All about the Newfoundland Explorer
In his new book “Man and Dog,” Justin Barbour documents his 700-km trek across Newfoundland with his dog, Saku. In today’s edition, Barbour answers The Telegram’s 20 Questions on
Justin Barbour has always been all in.
Whether it was pursuing his love of hockey both off the island in the Maritime Hockey League or back at home in the Newfoundland senior circuits, he gave it his all.
So it only made sense that after discovering the great outdoors and a love for canoeing while studying for a physical education degree at Memorial University in St. John’s, he would be all in on that too.
“I have always enjoyed the outdoors since my childhood running around in Bauline, Pouch Cove,’’ Barbour said.
“I played a lot of hockey, I was flat out in that. But after travelling around (to P.E.I. and N.B.), I took that canoe course while at MUN and it led me back to the things I enjoyed when I was younger,’’ he added.
After finishing his education degree, he went out on the road again, this time to Labrador, where he got to put his love of the outdoors and new canoeing skills to work.
Fast-forward more than five years, the recently engaged Barbour has gone on adventures that few people get to do and chronicled it on his You Tube channel “Newfoundland Explorer” for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy.
The channel, which has about 22,000 subscribers, features more than 50-videos, all of them shot in the last 30 months.
Video wasn’t enough so Barbour decided to sit down and chronicle a 700-kilometre trip he made with his dog Saku (named for the former Montreal Canadiens’ captain Saku Koivu) from the Long Range Mountains on Newfoundland’s west coast all the way back to Cape Broyle on the Avalon Peninsula.
And how many dogs get their own book? Saku was chronicled in “Saku’s Great Newfoundland Adventure” by Marie-beth Wright.
Barbour’s new book is aptly titled “Man and Dog” and was released on Oct. 5 by Flanker Press. According to those who have previewed it, it gives the reader a campfire view of the entire trip.
It has been shipped to locations around the globe that includes Australia, the United Kingdom and the Southern United States.
“It took me about six months to write the manuscript and get it to the publisher for editing.”
Barbour says his life is right where he wants it, getting the love support of his fiancé Heather, being able to take long times away to complete these projects with that support and setting out with Saku for multiple adventures.
Who could ask for more?
samuel.mcneish@thetelegam.com