All those who made it up on deck early were rewarded with glassy seas and a gorgeous sunrise. The horizon filled with pastel shades of blues and greens, and as the sun got closer to rising, these colors gave way to warmer hues of yellow, orange, and red. The clouds in the sky reflected all these subtle changes. It was a joy to be awake.
The seas were so calm that at long last, the kayaks were launched in the protected waters of Indian Harbour. Kayaking is always a great opportunity to get out to explore the coastline and thoroughly enjoy the peace and the quiet.
All those who chose not to kayak headed out on the Zodiacs for a lengthy ride. They passed impressive dykes, and sills were seen protruding into the base rocks or layering large portions of the island. Along the way, we spotted birds, and the puffins brought much delight to us all. We also spotted several gray seals in a little bay as they kept an eye on us from a safe distance.
After lunch, we eagerly headed ashore to get a good leg stretch and explore these lovely islands a little further. A feast welcomed us once we walked over the flat and polished rocks at the landing. Everywhere we walked, we found cloudberries, blueberries, and partridge berries. We feasted on these delicious fruits.
We walked over very spongy soil that was richly covered by an array of plants. The long hikers made it all the way up to one of the high points of the island. Others chose to take a coastal walk to one of the abandoned buildings.
Throughout the day, we came across several abandoned buildings that were part of the medical mission set up by the remarkable Wilfred Grenfell in the late 1800s. He was moved to bring some medical relief to meet the needs of the communities he visited along the Labrador and Newfoundland Coast. In the years that followed, medical and educational relief were brought to the coastal people. The mission was finally abandoned during the Canadian government’s relocation program during the late 50s and early 60s.
