On the road, from Point Amour Lighthouse to Red Bay

Next stop along the coastal drive was L'Anse au Loup.  L'Anse au Loup, with a population of approximately 550 making it the largest town in the Labrador Strait, is a French name meaning "Wolf Cove".  Although L'Anse au Loup was first established by the French in the early 1700s, it was later settled by the English, Scots and Irish.  A thriving fishing and sealing industry was established at L'Anse au Loup as early as 1778. It is still primarily a fishing community.  The Labrador Fishermans' Union Shrimp Co. Ltd., one of the most modern fish processing facilities in the province, has its headquarters here at L'Anse au Loup.

Lawrence David O'Brien - first Labrador born Member of Parliament, from L'Anse au Loup

Several small communities can be found between L'Anse au Loup and my next stop, which was Red Bay. 

Capstan Island, with a population of less than 50, is a small fishing community with a rocky coastline.  It is not actually an island but got its name from a small tidal island off shore, where in 1851 the residents constructed a capstan, a sturdy wooden post and handle, mounted in a stabilizing frame, used to wind-in a rope or cable.  The capstan pulled a line attached to the door of a seal net, or trap, that stretched to the mainland.  Capstan Island has excellent garden soil and the region's only commercial greenhouse is located here.

West St. Modeste (population approximately 100) was given its name by Pierre Constantine, a merchant of New France, who named it in memory of his ancestral home in Normandy - St. Modete.  He gave his concession the pompous title of "Seigneurie du Grand St. Modet" and directed his fishing operations from two locations, Grand St. Modet and Petit St. Modet.  About 1800 these locations became the villages of East St. Modet and West St. Modet.  Over the years Modet has changed to Modeste, and East St. Modeste was abandoned.

Pinware (population approximately 80) is anglicized from the French "Pied Noir", named for a large, black rock resembling a foot which can be found in this area.  Long before there were any permanent settlers in the area, French fishermen lived here in big summer houses, caught and dried their fish, and barked their twine. Some of the oldest archaeological sites in Labrador are located in this community, dating back to 9000 years ago.  Some of the best timber stands in the region are located along the Pinware River.  The river is also renowned for some of the best salmon angling.