Port au Choix

If we didn’t have other places to see, we would stay here for a while longer. It’s quiet, the people are great, and the scenery is wonderful. Not to mention the fresh homemade partridgeberry pie is a definite draw. But we do have to move on. We are heading south to a town called Port au Choix. Travelling along any road at any time of day you have to watch for moose. Point in case, it was 11 am and on the side of the road 100 yard in front was a large bull moose getting ready to cross the road. I stopped in time, he went into the bush but that wasn’t the scary part. I looked in my rear view mirror and a transport truck was barreling down on me. When I slowed for the moose the truck did not. I pulled over and he passed me at 100km/h. Wow, dodged another one.

We arrived at Ocean Side RV Park just as our x tail gunner and his wife from Adventure Tours was leaving. We stopped and chatted for a short period then continued on into the park. Our friends Chris and Curt from the same caravan had not left yet either. We chatted for a few minutes with them and then they had to leave. Alone again.

Our rig and the view

After lunch we drove out to Port au Choix National Historic Visitor Center to view the findings of four ancient cultures. Once there we watched a short film explaining what researchers have found in the area.

National Historic Site

Gathering Circle

For over 6000 years Port au Choix has been a crossroads for both native North American and European cultures. The common connection is the areas rich marine resources which included fish and seal. Like today, many people in nearby communities of Port au Choix depend on the sea for their livelihood.

Fishing Village

Wire sculpture tribute to seal hunters

In the 1920’s archaeologists uncovered four ancient cultures in this area. The Maritime Archaic Indians were the first aboriginal inhabitants of Labrador and Newfoundland arriving 9000 years ago. The Groswater Paleoeskimo were the first arctic-adapted people to inhabit Newfoundland arriving from the Canadian Arctic and Greenland 2800 to 1900 years ago.  The Dorset Paleoeskimo were the second arctic-adapted people living on the island 2100 to 1900 years ago. Lastly, ancestors of the Beothuk people lived on the island 2000 years to the historic period.

Leaving the Visitors Center we ventured to the Port Riche Lighthouse. This lighthouse is owned by the Canadian Coast Guard and is still active. However, it is closed to the public so access to the inside is not permitted. 

Port Riche Lighthouse

As I stood looking over the limestone barren landscape I could see in the distance 3 caribou walking over the hill. It was way too far away to take a picture so I took a picture of a flower instead. Works for me.

Blue Flag Iris

As we were leaving the park, off to the left we saw a bull moose just sauntering through the field like he had no cares in the world. He saw me, I saw him, I got his picture, and he did not care.

Bull Moose just walking across the field