ATV expedition to the Gaff Topsails, Newfoundland and Labrador (by Peter Bull, Newfoundland)

This past week, my neighbour Gavin and I went to Buchans Junction for an ATV adventure to the Gaff Topsails. Our guide was Fred Thorne of Red Indian Lake Outfitters and Tours. Fred took us in over the old Newfoundland rail bed which is now the T'Railway. The T'Railway is a linear provincial park stretching for almost 900km from St. John's to Port aux Basque and is the eastern end of the Trans Canada Trail. We were not alone on the trail, meeting many ATV enthusiasts from Mainland Canada. These adventurers had left their vehicles in North Sydney, Nova Scotia and driven their quads on the Marine Atlantic Ferry. Once in Newfoundland they drive across the T'Railway from Port aux Basque to Argentia (or vice versa) catching the ferry back to the Mainland at the other end of the Island. There are few places in the world where one can go on such an ATV adventure. Many of the "mainlanders" we met had taken this trip over the T'Railway more than once. For one Nova Scotian, it was his 14th trip. The Island of Newfoundland was made for ATVs and the Gaff Topsails is but one highlight along the route. We didn't see any moose or caribou, but there were plenty of partridge (ptarmigan). We also took in some history, visiting the quarry used for building the bridge abutments across the Island. The granite at the quarry was also used to build the railway station in St. John's. Our perfect day of quading was topped off by a fantastic meal of moose, salt pork and onions fried up by Fred. With full stomachs we took the 67km (41 mile) trip back to Buchans Junction. After experiencing the beauty of the Topsails in the summer, I can't wait to return in winter and experience the area on snowmobile.