Labrador

This aptly named gemstone, Labradorite, is mined here and used in jewellery making, along with Porcupine spines amongst other things. The Porcupine spines make excellent dangly earrings!

We have seen wood sleds like this one many times on the road side, waiting for winter, often still with a Snowmobile attached.

Piles of wood are stacked with precision in available spaces or clearings and fill large sheds by houses.

When the temperature drops to at least -25c, in the winter, even in cities such as Quebec, a great deal of wood must be gathered and consumed.

Forestry is still a major industry in this region.

At Northwest River, a small town off the Labrador Highway we visited an Interpretation centre where we were given a fascinating tour from a woman whose father was British and mother was Inuit (or Eskimo - her grandmother was quite happy to be called Eskimo but today the correct term is Inuit).

 She described life as told to her by her family. Stories of hunting and a harsh life in the winter.

 The canoe in the picture was amazingly made of seal skin.

Our Bear friend with his nose in the bin. Luckily not our van bin.












This pretty scene is not a winter one but the ground is covered with a yellow lichen, soft to walk on and the food of choice for caribou.

We stayed the night here. Not so many trees for the bears to hide in!




It did feel rather Christmassy!