Cycling in Newfoundland and Labrador!               by Gary Conrod Newfoundland is the end of the line. It stands as the last eastern point of land in the New World. Known by residents as "the rock", it is a place apart. For the motivated, it is certainly a worthwhile cycling destination. Being situated at the far eastern part of Atlantic Canada, it requires more planning to reach it. This process screens out a good deal of casual automotive traffic. The ruggedness of this island requires respect from everyone, including cyclists! What it returns, is adventure cycling at its most rewarding. Planning and preparation are required for any multiday trip. Distances between villages can vary, and food and accommodations must be not left to chance. The road system of Newfoundland is comprised of, very basically, one long, major road crossing the interior, and spur roads off it to coastal communities. The cross-province road is Route #1, the Trans-Canada Highway. This road, part of the longest highway in the world, saw its Newfoundland section completed in only the mid 1960's. After this time, a process began of connecting many isolated of the island's isolated fishing outports to this highway. These spur roads are almost always dead-end highways. They leave the Trans-Canada, and usually go through forests of short pine trees, or barrens. The roads often stop once reaching the ocean at the connecting village.A handful of loop routes are available. These include the Bonavista, Avalon, and Burin peninsulas.	10 Newfoundland Facts   Newfoundland is the youngest province of Canada, joining in only 1949 It is an island, and a fairly large one, among the biggest in the world Newfoundland is the easternmost point of land in North America The closest part of the continent to Europe, it has had a long history of visitors, including the Vikings The road system is primarily one cross island interior road, with spur roads to coastal communities Newfoundland has a rocky coastline and a forested interior The weather is maritime, with strong winds, changeable temperature, and occasional thick fog banks The cycling season is short, the shoulder seasons can be wet and cold Labrador is part of the province of Newfoundland. An immense territory, it has one major road on the coast, and another crossing its interior Newfoundlanders are known for their unique culture of traditions, music, and humour
	There is also the magnificent Great Northern Peninsula, on the island's west coast, and a multitude of small islands to explore. In general, however, vacation planning will require acceptance that some backtracking is needed to see the real Newfoundland. Hopping about with a car, you can pick and choose what you like, beginning rides at the junction of the peninsulas. Travelling by bicycle only, you will have to face the main road at some point, on any trip over a few days. It has a shoulder and is not as frantic as such roads in more populated places. While not a major danger, it is not the part of the trip you will best remember. There are so many of these peninsulas, that you will have to be selective. Going out to the point on a peninsula, and then returning, all the way back again, can get to be frustrating. Most visitors choose among the few loop options available on the island, and perhaps a couple of peninsula visits. These points of land see far fewer bicyclists, and fully decked out bikers are an oddity. These villages have also more a traditional feel and look than those with more pass through traffic. Coastal villages are small. Because of a decline of fishing, and the trend, as everywhere, for many to leave for the cities, you must find out which villages have food available, and which do not. Moving at 20 kilometers an hour on a big island, you do not have the luxury of waiting until you are hungry. In addition, prepare to accept what is available. Being at the far edge of the continent, by the time produce reaches the tiny fishing towns, it has been a few days since the produce has seen the ground or tree where it came from.
	There are five main regions to Newfoundland. The province has been divided into several logical divisions. They are: Avalon Peninsula - the far east has the bulk of the Island's population. There are many good loop routes. Eastern Newfoundland - historic and colourful, with great cycling. Central Newfoundland - the middle of Newfoundland, a huge area, with many peninsulas, islands, and adventurous interior highways. Western Newfoundland - home of spectacular Gros Morne, and the Great Northern Peninsula. Labrador - one of the last frontier regions on earth. *St. Pierre and Miquelon are two fascinating islands lying just off Newfoundland's southern coast. A French colony, they reached ferry from Newfoundland's Burin Peninsula.
	European visits to Newfoundland began 1,000 years ago. The island has been constantly inhabited by Europeans for 500 years. Newfoundland was a colony of Great Britain until 1949, when it elected to join Canada. Because of its position of closeness to Europe, it was strategic during the World Wars. With the island being used heavily by United States forces, many Newfoundlanders have family ties in the U.S.A. They continue to have a fondness for American visitors. Newfoundland and Labrador is a very different place for bicycle touring. The more you know about the province before you go, the better prepared you will be to enjoy this rugged part of the world. (Return to Page One)   Atlantic Canada Cycling cycling@atlanticcanadacycling.com PO Box 1555, Station Central Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3J 2Y3 (902) 423-BIKE; fax (902) 423-2452

 

Newfoundland Bicycle Tour

Click on the picture to learn about this year's exciting Newfoundland Bicycle Tour , to be held along the coast of the Great Northern Peninsula in Western Newfoundland.