Nfld & Labrador - Battle Harbour

 We finally reached Labrador!  Battle Harbour, our first stop, is a restored 19th century fishing village on a small island off the coast of Labrador.  It is a designated National Historic Site and preserves the history of Labrador fishery.  There were wharves and fish-processing spaces, a community with church, pub, RCMP station, etc..  For many years, it was considered the unofficial capital of Labrador.  

We were let loose on the island for the afternoon.  Battle Harbour not only gave us an idea of what life was like in a fishing village, but it also boasts a plane crash site.  Getting to the site required a steep hike and I passed on it, but I have posted here a photo from my fellow traveller, Jean.  I did a leisurely walk in the village and the surrounding fields, exploring the spectacular coastal rockscapes along the waterfront, visited an old cemetery and the mercantile complex with its fishing rooms.  It was an interesting afternoon.

Battle Harbour

This is a "flake" - a drying rack for cod fish and if you can read what is on the signage below, it gives you information about the whole process of fish drying.  Hope you can read it as it is very interesting.

Vintage scales

Life size photo of the men from 100 years ago

Musicians at the coffee shop

St. James Anglican

Looking out at the Labrador sea from the heath

Looking up behind the heath

One of the passengers practicing rock climbing?

 Behind this mountain is the site of the plane crash of 1958

The remnants of the plane.  Photo credit:  Jean Liao

The view from near the crash site.  Photo credit - Jean Liao

The entrance to the 19th century cemetery and the old head stones

Wild flowers on the island - clockwise from the left:  cottongrass, butterwort, marsh cinquefoil (rare), golden root.

The incredible rockscape on the far side of the village

As we leave Battle Harbour, we saw more icebergs,,, 

a Northern Gannet in flight,

a watercolour-like landscape,

and an incredible sunset, thanks to the fires in Quebec