The ferry from Novia Scotia takes around 6 hours and arrives at Channel – Port aux Basques after travelling down the Newfoundland west coast early in the morning.  The reference to Basques we learn later comes from the whalers who came across the Atlantic in tiny boats to harpoon, land and melt down the whales for their oil early in the 16^th century.  And we think today’s oil exploration and extraction processes are tough.  It’s last on, first off so we make a beeline for the coffee shop in the first town and then get on the road.  Most of the population live on the east coast so the road up the west coast we are taking to get to Gros Morne National Park is fairy deserted.  We couldn’t really do it justice, this is a Park where you would need to bring the walking boots and throw the clock away.  There are around 20 walks in the vicinity of Rocky Harbour where we stay the night but with only a few hours to spare we decide to drive up the coast and check out the lighthouse.  Well restored and now set up as a museum, the lighthouse is a reminder of the tough times faced by the early settlers.  It tells the story of the succession of fishermen catching herring and cod for the European market and later in the 19^th century, lobsters for the US.