Day 46 (Sept 8, 2024) Happy Valley Goose Bay, NL to Churchill Falls, NL

Our beautiful, warm sunny day disappeared today - it was replaced with a cool, rainy one for our drive to Churchill Falls. But the views remained lovely, the road remained paved and we saw another bear! This time we got a really good look at him, but as it was rainy the pictures didn't come out great.  Fortunately, with live photo, we were able to capture him (or at least a black blur).

 

Churchill Falls is yet another very unique place. The entire town is centered around the Donald Gordon Centre which is a medium-sized complex including a hotel, a restaurant, a grocery store, a school, a gym, a pool, a curling club and a library.  We gained half an hour today, so back to the rest of NL, 1.5 hours ahead of EDT.

Donald Gordon Centre

Map of the entire town hanging outside the restaurant

The town is managed and operated by the neighboring power plant, Nalcor Energy. The halls definitely had a school-like feel (and scent) to them and were filled with motivational posters for children, or possibly the adults. We tried to go to the fitness center but the single key card (for the entire hotel) didn't work. The hotel attendant (who also served as the restaurant attendant) shrugged his shoulders when we told him, took the key back and said, "Well, they must have it locked for cleaning". There was also a bar but it was open only on Friday and Saturday. In fact the hotel and the restaurant were the only amenities that were open on Sunday. The restaurant closes at 7pm, and if you not are seated by 6:30 you can only take it to go. Our big activity for the day was to head to the local gas station while we knew it was open; and as there are not many Lamborghinis in NL, we revved the engine for the excited adolescents in the parking lot.

180 miles on a smooth, paved but wet road