Inuksuk to guide us across Canada.

PPiles of stones roughly resembling the human form are found all over Canada, originanating in the far north by the First Nation people to help in finding your way. They have become something of a national simbol on roads and in parks.     Having left Quebec City we are now traveling across Canada by train. Some photos of places and 'things' we have seen on our travels.          

Dows Lake in Ottawa, one of our favorite places.

The colours not so so good this year in Ottawa.

Looking down on the entrance to the First Nation exhibits at the Canadian Museum of History. This exhibit is from the West Coast First Nations.

Wonderful picture of a métis and his wives in the History Museum.

Last view of Ottawa from the train heading for Toronto.

Taken from the train a Lake somewhere in Northern Ontario.

Another scene from the train around the Ontario-Manitobe border.

This wonderful scene is a diorama of a First Nation Buffalo hunt in The Manatoba Museum in Winnipeg.   I think this is one of the best museums in Canada, our second visit, a must if you are in Winnipeg.

Another diorama - northern hunting scene.

They love these diorama's in Canada - an Elk on the prairie.

A Red River cart - Canada's contribution to transport history.

We continue our journey across Canada tomorrow heading west across the Prairies.

Around Quebec City.

Today we have hired a car for a drive round the countryside surrounding Quebec City.

First stop is at Le Chutes de Montmorency.  Quite impressive sight.

The cable car which takes you to the top where you can access the bridge over the falls.

A little further on from the falls - looking over the St. Lawrence to the Isle d'Orléans, looking at the fall colours.

Moulin de la Pre, sadly falling into disrepair, on the road to Ste. Anne de Beaupre.

Stopped here for lunch, it doesn't look much but I can't remember ever having a better Pizza, cooked from scratch before our eyes too lots of Québécois with Ruth keeping up with him which made a big impression.

On our way back to Quebec City we passed this local store, cracking show of pumpkins.

The main railway station. We will be leaving from here tomorrow morning on the next leg to Ottawa.

Newfoundland to Quebec City via Halifax

Our last night in Newfoundland was spent in Deer Lake and in the following morning we flew to Halifax Nova Scotia to begin the second part of our latest Canadian adventure, A trip across Canada to Vancouver by train.

Arrival at the railway station in Halifax our train is waiting under the watchful eye of Queen Mary.

Looking up the stairs to the observation deck

Our final sight of Halifax and Queen May  as we leave the station.

Château Frontenac towering over the city.

Part of the old fortifications of he City.

Lots of statues scattered round the city, this one represents the prow of a sailing vessel.

A street scene in the old town.

We went round the town in a Calèche, the horse having drink from a fountain, especially for the horses pulling all the Calèches around town.

This tree has grown round the cannonball, these were put at the corner of houses to protect them from fast turning Calèches, can you imagine the damage caused to the wheels if the driver cut the corner and hit one.

 

The wealth of Canada or part of it. There are approx 90 x 4 deep that's lot of silos full of grain, all arriving by train from the prairies and then being shipped all over the world.

L'Anse aux Meadows to Port aux Choix

L'Anse un Meadows is the sight of the first European settlement in North America around 500 years before Columbus.  It didn't last long around 10 years, the Vikings leaving because of deteriorating relations with the native people and together with the harsh winters made things very difficult to carry on with their mission which was acting as a base camp for further journeys south, in search of food (wild grapes and nuts from what is now New Brunswick) and of course wood for the building and repair of their boats. Wood being in short supply back at their main base in Greenland

The hill overlooking the Viking settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows

Boardwalk leading from the visitor centre to the actual settlement 

A reconstruction of a Viking Longhouse with some workshops

The original buildings or what is left of them, indentations on the ground where the walls once stud.

The two photos here of the view from our B&B bedroom.  Above as the sun was setting and below the sun rise the next morning.

Port au Chois, big storm going on in The Gulf of St. Lawrence, really wild evening.

On our way to the lighthouse at Point Riche we came across a small herd of Caribou.

The wind was so strong you could hardly stand, didn't seem to bother them.

Point Riche Lighthouse in the fading light.

The next morning we went back to the lighthouse and there were evan more Caribou, happily munching away.   A few photos and then off south to Lobster Cove.

Arches and Trombolites and the road to the north.

 Leaving the Southwestern part of the island and head north up the western coast we pass the Arches Provincial Park.  A row of stone archives formed by wind and wave action over millions of years. Quite impressive.

Further on we come across the Thrombolites wierd stones or fossils are reputed to be the oldest living creatures, known to man. Very strange looking things.

, these 

I wonder if a billion years ago these things were bubbling heaving masses, like invading things from outer space!

Our next port of call was Foresters Point in Flower Cove.

These photos taken just before we left the following  morning for L'Anse aux Meadows.

Super drive along side The Gulf of St. Lawrence.