Grand Falls-Windsor to Terra Nova National Park, New Foundland – 7 August 2023
From Grand Falls-Windsor we continued our journey east to Terra Nova National Park.
The campsite we were in was situated on the beautiful Newman Sound and had many trails leading from it. An interesting fact about this park is that it is Newfoundland’s first, and only Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Dark Sky Preserve. It received the designation in 2018. A Dark Sky Preserve is an area that takes measures to eliminate light pollution. To get the designation the park had to retrofit, eliminate and re position lights to create a dark sky. It makes the park great for star gazing and safer for bats.
The first day we were there we went on the Coastal trail which started through forest and then went down to a spit. The views across the sound were beautiful and the forest had some interesting plants. I had seen signs about the Ghost Pipe plant along the Corduroy trails in Grand Falls-Windsor, but hadnt seen any, here in the forest I found a small growth.
The following day was a busy work day for both Derek and Myself so I eventually only got out to walk in the late afternoon. I took Jax with me and we did the Campground trail which wound its way around the outskirts of the campground leading down to a flat swampy area.
I enjoyed the walks but was very conscious that several Coyote’s had been seen in the area. There were warnings about them every where and we were also given a poster when we got in. So I didn’t want to venture too far by myself with Jax as Im always acutely aware that I have with me a very tasty dinner (Jax) for some hungry cat and Im not sure Im a match for one of those kitty cats.
I was sorry to leave the campground and could have done with at least an extra day to do one of the other well known hikes in the area. As it turned out when we arrived at our next destination we were told we had arrived a day too early ??? With all the rescheduling of campsites we got totally mixed up.
