We
are now at La Manche Provincial Park on the east side of Newfoundland situated part way along the
East Coast Trail – a 180-mile hiking trail skirting the coast. The trail has 26
sections going over various terrain through 30 coastal towns including the city
of St John’s. Some
people through-hike the trail, but we targeted some day hikes.
Our
first day started with dense fog, but we decided to check out a bit of the
trail figuring we could at least see the suspension bridge and the remains of La
Manche Village. We took a mile long
access trail from our campsite to get to the trail and La Manche Village where
a few foundations remain. A combination of high tide and waves from a major
storm in 1966 caused many boats, stores and the original suspension bridge
connecting both sides of the harbour to be destroyed and washed out to
sea. The suspension bridge was later replaced.
At
this point you could go north or south along the East Coast Trail. We chose to
go a little ways north over the suspension bridge.
A
plaque by the bridge told about the bridge and had this quote:
“There are things we will never see, unless we walk to them.” ~Thomas A. Clark
The
fog didn’t let up, but we enjoyed the sounds and saw the rocky coast at
Doctor’s Cove.
Sometimes
fog makes you appreciate the little things you see along the way.
