Sandra Phinney

Sandra Phinney is a journalist and photographer. She lives on the Tusket River in Yarmouth, NS. She writes features for business and lifestyle magazines, penned two non-fiction books, produced content for a number of guide books, and delivers writing workshops. Although travel writing is a small part of her work, it holds a big place in her heart and in spite of travelling the world, she's nutty about Atlantic Canada and passionate about visiting people and places in the region. In 2010, although she'd spent a lot of time in the four Atlantic provinces, she was acutely aware that she'd never been to Labrador. "I wonder what's up there," she thought. The following summer, Sandra left her home in Yarmouth, NS, and drove with her husband, Barrie MacGregor, through NB and PQ up to Labrador City, across Labrador, over to the west coast of NL and back home again.

She was so smitten by the people in Labrador that she vowed to go back in 2012--and she did. This time, she flew into Goose and spent three weeks poking around Happy-Valley Goose Bay with a side trip up to Nunatsiavut. Now she's determined to get back in 2013, 2014, 2015 ... you get the picture.

"There's one giant magnet in Labrador that draws me back. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what that magnet is but I suspect it's a combination of people, culture, and one heck of a "big land." It's like nothing I've ever experienced in other parts of Atlantic Canada. Even the air is different. Really. And even when things go wrong in Labrador it turns out right. That's just the way it is."

The Wonders of the Wonderstrands

16 May 2013 by Sandra Phinney in Boat Tours , Birdwatching , Camping , Hiking & Walking , Kayaking , Nature , History , Art Galleries and Outdoor Adventure

Region: Labrador

If you recall, our last stop was in North West River. Although we had tentatively planned to leave there mid day, I often lose sight of time when I follow my nose so it was dusk when we bid farewell to this region and hit that long long (albeit relatively new) road to Cartwright. Did I say that road was long? I should have known we wouldn’t get there before midnight.

Wonderstrands | Labrador Coastal Drive

Happy Valley-Goose Bay -- More than meets the eye

22 Mar 2013 by Sandra Phinney in History , Top Destinations , Art Galleries and Museum

Region: Labrador

Even though I knew that Happy Valley Goose Bay was the hub of Labrador, I was surprised to find a town of 7,500+ people with stores, restaurants, pubs, fast food outlets, churches, recreational facilities, building supply outlets, hotels—ad infinitum. Bit of a shock after driving long stretches without seeing neither man nor beast. (Remember those long, long, very long and straight dirt roads I was talking about?)

Impressions of a company town: Churchill Falls

20 Feb 2013 by Sandra Phinney in Hiking & Walking , Nature , History and Geography

Region: Labrador

Remember those long, very long dirt roads? Yup—lots more on the way to Churchill Falls. At some point we passed Ranger Lake where we saw a camp and an RV. It was such a startling change from miles and miles of black spruce and sky, Barrie piped up “Jeez—it’s built up around here.” (I’ve heard it said that you know you’re a Labradorian when your idea of a traffic jam is two cars waiting to pass a moose. Although we didn’t see a moose on our way to Churchill Falls, seeing a camp and RV on that long and lonely stretch struck my funny bone.)

Churchill Falls

First Impressions of the Big Land

29 Jan 2013 by Sandra Phinney in Birdwatching , Camping , Food & Dining , Nature , Culture , Parks and Cultural Experiences

Region: Labrador

When the Trans Labrador Highway opened up—making it possible to drive 1126km from Labrador City all the way across the province to L’Anse-au-Clair, Sandra Phinney and her husband Barrie MacGregor decided to make the loop from their home in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Four provinces and 5673 kilometers later, they are still talking to each other and still talking about their trip. Sandra’s posted some blogs about this journey.