The ROCK
Newfoundland, or “The Rock,” as it is also affectionately known, has a reputation for many things. It’s known for its harsh climate, its beautiful scenery, and most of all, for its warm and welcoming people. On my recent road trip — which started in Central Alberta on my 2012 Kawasaki Versys 650 — across the island and back I had the opportunity to experience all of these in spades.
I arrived on the overnight ferry at Channel-Port aux Basques under a blanket of low-hanging clouds. There was a chill in the morning air, and it felt like rain could fall at any moment. My goal for the day was to put as many of the 900 km to St. John’s behind me as I could. I had a week to complete my tour and return to Channel-Port aux Basques to catch the ferry back to Nova Scotia, so my plan was to sprint across the island and then meander my way back, taking in as much as I could.
The Trans-Canada Highway connects Channel-Port aux Basques to St. John’s and is pretty well impossible to avoid if you are travelling from one end of the island to the other. Fortunately, it offers some beautiful views along the way. It also puts you through the full gauntlet of Newfoundland weather. On my trek across the island and back I spent part of
