Day 07 – Rocky Harbour to Gander

Today we leave Rocky Harbour and once we get to Deer lake we will start heading east on Canada 1 (Trans-Canadian Highway).  While getting ready to leave Rocky Harbour I see these two loons fishing in the waters of the cove.  The one on the left looks like it caught a fish and waiting to see if it can swallow the fish.

On our drive to Deer Lake you can see that the weather is overcast and foggy making the landscape a little dark.  This has been typical of the weather we have had so far on this trip.  You can see fairly well, just not take good pictures from a moving coach.
 

We pass along the end of the East Arm of Bonne Bay and it is beginning to sprinkle and we see a number of motorcycle riders getting rain gear on.  Looks like it will be a wet day. 

After reaching Deer Lake and get on the Trans-Canada Highway (RT 1) the sun peaks out for a few short minutes.  There are many streams and ponds here in Newfoundland and once again we are taking a picture, this time with the sun. 

Nearing Sheppardville and RT 410 to the north coast we again have some nice views of the area’s vista.  Small ponds dot this entire area and we wonder if they contain any fish and what species they might be since we haven’t seen anyone fishing in ponds. 

When we are almost at Gander we enter an area that now has some mountains and small fields.  We have not seen many fields on this trip and seeing water, mountains, forest and fields at the same time is unusual.

Before entering Gander we stop at the North Atlantic Aviation Museum where the entrance has the tail of DC-3 over the entrance. 

Inside at the rear of the building is the DC-3 cockpit.  The length of the building from the tail section to the cockpit section would represent the length of the interior of the plane.

Throughout the building are engines and stories of the planes that have passed through this airfield including planes that landed here on 9-11-2001.  Also in the building is this fully equipped De Havilland Tiger Moth.   

Outside are several planes on display including a Beechcraft 18-s, a McDonnell CF-101 Voodoo fighter and this PBY-5a Canso Waterbomber.  They would collect water then drop it on a fire.

There was also a fully functional Lockheed Hudson Bomber, one of only several in operation in the world and I got a picture as the rain started to fall.  There are other prop and jet planes on the lawn outside of the museum building, including jet fighters.

 

During our visit to the Museum we saw many historic pieces of different aircraft from models of the Russian and French versions of the Concord and descriptions of the support during WWII.  Also on the floor of the museum were several engines including an inverted inline 6 to this v-12 Rolls-Royce Merlin used in aircraft like the Spitfire, Hurricane, and Mustang planes of WWII. 

Leaving the museum, we headed to the Gander Airport for a view of the lounge room area for the airport and the mural that hangs over the space.  Apparently a book mentions this mural as part of the story.

A frame with pictures and list of those who traveled through Gander was also on the wall.  The list which does not include the Queen of England who passed through this airport, includes many actors, actresses, musicians and sports figures.

On the tarmac, we can see a US Air Force jet before we leave the airport and are now on our way to the hotel.  Tomorrow we will visit Twilligate on our way to Port Blandford.