The literal translation of Gros Morne did not come close to describing Gros Morne today. The sun was out on one of the nicest days we have seen with temperatures in the high 70's and the mountains and waters of the park just shining.
We decided to explore the south end of the park across the long fiord formed by the two arms of Bonne Bay that makes a 4 mile trip an hour of driving! The most prominent feature of the southern reaches of the park are the Tablelands. These flat topped plateaus were formed of the mantle rock that surrounds the earth's molten core. They were thrust upward by the pressure of the movement of the African and American continental plates. This area provided the final physical proof of the tectonic theory of continental drift. (Wow, what an addition to our vocabulary!)
The rock is laden with harsh chemicals that after 10,000,000 years still prevent plant growth and create their moonscape look.
Over the ridge from the Tablelands is the small community of Trout River, a small fishing community that we explored before having a picnic lunch on their boardwalk looking out across the small bay. We had a conversation with a elderly resident who was quick to tell Jeff how the "govmnt" didn't let them hunt or fish anything today but that he had caught everything except a whale in his lifetime.We drove back over the Tablelands area to Woody Point where we could look across the head of Bonne Bay to Norris Point that is about 3 miles from the campground. It was here that we dropped off passengers last night on the cruise whom we met in the local coffee stand this afternoon when we stopped for a break.
From here it was a long 40 mile drive back around the fiord to Rocky Harbour but the consolation was that the drive is through some of the most scenic coastal mountains in the world!
Tomorrow we head north to explore the rest of the park.