What trip to Newfoundland and Labrador could possibly omit Labrador? Tracey and I decided to make a very quick visit to the Red Bay Basque Whaling Station, a UNESCO heritage site. We spent the night in Red Bay at the top centre of the map to the right.

A sleek little ferry took us from St. Barbe on the Rock to Blanc Sablon in Québec but it didn’t take much driving to the north to re-enter Newfoundland and Labrador. I asked Madam Google when and why Labrador became part of the name of the province. The answer took me all the way back to 1763 and the signing of the Treaty of Paris. But the short answer is the name changed in December 2001.

Red Bay is a rough and ready kind of community. I stayed in the Loft at the Whaler’s Station Inn. The path to my door gave extra meaning to N&L’s nickname “The Rock.”

But the early morning view from my window was exceptional. Fortunately I had enough cash on me to pay my bill because the network was down when we tried a credit card.

Tracey and I visited the Red Bay Whaling Station Interpretative Centre which documents the arrival of French and Spanish Basque fishers to the Strait of Belle Isle in seach of whales. The Centre really highlighted the challenges of being a 16th, 17th and 18th century whaler. We learned, much to Tracey’s consternation, that decaying whale carcasses used to pitch up on Tracey Beach. And sad to say, we did not have time to hike on Tracey Hill.

On the way out of Red Bay we stopped to photograph a church and a street sign. I’m not sure the street sign is helpful!

The drive back to the ferry reminded us that winter is not quite over in Labrador.

At the ferry dock we witnessed “young” (possibly 80-year old) love. Who could resist taking such a lovely photo?

On to St. Anthony and icebergs! See you there!