I really did not get a chance to experience the local population in more than a limited fashion.
I came in through Port Aus Basques, drove for about two hours to Corner Brook, spent the night at The Glynmill Inn which was really nice. The waitress in their restaurant seemed kind and friendly. Then the next day, I drove the Trans Canada Highway to Burnside. It is somewhat of a long story, however, I knew some people who own a house there. I was there for about 10-days, three of which I spent alone, fasting, and "looking within" near what looked like a fault-line on the shore of the Atlantic while fishing boats passed by. I would mention names, but out of respect for their privacy, I won't do so publicly - if you would like to know, PM me and I will send a link even though you might think I am "out there" but, you know that already.
Had it not been for my tent, I would have been carried away by mosquitoes - being a resident, I am sure you are aware of this, but for anyone else, I am not in the least joking about that. There were probably more mosquitoes inside the rain fly of my tent than I have encountered in my entire life. I would say that 50,000+ is a reasonable guess.
Every local I did encounter seemed very friendly.
I think I saw some moose, and saw what looked like very large birch forests.
I then reversed my route after the stay, and came home. However, like the other place that I went to that is a long journey, Singapore, I was left wanting to return sometime, and your comments make me think that it would have been nice to get down to the level of which you speak - though I no longer partake in rum. At the time, it was something like $3,000 for "crown land" in Burnside. I contemplated it. I saw trees there that were literally growing horizontally - a result of the high winds which indicate that some areas can be a challenge in which to live.
I love the remoteness of place, and to me, what I saw of it was quite beautiful. However, on the cable TV system at The Glynmill Inn, they had one of the stations from the US city in which I live - which was interesting that my hometown followed me up there.
Congratulations on the Olympic Gold Medal.
Thanks for the opportunity to reminisce.