Saturday July 2nd - Cloudy - Nain Bay Nain’s website gives more specific details than I ever could. Nain is now the most northern permanent community on this Atlantic Labrador side.
http://www.ourlabrador.ca/member.php?id=6
If you look at the camp photo in its full size it looks like the helicopter might be sinking into qucksand - there is a depression between where I am standing and the camp where a small stream runs towards the ocean. Being so flat it looks like it isn't even there.
The company has permission from the elders at Nain to camp here for this season. Nain Bay is sort of over the hill from Nain and has been a traditional camping area for hunters for a long time in Nain’s history – very old rock circles from holding down the edges of tents are scattered here and there, even bones from various animals and fish.
http://www.ourlabrador.ca/member.php?id=6
If you look at the camp photo in its full size it looks like the helicopter might be sinking into qucksand - there is a depression between where I am standing and the camp where a small stream runs towards the ocean. Being so flat it looks like it isn't even there.
The company has permission from the elders at Nain to camp here for this season. Nain Bay is sort of over the hill from Nain and has been a traditional camping area for hunters for a long time in Nain’s history – very old rock circles from holding down the edges of tents are scattered here and there, even bones from various animals and fish.
Such a personal pleasure to be on a salty/tidal waterfront again – something we haven’t done since our trips to Newfoundland quite a few years ago. As the tide goes out my eyes wander to the outer rocks to see if there are any signs of wild mussels.
What a spectacular setting; a long curved bay with its shoreline nestled below towering cliffs.
There are
several waterfalls thundering down – the largest one is from where we will get our water. Later in the summer when we are back here once again I see from the helicopter that the waterfall is birthed by a huge lake at the top. The height of the cliffs are visually deceiving until you stand near the base and look up – this is the “hill” which separates us from Nain about 400 feet in height. Across the bay is an island with more islands layered between fingers of ocean – all still have snow in the distance. The islands we are to prospect are east of Nain and towards the south a tiddle.
The 5th and last crew has arrived John O’Sullivan’s son Aiden and Edwin MacDonald.
I wandered around in awe taking photos for awhile – the beach is littered with pieces of Labradorite, large boulders with huge lenses of colour are winking at me – this is the start of a lifelong love affair between myself and Labradorite.
There are
several waterfalls thundering down – the largest one is from where we will get our water. Later in the summer when we are back here once again I see from the helicopter that the waterfall is birthed by a huge lake at the top. The height of the cliffs are visually deceiving until you stand near the base and look up – this is the “hill” which separates us from Nain about 400 feet in height. Across the bay is an island with more islands layered between fingers of ocean – all still have snow in the distance. The islands we are to prospect are east of Nain and towards the south a tiddle.The 5th and last crew has arrived John O’Sullivan’s son Aiden and Edwin MacDonald.
I wandered around in awe taking photos for awhile – the beach is littered with pieces of Labradorite, large boulders with huge lenses of colour are winking at me – this is the start of a lifelong love affair between myself and Labradorite.
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As we wait for the community supper to be cooked I sit and watch the sky – with the wind the clouds are continuously changing – such a water colour sky – I felt an inner pang of sadness that I no longer can enjoy this medium –it used to be my artist venue of choice.
We bunk in with others for the night. It feels odd – but I am so tired sleep comes easily.
July 2nd - Nain Bay - Nain - Cloudy
The next day the groceries arrive as we are checking things out I discover all the meat has thawed due to the long wait prior to getting to Nain. Tom set me up a cooking area so I could cook all our meat. My reasoning is that if I cook it all now and re-chill it – we will get a better chance for enjoying some before it goes off. I am assuming that we can always refreeze the cooked things once we are on board.
We set to work checking out supplies as we are to move later this same day out to the long liner called “The Setting Sun”. We’ll live on her for the next seven to ten days as we jump about several islands to prospect claim blocks.
At 11 am the long liner had arrived. It is about 52’ long but looks very tiny out on the bay. The next few hours are spent getting all our gear loaded. Still no sign of one crew member Mike. Our tent and base equipment will stay here at Nain Bay till we are done this next segment - we’ll be eating and sleeping on the long liner.
We packed up our personal gear and are ferried by dingy out to the long liner about 5 pm. The water looks very deep and cold. The Captain “Joey” is just the cutest wee thing I have ever did see. A smiling dark curly haired blue eyed Inuit ( he later tells us his grandmother is Irish and lives in Kuujuack. He is only 19 and has been a captain for two years – my personal level of security dropped a wee bit BUT each day throughout our time on the boat we all become quite enamored with this talented outgoing young man. His crew – cousin Jacko is also from Nain but looks totally opposite quite dark and is quite shy. We will motor over to Nain Harbor for the night – hoping that Mike will show up in the morning.
I will continue that tale in my next installment – right now I hope you’ll take a moment and enjoy a few photos of this fabulous camp site.
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