BISHOP’S FALLS.
TRAVEL DAY
From: Deadman’s Cove Town Park, Harbour Breton, NL.
To:Fallsview Municipal Park, Bishop’s Falls, NL.
Day 108 – At 7:15 a.m. this morning, it was 61 degrees and very cloudy. We enjoyed our quiet stay at Deadman’s Cove Town Park. The weather was perfect and the scenery was grand. We will come back to this area again.
We were not looking forward to our drive north on Route 360. The road when we drove it to Harbour Breton almost a week ago was really in bad shape. And now we must drive it again, the other way. It’s the only road that goes to and from Harbour Breton. We were concerned about damage to our vehicles.
We got through the rough sections intact, and the coat rack did not fall off the wall again, but one of the slides was rattling so badly, Rob was afraid it was badly damaged. When we got to the campground, he did some work on it. We’ll know the next time we drive (tomorrow) if it’s okay now.
We departed Deadman’s Cove and had to drive into town to dump tanks. Near the dump station, just off the main road in the town, there had been a very recent rock slide. (When we were here in 2019, we saw interpretive signs identifying the area of a deadly slide in the town, which is surrounded by large, rocky hills. The slide killed the family living in the house below.) In Harbour Breton, we’ve seen many areas where there have been rock slides. It may be beautiful, but we’re not sure we’d want a home at the bottom of these hills!
We left after dumping at 10:05 a.m. It was 64 degrees, partly cloudy and windy. As we headed further north, it turned into a beautiful day without the wind and most of the clouds. The high today was 80 degrees.
The scenery, as expected, was beautiful. We stopped to take a much-needed break about an hour before the end of our trip. The girls, the vehicles, and both of us had just about had it to the limit with the road conditions. We had lunch by the side of the road, then continued our journey, encountering the worst of the road near where the road ends at the Trans Canada Highway. It was only about 3 to 5 miles, but we had to slow to a crawl, almost literally, to prevent damage. Finally we reached the TCH-1, and drove a short distance before turning off at the exit for Bishop’s Falls.
We arrived at Fallsview Municipal Park at 1:25 p.m. It was 78 degrees and mostly sunny. The Park is right next to the waterfalls and is located on the Exploits River. At water level there is a playground and picnic area, plus plenty of parking for the fishermen. The park host had a trailer down there and he led us to the campground, a level above the park with views between the trees of the falls and river. This is just a one night stopover for us. We weren’t feeling picky about our site. He told us to pick the one we wanted and he’d be up later for payment.
Before we’d settled in, he came by to check on us. A very nice man, he bent Rob’s ear for awhile. Newfoundlanders sure are talkers! We had picked site #16, a corner campsite. There were 23 campsites situated fairly evenly around a loop road. When we got here, 5 campsites were filled. We have water and electric hook-ups. There is a dump station down at the river level below us. We paid $28.75 cash (Canadian currency) – serviced campsites are $25 per night plus tax & fees.
We unpacked and set up camp. It was hot inside the RV, so we turned on the A/C. The girls had been spread out, obviously warm; and Rob & I had been working at getting everything up and running, including the slide that may or may not be “injured”. Rob went down to the lower level of the Park and got some River & Falls pictures. Tomorrow we will leave for La Scie. It should be a relaxing week ahead!
About Bishop’s Falls: “Bishop’s Falls is located along the Exploits River and home to one of the largest salmon runs in the province. Some of the best salmon fishing in North America can be experienced on the Exploits River. Many of the pools are located close to the Fallsview Park and can be easily accessed. From many areas of Fallsview Municipal Park, the Exploits River and the beautiful falls can be viewed. Established in 1909, this community has a rich history with the Newfoundland Railway, logging industry, and much more. Come see Newfoundland and Labrador’s oldest and longest railway trestle (927 feet), which spans the river at the middle of the community. The trestle, constructed in the early 1900s, and remnant railway bed, are part of the Newfoundland T’Railway (Trans Canada Trail) which crosses the province. A short hike along the T’Railway and you can observe salmon jumping the town’s fish ladder.” from the Bishop’s Falls tourist brochure
For more detailed information about Fallsview Municipal Park, Bishop’s Falls, NL, click here.