One thing that holds true for many of our readers is that you don't like to stay put! Read through the exciting travel stories written by Downhome's readers and perhaps you'll be inspired to take a trip of your own!
Muskox Island, Anaktalak Bay, Labrador (3369 views) When Ron Webb from Nain asked if we wanted to go see the muskox, we answered with an enthusiastic “yes!” In August 2010, I was part of a group of five who went with Ron in his boat to see the muskox ... click to read moreWhen Ron Webb from Nain asked if we wanted to go see the muskox, we answered with an enthusiastic “yes!” In August 2010, I was part of a group of five who went with Ron in his boat to see the muskox that lives on an island in Anaktalak Bay near the town of Nain, Labrador. I’ve seen lots of moose on the island, and in Labrador I have seen lots of caribou and bears among other animals, but few people have the privilege of being able to see these little-known inhabitants of our province.
The day was perfect for a boat trip, sunny and warm but not hot, with just enough wind to keep the bugs down. Even without the prospect of seeing a muskox, the scenery in Anaktalak Bay is beautiful. Ron identified the various waterfowl we spotted from his boat; no identification was needed for the black bear we saw. Ron regaled us with local lore, hunting and fishing stories, and what it was like in Nain and on the Bay during the “nickel rush” at the nearby Voisey’s Bay nickel mine in the 90s.
As we neared the island, Ron explained that the Muskox was first spotted on this island by friends of his about six years ago. He said there are more muskoxen living farther north up the coast, but this one hasn’t moved from its island in six years. The island, one of many in the vicinity of Nain, has a name, but everybody in Nain now calls it “Muskox Island.”
As we circled the island to see if we could spot it from the boat, I was surprised that Muskox Island was not larger. I estimate that you could walk the length of the island in 20 – 30 minutes. I pictured a large herbivore needing a larger island than that. Certainly there are many larger islands in the vicinity it could have chosen to live on, as well as the mainland. Evidently, the muskox has found its perfect retirement home, just large enough to provide for its needs, yet small enough to be aware of everything on the island, including us!
We speculated that the muskox did not leave the island because it was safe from predators there, but Ron said the wolves knew it was there. Just as the muskox walked across the frozen bay in winter, so could the wolves. The muskox looked imposing, about the size of a moose, but bulkier. Perhaps the wolves decided there were easier meals to be had elsewhere. Despite only having one horn for the last six years, Ron said the muskox has always appeared to be in excellent health. Ron’s opinion was that the muskox would be there for a long time.
Not having spotted the muskox from the boat, we landed on a small beach, and fanned out in search of it. After a few minutes of pleasant hiking on my own, I noticed Ron on the hilltop searching with his rifle scope, so I joined him. Ron knew where the muskox would likely be, and he soon spotted it on the windward side of the island.
Signaling to the others, we soon came upon the muskox. We slowly approached to within about 30 metres as the muskox kept an eye on us. After a few minutes, it slowly sauntered away. We moved to a new vantage point and spent some 20 minutes just watching it.
What pictures do not do justice to is how its coat of hair moves when the muskox walks, its long hair swaying like the skirt of a dancer. I imagined a muskox living on its own perhaps having bachelor’s syndrome, with a shaggy, disheveled, matted coat. This muskox, however, seemed impeccably groomed, and as Ron said, in excellent health.
I certainly did not want to get much closer, both out of respect for the muskox, and a healthy dose of respect (fear!) for what it could do if it got upset. I now appreciated why the wolves would leave it alone. The flies had no such reservations. Despite there being enough of a breeze that we were not troubled by bugs, there were lots of stouts clearly visible flying around the muskox. That many flies would have had me putting on a bug hat or plenty of insect repellant in a hurry, but the muskox did not seem to notice them. Its long, thick coat seemed to protect it from bugs as well as the winter cold.
We took our leave of the muskox, and carefully climbed back down the moss, berry, and flower-covered rocks to the beach for a snack. We had all brought our own snacks. Ron offered us some of his “homemade” Purity cookies. Living in St. John’s, they were certainly “homemade” to me.
The next day, I was back home in St. John’s, showing my family pictures and reflecting on the previous day’s adventure. While it may seem a world away from my urban home in town, Anaktalak Bay and its inhabitants – Inuit, bears, and muskox - are all part of a too little known corner of this beautiful province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
At the Mayan Ruins in Tulum, Mexico on the Downhome Cruise
We just returned from the Downhome Caribbean Cruise and we are delighted to say that we had a wonderful, fun time. One of our excursions took us to the Mayan Ruins in Tulum, Mexico. My husband, John, proudly brought along our copy of Downhome magazine for this photo.
