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The Trans-Labrador

Crossing The Big Land like Vikings

By K-load Pictures

After riding the T-Rail in Newfoundland and The Trans-Taïga aside James Bay, north was calling again. So Lady C and i choose to cross the Big Land, Labrador, on another moto-camping trip. We did the big loop counter clock wise, starting from the western part of Newfoundland visiting the UNESCO site of L’Anse-aux-Meadows.

Crossing Labrador, stopping at the National Heritage town of Red Bay and the not-to-miss Historic Trust of Battle Harbour.

GS TROPHY CANADA QUALIFIER 2018

It started at the Fundy Adventure Rally, a four-day event designed for the adventure motorcyclist to explore the remote Fundy Region of Southern New Brunswick, Canada. In addition to the normal activities, this year the Fundy Adventure Rally was hosting the great BMW event, the GS Trophy Canada Qualifier.

I was one of 9 finalists for the GS Trophy 2018 Canadian team for Mongolia (hell yeah!).

Three riders were chosen and unfortunately, i wasn´t part of the best 3. But its been again a great experience and i will try to make the cut next time. Have fun guys!

From North Sydney to Port-Aux-Basques by night.

A nice wake-up call near the Newfoundland coast.

GROS MORNE

One of our awaited stop once we left Fundy was the Gros Morne park. It is a never-ending series of amazing landscapes of enigmatic beauty. We did camping, wander around and did a hike on a rainy day. We want to come back for a week of hiking, to some backpack camping and climb the oh-my-god-not-to-miss Western Brook Pond.

Gros Morne’s is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

L’anse-aux-meadows

L'Anse aux Meadows is an archaeological site on the tip of the island of Newfoundland. Discovered in 1960, it is the only Viking site in North America.

Dating to around the year 1000, it is widely accepted as evidence of the first contact with Natives and the establishment of the Vinland colony by Leif Erikson. We’ve met costumed Viking interpreters and did a guided tour of the internationally renowned archaeological find.

It was named a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1978.

Onboarding the Ferry to Blanc-Sablon, Labrador from St. Barbe, Newfoundland.

Water. Asphalt. gravel. WATER. ASPHALT. GRAVEL.

Its not Trains, planes and automobile. But its kinda the story since we left home.

Battle harbour

Battle Harbour is located on Battle Island, facing a sheltered narrow strait separating that island from Great Caribou Island. It is though that Battle Harbour is derived from the Portuguese word batal (meaning boat).

Beautiful historic buildings make it one of the most restorative, off-the-grid retreats in North America.

Remote. Calm. Simply beautiful.

we are ready to conquer the Trans-Labrador

The real off-road challenge is now knocking at the door. We are happy (and a tad anxious) to start the day and to Happy Valley from Mary’s Harbour.

FUEL IN PLASTIC

The Trans-Labrador Highway runs through dense wilderness for most of its length with no roadside services between communities. For a secure transit between Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Port Hope Simpson (nearly 400km without any gas station), Lady C filled a windshield washer plastic bottle with extra fuel.

HONEY, I THINK ITS GOING TO BE A DUSTY DAY.

YEP. AFFIRMATIVE.

Alone & Forgotten

The first half of the Trans-Taïga surface was very uneven and hazardous. Lady C hit a bump on the way and didn’t realize that one of her panniers went off. We were lucky i was watching her in my mirror and saw what happened! Needless to say we double-checked every panniers after putting the rebel back.

Heading back south

The way down starts at Happy Valley-Goose Bay heading to Manic 5 Dam. The road is much easier with some boring parts (you have to meditate a bit to enjoy the same scenery all day long). Getting back on gravel roads, it was dusty with a lot of traffic compared to the previous part. Metal factories and big trucks are our daily mix.

Daniel-Johnson dam

Constructed between 1959 and 1970 for the purpose of hydrolectricity, the dam is the highest multiple-arch-and-buttress dam in the world. Bridging the magnificent Manicouagan valley, its unique design is a true monument to Québec engineering.

Then, we came back by Saguenay, hit the gravel roads to La Tuque and finally to Montréal. We had cold & rainy days but always a beauty sharing those moments with Lady C.