took one photo of Bianca with a really small depth of field to blur it all out. It didn't work as I'd hoped, but it was still a nice photo of Bianca...
Usually when we go to Newfoundland towards the end of June, there's lots of icebergs up around St. Anthony, but this time there were none. They apparently came early, in May, and had mostly melted before we got there. However, we did ask in town if there were any icebergs in some of the other villages, and were told there was one in St. Carols. So we went to look. We hiked up the trail over the cliffs with Cookie and Ringo... "So, where's this iceberg they said was supposed to be here??" "There's two little chunks of ice floating over there. That must have been it..." "Well, that's rather disappointing! I was hoping for something a little bigger!" But the next morning, exploring a few more villages, we did spot some out near Noddy Bay... A local commented that it was all that was left of it. It had been bigger than the mountain behind it when it first got stuck there. Wish we'd seen that!! Anyways, Jan took a hike around the point in order to get a closer look... Then we came across another small berg in the next village...
A few more photos of Rex and Bianca....the first one by Jan..... .... then after they got off the ice..... Looking for something...... "I don't see them..." ...and a few 'behind the scenes shots.... Me, packing up the dolls. The bag in the foreground holds the boxes for the two horses. I made soft pillows to help hold them securely - front and back - in their boxes.
After two days of miserable weather, we were at the top of the Western peninsula near St. Anthony. We had hoped there would be icebergs, but there were none. It was another miserable day, but with all the rain the past few days, all the falls were rushing with water... We went exploring anyways, going down all the little roads, and came to St. Carols. Just past the dock in their harbour, there was a trailhead, and there were still huge snow drifts along with a small waterfall. I immediately though 'doll photo opportunity'!! After all, how many times would I get the chance to shoot snow scenes in July?? There were snow drifts everywhere up in the north there, and I had been checking them out, but this one was actually accessible.... .....plus there was a waterfall.... So I put on their warmest clothes, and out they came.... I climbed over the snow to get some different angles.... It looked like they were on the edge of a glacier....
By this point in our trip, Jan was actively taking photos with his 'point and shoot', taking some behind the scene photos, as well as some of the dolls. I thought it would be interesting to include some, since everyone has a totally different perspective when taking photos - and he never gets down on the ground....and doesn't much do close-ups... ...and sometimes he caught me.... ..or the dolls from the back. It wasn't very windy that morning, but I didn't want to risk anyone falling over onto the rocks, so the horses were supported with some doll support wires, and Bianca's skirt was caught up on her's.... Then heading back to the RV, tired after three separate photo sessions that morning... The weather just got worse the rest of the day, as well as the day afterwards - lots of rain, and very cold, with highs of just 6C, so no doll photography - or even scenic photos, for that matter. Everyone just stayed nice and warm inside the cupboards those days.
Now we come to one of my favourite photo sessions - the third one at Cape Bonavista that foggy Canada Day morning, back on July first....
July 1st found us at Cape Bonavista. Seems every time we go to Newfoundland, we happen to be at Cape Bonavista on Canada Day. Which seems rather appropriate, with their red and white lighthouse to pose in front of. But this morning it was very foggy and drizzling.... ...not the nicest day for a Canada Day celebration... However, it stopped raining long enough for a group photo in front of the lighthouse.... "This rock is wet!" ...and then it started to drizzle again....
It was a cold, foggy morning, as Bianca headed out onto the clifftops in search of berries.... The juniper bushes were full of berries.... So her basket was soon full..
On our way back to Cape Bonavista, we passed through Elliston, where there is a huge puffin colony just offshore. Even though it was a bright sunny day, there was a heavy fog along the coast. We made our way down the trail across the clifftops..... ..and even though there weren't many puffins, I did manage to capture one..... At Cape Bonavista there is another puffin colony just offshore behind the lighthouse, and even though last week there weren't any, this time there were hundreds.... Paige wanted to try take a photo of one...
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AuthorMartha Boers is an award-winning Canadian doll maker and costumer specializing in fantasy and historical-style costumes. Archives
May 2024
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