Salmon

 August 5, 2023

Sanger Memorial CG site 43

Grand Falls-Windsor, NL

With all the chores taken care of yesterday, the gang loaded up in the Ram and headed for the Salmonid Interpretation Center just up the road.

  As we turned off Scott Road we were treated to some nice views of the Exploits River. 

We had to drive across this one lane bridge before arriving at the center.

Aunt Carol found the gift shop right away.  Drawn like a magnet...

The adventure began with a series of stairs and landings that totaled 55 stairs. 

Joann, the tour guide told us it may be 55 down, but wait until you go back up.  It’ll be 120!! 

They conveniently had installed a bench midway, thank goodness. 

At the building, Joann played a video for us that explained how this site and building came to be developed.

The site is designed to produce hydro electricity as well as allow the Atlantic salmon to return to the river to spawn thanks to the fishway passage system where the salmon jump and swim their way on the passageway to venture up river.

The aquarium window allows for close up viewing of the salmon as they make their way thru the passage and up river. 

The Pacific Salmon travel back home to spawn and then they die unlike the Atlantic Salmon who return to the spawning area several times before they die.

There is a limit to the number of wild salmon that can be taken from the river.  Fishermen can purchase 2 tags each year which allows them to keep 2 salmon.  A native Newfie was chatting with the gang and he said the salmon are a challenge to catch as they jump and swim making you work your fishing line until the salmon finally tires enough to let you bring them onto land.

The Third Place Café is located at the top of the stairs, right across from the gift shop.  By the time the gang had made the hike back up the hill, they were ready for some refreshment!!

The afternoon was spent playing outdoor games once again.   My ball was tossed.  Bean bags were tossed in a few games of corn hole and then the Murbles were tossed in a game similar to bocce.

Our neighbor has a Montana fifth wheel with a different floor plan.  You enter the camper on the side into the kitchen.  Turn right and you go up the stairs to the bedroom.  Turn left and you go up the stairs for the rear living room.  Under the living room, is a HUGE bay storage area.  You can carry your boat or do what Erb did and install a huge pullout tray in the rear.

His tray was loaded with cooking gadgets such as air fyer, rockcrok, etc as well as grill, electric heater and a propane fire pit.  And he still had storage room left over.

Erb was describing our travel route for tomorrow.  We will be back on the west side of the island which means some steep uphill grades and downhill grades as we head to Rocky Harbour.  He assured us that we will LOVE the scenery.

If we had stayed one more day, we would have been treated to a 'real Newfoundland dinner' by Erb's wife.  What friendly neighbors!!  Just toss my ball one more time, please. 

I'm Chloe