Labrador Memories - 6 - Back to Goose Bay

I was so impressed at how well all our stuff traveled in a cargo net

slung underneath a helicopter traveling just above the tree tops..
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Gulf – 1 ~ Goat Head Lake Part 4 – Moving Day
Thursday June 29th - Sun/Cloud - Goat Head Lake to Goose Bay

The day dawned crisp and cool but bright and sunny with no wind, a good moving day; the helicopter arrived at 6:30 am. So exciting as this is going to be my first ever ride in one. It took two trips to move just us and all our gear – there can be no passengers in the helicopter when the sling is being used. All four crews and their “stuff” are going to be ferried by helicopter to a common gathering spot by the bridge over the Wilson River. Here there was a large enough clearing for the chopper and all our gear. Also near the “highway” there.

Dwight our expediter had a wonderful tailgate breakfast ready for us to enjoy.

Imagine early on a crisp cool morning: a real Newfie/Labradorian breakfast: Newfie Steak – a thick slab of bologna, and baked beans, eggs, toast to go with delicious hot coffee. Tasted really great on an empty stomach, even when you’re not a fan of fried bologna.

An air of excitement as everyone slowly arrived and were finally introduced. The four crews were a motley looking group as I am sure so were we also ; looked much better after de-bushing and washing up – all very friendly and personable. Geof Petite & Mike Regular; Chris Wade & Colin Lilly; Charlie Hartley & Andrew Dudka and ATA & SMB lol Tom and I.
I understand there is one more crew coming in a few days to make five in total for the rest of the summer. We are the "mature" crew.

Watching our goods arriving in a sling was a bit hairy but the pilot landed it so softly I was amazed. While we were waiting for some of the crews to arrive; a baby weasel climbed up Colin’s pant leg. Such a cute young fella from Wabush – he got teased that the weasel picked his leg to climb cause he smelt so ripe. The mother was very upset when he picked one baby up to show us. So cute.

Tom wandered over to see the new bridge they were installing on the Wilson River.

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Spring is here – the Larch/Tamarack/Hackmatack finally are out with their new soft green needles. The Bog Rosemary was in bloom ~ isn’t it gorgeous. The light toned Caribou Moss (in the back ground) is full and lush as the spring rains are so constant it doesn’t have a chance to dry out till late summer.
I started learning wild plants years ago on trips to the far north to visit Tom. Using Porsild’s Book of the Plants from the Sub-Arctic Archipelago and slowly moved south learning plants as I came across them – now I am down as far as the northern states and then some – it is a true delight to wander anywhere and know all the plants I see so intimately. Very fortunate that this learning comes so easily for me. It is so exciting when I find a new to me plant. I am hoping that on this trip it will happen a few times, perhaps when we get to the coast. Tom is already telling me to look at the rocks we are not here for the plants – BUT one has to see the plants to find the rocks - so it all works out well.

After everyone was out of the bush, all the gear was packed in a large panel truck – most of the crews got to ride in a large van along the rough dirt highway for several hours to get to Goose Bay.
We on the other hand got to go in the helicopter and I sat in the front – the bubble dome was clear, even below your feet so you could see the tree tops as you flew along. So exciting.
We were into Goose Bay by 2 pm. Time to shop, do a bit of laundry and have a SHOWER!.

Friday June 30th - Sun/Cloud - Goose Bay

Spent the day sorting gear, purchasing the food items we needed, looked at maps. The pack ice had moved so the first ferry of the season with much needed supplies had arrived will we were in the bush. Other than that - generally just lazing about. Tomorrow we are off to Nain Bay to the camp Terry set up just around the point from the town of Nain. I understand we will be on the water.
We were all taken out for a fancy dinner compliments of Castle Rock. Nice to be served at a table.