Gaultois is a tiny community on Long Island on Newfoundland’s South Coast. It is a short ferry ride from Hermitage across 6 km of ocean and takes approximately 20 mins. Your vehicle will be left in Hermitage, as there are no roads in Gaultois.

 

Map image courtesy of Newfoundland Labrador Transportation and Works

 

Leaving Hermitage with beautiful views along the way.

 

Fjords, beautiful vistas and no fog, a gift from September.

 

Hmmmmmmm………………….

 

Arriving in Gaultois.

 

 Anyone need a cab?

Gaultois was once a thriving community.  Fishery Products International decided to close the fish plant in 1990 because it had too many plants on the south coast. It is a testament to the tenacity and hard work of the people of Gaultois that approximately 100 people still live there. Most want to resettle but still haven’t reached a majority vote.

 

The ferry leaves and we begin our trek up to Gaultois.

Gaultois is home to three, possibly four (it depends on who you talk to :))  distinct areas, The Valley, The Room, The Point and The Bottom.

Trekking along.

We had a great lunch at The Gaultois Inn  and then continued our walk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately we didn’t have time to do this trail to the abandoned community of Piccaire.

 

 

 

School Transportation.

I was surprised to learn that there are still 17 students, with two teachers in Gaultois.  As we were leaving , some of the older students zoomed up on their dirt bikes or quads and took the 3:30 pm ferry to Hermitage. They planned to return on the 7 pm ferry.  Many residents of Gaultios have cars and trucks that they leave in Hermitage.

 

 

I like seeing clothes drying on clotheslines, but these disturbed me. I imagined the hard work involved pushing the clothesline up hill  and then the dust from the moving  quads blowing on the other two.

 

This photo tells visually how I felt when I left Gaultois. Overcome with sadness.

I hesitated in writing this in the event that some of the current residents of the community read this post; but in doing a little research, I found that although the town is somewhat divided on resettlement, most are eager to leave and start anew. There are some plans in the works for rejuvenation, and if that is what the residents want, I wish them well.

Gaultois, plan a visit, stay at the inn, do a walkabout or two, talk to the locals and form your own thoughts and opinions.

 

“Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead.”  ? author

 

Photos L. Fudge