Newfoundland Travel Log

On our last day, our hosts at Sheppard's B&B suggested that we visit the insectarium just outside of Deer Lake.  It was a bit creepy, but neat.  The first floor was like a small version of the Butterfly conservatory in Niagara.  In a display case you could see the cocoons with some butterflies and moths emerging, and in another area you could walk around with the butterflies flying around you. On the second and third floors there were insects and other creepy-crawlers on display.  Every once in a while an attendant would take one out, explain it, and let brave souls hold them.  Nina volunteered several times.  The ones you see with her are: Thorny Devil, Ghost Mantis, and Tarantula.

After the Tablelands were were going to hike the Green Gardens, but the weather was not so good and we were pretty tired from hiking the whole trip.  Instead we took a look around Woody Point and Trout River.  A couple of years ago a blue whale washed up on Trout River and they had some pictures of it. There was a small trail at the end of the beach that cut through some peoples lot.  It felt funny just going in between their houses and their garages to ascend a comprehensive stair case to the top of the hill.

Here is a panoramic video of the Tablelands

The Tablelands are actually part of the earth's mantel that was deposited in Newfoundland when the continental plates collided and separated.  Our guide demonstrated with Nina and another girl.  Nina represented Newfoundland and the girl in the red, the other continental plate. Since the Tablelands are the earth's mantel, they are the more brownish colour, and nothing can grow on it.  The things that do grow actually grow on debris that collects on the Tablelands.  Many plants developed interesting feeding behaviours.  Some lure insects, trap them, and feed on them as they decompose.  Others feed on their own dead leaves. It was a bit rainy and cold, but the Sun did peak through a couple of times.