Journey Through Labrador

by Bernie Howgate

Genres: Travel

222 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

The dedication on the inside cover of Bernie's first book Tales of a Travelling Man " For my mother who gave me the strength to reach for the stars and my father who put fire in my belly " speaks volumes to his upbringing.
If God looks over his chosen fools, then Bernie has led a charmed life. He has an incurable child-like curiosity that drives him through his adventures. Meeting people has always been the name of his game. He loves the unexpected and finds himself just as much at home in equatorial Africa as he does in Canada's Arctic; whether he is sleeping under the stars, bedded down in a barn or being swept along by new found hospitality in someone's house. He seems to have that rare ability to disarm and blend in, no matter what his surroundings.

He jumped into the deep end of travel in 1980, stretching a two-month cycling vacation into an eight-year round the world cycling odyssey which led to his first book Tales of a Travelling Man. He had only been back in Canada for two years when he took off on another trip, cycling from Victoria, B.C. to St John's Nfld. on a Pakistani rickshaw which became the basis of his latest book entitled Newfie or Bust. The first time he laced on snowshoes or for that matter, paddled the open seas, was during an eight-month trip up the rugged Atlantic coastline of Labrador. This trip became the basis of his most popular book to date, Journey Through Labrador. He has also soloed 500 kilometers across Labrador's 'height of the land' in winter, and kayaked 2500 kilometers from Toronto, down the St-Lawrence River to Goose Bay, Labrador, which is the basis of his latest book entitled ' A Lazy Day in Summer'. He has also spent eighteen months camped out in two trapper's tents at the bottom of Lake Melville in Labrador's interior.

What sets him apart from his peers as a traveller is that not only are all his trips made solo, but because of their variety he has become over the years an accomplished outdoorsman, a self taught wilderness snowshoer and sea kayaker.

He can often be seen and heard on television and radio and has guested on such popular television programs as the Dini Petty Show, What on Earth, The West Coasters, Land and Sea and Canada A.M. . As well as being interviewed on numerous regional talk shows. CBC Radio's Hear and Now, serialised his Labrador trip and he has also guested on Morning Side, Basic Black and As It Happens. Micheal Enright once called his interview with Bernie "A breath of fresh air, the guy is a one off..."

Never one to limit himself to other peoples ideas or let grass grow under his feet, he now resides in Sept-Iles, Québec, learning French and promoting the outdoor life through his course Winter Camping.

It's been three years since his last major trip. The big 'Five - O' is just around the corner. Kayaking around the coastline of Newfounland has always intrigued him, so don't be surprised if you see it posted in his Sea Kayaking.

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bernie Howgate certainly leads an interesting life.

In "Journey through Labrador" he does that - he walks, kayaks and sleds through parts of Labrador. His tales of the people that he meets and the adventures are entertaining. I wouldn't say that this is the best real life adventure that I've read but he is a genuine person who wants us to know about his travels.

I will certainly read another of his books...if I can find any. He sells his books door-to-door and on line (I think).

[Kathleen McRae · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting

[K.L. McCluskey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great adventure through a great province and spectacular landscape

[Geraldine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the descriptive narrative

[Benjamin Kahn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my kind of book, really. My friend bought it from the author who was selling it door-to-door. I get the impression that with Howgate you really have to meet him to appreciate his work. On its own, I didn't find it that compelling.

It's a trip across Labrador, first on foot and then by kayak. I don't really tend to read travelogues - this might have been my first one - and there was really not much to it. He walks through lots of snow and then paddles across lots of water. There are storms and some times he gets lost. Most of his accommodation is provided by people he meets or stocked cabins, but occasionally he camps. He talks a lot about how hospitable people are and how much he enjoys talking to them. He is often so intent on turning a phrase that you don't really know what he's talking about.

The book would have benefitted from a little bit of research - he'll talk about how every conversation turns to the death of the fishing industry, but it's all anecdotal - he doesn't give you any background. He talks about how the government has made a mess of Davis Inlet, but gives it no context. Research seems to be anathema to Bernie's way of experiencing the world. As a result, you don't really learn much about Labrador beyond the fact that Howgate crossed it and the people are friendly. And that it's as remote and as empty as you might imagine.

[Sue Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author was selling his book door to door in my neighborhood, looking a little weatherbeaten and under a leaky umbrella. Labrador is on my bucket list so I was intrigued. The book reads a little like Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods". I liked the description of the landscape and people he met. The book could have used a little editing, but since it is self published and he is a DIY kind of guy, the roughness was part of the charm.