Hi Ziners: With all of the talk of Canada's being a hot travel destination
in the next year, I would, once again, like to urge those of you with
a sense of adventure to try a 12-day trip on the Labrador coastal steamer,
NORTHERN RANGER, which runs from July to mid-Oct. from St. Anthony, Newfoundland,
to Nain, Labrador and back, with many stops at Inuit and Innu villages
unreachable by roads. Next year may be the last year that this ship runs,
as more roads are being built in S. Labrador; thus the demand for the
ten cabins reserved for round-trip passengers will be high---they are
already taking a waiting list---actual deposits are accepted starting
in February. Friends of our just got on the waiting list yesterday. We
learned so much, met such interesting people who were fellow passengers,
got to talk with some of the country's leading stone carvers, met the
Labrador champion dog team racer, experienced first-hand the sad condition
of the Innu in Davis Inlet, saw several huge, magnificent icebergs up
close and personal, stayed up much of one night on deck watching a gorgeous
display of Northern Lights, saw lots of whales, and stayed near St. Anthony
at Valhalla B and B on Gunner's Cove in the very room where E. Annie Proulx
stayed while she collected ideas for her Pulitzer-prize winning book,
The Shipping News. We are tempted to do the trip again--that's how exciting
and fascinating we found it. It's a ferry, not a cruise ship, which makes
it even better! We would be happy to answer any questions. For those of
you who wrote earlier hoping for a daily travelogue, I guess it won't
be---Bill dictates ideas into his little tape recorder, typing up the
journal after he gets home---thus it is a very personal thing, full of
reactions, commentary (sometimes he's mad at me or I am mad at him!! You
know how that goes while travelling!) as well as the daily doings---so
he feels that his journal is just for us, and I respect that. But we will
be really happy to tell you anything you want to know about this very
unique vacation. Cheers, and good wishes, Pat in Baltimore
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