going for a hike in happy valley-goose bay

Happy Valley-Goose Bay airport

I wasn't sure what to expect in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. On one hand, it had a population roughly the size of Iqaluit, which is pretty large for northern communities. On the other hand, it was a northern community, and there’s quite a variation in northern towns across Canada. 

so many bears at my hotel

My hotel was attached to a restaurant that was surprisingly jungle-themed called Jungle Jim's. It really was decorated like a jungle, which felt really unexpected for, well, a town in Labrador. But here I was, in the Labrador part of Newfoundland and Labrador, with easy access to frozen margaritas and Jungle Jim’s Bongo Burger Madness deals.

Jungle Jim's

Happy Valley-Goose Bay started off as a military base. It’s one of the more central and populous communities in Labrador – a lot of folks who need specialized medical care in the northern Nunatsiavut regions get flown to Goose Bay for treatment, if not to St. John’s if services aren’t available in Goose Bay either.

-->

Our cab driver, a friendly chatty fellow from Newfoundland with a strong Newfoundland accent that I strained to understand at times, had recommended Birch Island Conservation Trail for us. It was lovely. It was far enough from the main roads to feel immersed in nature. The town was in the process of laying down a board walk along the marshy trail, and I took my time, wandering down the path, enjoying the gorgeous view of the water and muddy banks.

-->

All along the way, folks had discreetly left painted rocks by the trail, and hung popsicle art from the trees. It seemed like a popular spot amongst families and joggers, but never felt crowded at any time.

And then, the trail suddenly ended, the last part of the boardwalk still to be completed. I hope I get to come back here to do the full trail once the boardwalk is finished.

The same cab driver also suggested we have dinner at the Trappers Cabin. I had heard about this place from other people as well. The feature idea at this place was that you got to grill your own steaks. I wondered if it would be like Korean table top barbecue and, curious, made reservations and an order for steak.

Trappers Cabin also also a night club as well as a grill-your-own steak restaurant, and also featured video lottery machines and what looked like a karaoke machine. Clearly this was a happening place. The interior was decorated like the inside of a log cabin, with large chandeliers made from antlers. The friendly server rolled up to our table with our raw steaks and showed us to the communal grill – which was when I realized/remembered that I’d never cooked my own stove in my life.  Luckily I was able to call my spouse for stoveside assistance, and he was able to give me seasoning and grilling instructions over the phone. It was a pleasant end to an adventurous trip to Labrador.

going home: plane with silhouette of plane in clouds with rainbow ring