Nautica
An exciting combination of freshly picked wild Newfoundland blueberries and Shiraz grapes. The berries provide the health-boosting antioxidants and the tannins in the grape skins produce the rich colour of this delicately blended and artfully crafted medium red wine.
Here I am with my Downhome magazine at Uhuru Peak on top of Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 metres) on Jan. 21/12. Note that the old rickety wooden sign (see Bev Lane's photo from Oct. 2011) has finally been replaced.
My husband, Charles Smith and I have been subscribers to The Downhome magazine for quite a number of years, from receiving it in Virginia, USA, to moving to St. John’s in 2009, and now out in our new home out on the ... click to read moreMy husband, Charles Smith and I have been subscribers to The Downhome magazine for quite a number of years, from receiving it in Virginia, USA, to moving to St. John’s in 2009, and now out in our new home out on the Point, in beautiful Coley’s Point, Bay Roberts. The articles and submissions continue to intrigue and humour us and we await anxiously its arrival every month. In fact we have taken Downhome with us to the most western point in continental Europe, Cabo da Roca in Portugal, a picture of which you so kindly published in 2008.
In October 2011, Charlie made a business trip to Denmark. As per usual, the Downhome magazine has to accompany him wherever his travels take him, so this trip was no exception. He was determined the latest copy of Downhome was going to come face to face with one of the most iconic symbols in Europe, The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, Denmark! As you will see by the attached photo, he accomplished his task. He made the trip on a crystal clear Danish morning to where she lay perched on her rock, overlooking the bustling Copenhagen harbour. As is always the case with my husband, he can always find a link to Newfoundland from whatever country he is visiting. So you may ask, what could possibly be a link from The Little Mermaid in Denmark to the far-away island of Newfoundland?
Well, being the voracious reader that my husband is of all things Newfoundland (he’s an American), he had just finished reading the book by James E. Candow entitled “The Lookout - A History of Signal Hill” and was intrigued by what he had read on page 7 of the book.
“…Sir Richard Whitbourne, who in 1620 wrote wistfully of meeting a mermaid in St. John’s harbour.”
Could this well-documented mermaid of Sir Richard Whitbourne be related in some past life to the endearing one gracing the harbour of Copenhagen? While the answer to that question may never be known, at least my husband was able to connect the far reaches of Europe to the ocean waters of Newfoundland by the existence of two fair aquatic creatures!
We hope you enjoy our little anecdote. Keep up the good work!
My husband, Charles Smith and I have been subscribers to the Downhome magazine for quite a number of years, from receiving it in Virginia, USA, to moving to St. John’s in 2009, and now out in our new home out on the ... click to read moreMy husband, Charles Smith and I have been subscribers to the Downhome magazine for quite a number of years, from receiving it in Virginia, USA, to moving to St. John’s in 2009, and now out in our new home out on the Point, in beautiful Coley’s Point, Bay Roberts. The articles and submissions continue to intrigue and humour us and we await anxiously its arrival every month. In fact we have taken Downhome with us to the most western point in continental Europe, Cabo da Roca in Portugal, a picture of which you so kindly published in 2008.
In October 2011, Charlie made a business trip to Denmark. As per usual, the Downhome magazine has to accompany him wherever his travels take him, so this trip was no exception. He was determined the latest copy of Downhome was going to come face to face with one of the most iconic symbols in Europe, The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, Denmark! As you will see by the attached photo, he accomplished his task. He made the trip on a crystal clear Danish morning to where she lay perched on her rock, overlooking the bustling Copenhagen harbour. As is always the case with my husband, he can always find a link to Newfoundland from whatever country he is visiting. So you may ask, what could possibly be a link from The Little Mermaid in Denmark to the far-away island of Newfoundland?
Well, being the voracious reader that my husband is of all things Newfoundland (he’s an American), he had just finished reading the book by James E. Candow entitled “The Lookout - A History of Signal Hill” and was intrigued by what he had read on page 7 of the book.
“…Sir Richard Whitbourne, who in 1620 wrote wistfully of meeting a mermaid in St. John’s harbour.”
Could this well-documented mermaid of Sir Richard Whitbourne be related in some past life to the endearing one gracing the harbour of Copenhagen? While the answer to that question may never be known, at least my husband was able to connect the far reaches of Europe to the ocean waters of Newfoundland by the existence of two fair aquatic creatures!
We hope you enjoy our little anecdote. Keep up the good work!
With my new bride Roseann in Santorini for part of our honeymoon. Santorini was actually a volcano that erupted violently around 10,000 years ago leaving a caldera filled with the mediterranean sea. Our hotel was actually inside the volcano...167 steps down to be exact. My family comes from North Harbour, St. Mary's Bay. Photo by Rod King.
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