Where's the "Time Stands Still" Button?? September 24, 2012

Well folks, I have once again readjusted the blog settings, as some are still writing saying they can't post.  I am so sorry this is being experienced, but Ken and I have really been enjoying your emails when posting fails.  It would be awesome if everyone could see your comments, so please give us another try!  If it still doesn't work, or if someone out there in cyber-land knows what we are doing wrong - please let us know!

Treasures continue to be found at every stop of this journey.  You have been hearing it repetitively from us, I am sorry about that, but it's true.  Even when we experience a bit of a low in our hopes and expectations, like PEI or even for that matter, St. John (in a different way though), the beauty, landscape and culture bounces back at us with such force you can't help but feel a little sorry for the communities who may not have achieved our "6 star rating"!  Everyone I believe discovers their gems through eyes which appeal to them.  For Ken and I, we have quickly learned it's not found as much in the museums and history, even though we recognize the importance and value in this area, but with the vacation clock ticking, nature and the beauty of each community is setting our pleasure meter over the top!  Maybe when we are both retired and the time is more on our side than the calendar, the other part of the culture will play into our tours, but for now, we are exactly where we had hoped to be, exploring the elements which speak to us.

View by day at our Saint John campsite.
Deemed by us as
"Mini Hamilton Harbour"



Today we hooked up the trailer for what may in fact be our last New Brunswick stop.  If this in fact happens to be the case, man we are ending on an extremely high note - but I am getting ahead of myself!

This morning we left what we are dubbing "Mini-Hamilton Harbour" (Saint John), and our amazing reversing falls adventure for what we were hoping would be a return to the winding, hilly hills and harbour views of New Brunswick we have grown to love.  We have definitely become accustom to these roads as well.  So much so, as of late, we have actually been darting down some of these side roads off the Trans Canada in hopes of viewing an amazing cove or wharf not so advertised from the highway.  This clearly is as a result of Davis' influence in showing us the southern shore of Nova Scotia, not because we are actually becoming any more adventurous than before though!  At times we make a run for the side road into unknown territory with that nervous knot in our stomachs, and at times, admittedly, we should have listened to our gut.

This morning was no exception.  St. John to St. Andrews-By-The-Sea, was said to be about an1 hour and 15 'ish' minutes of a  drive by Google Maps.  That would make the journey for today the shortest one yet.  So we thought, why not explore with trailer in tow?  We were doing fine, and by map, Ken as navigator suggested we could explore Chance Harbour off side road 790 West.  Sounded perfect - until it led down a road way path, no wider than most paths we would find along the Bruce Trail!  Actually, the adventure turned out amazing!  When we reached the end of the road, literally, there was a steep 8-10 foot long hill, then a bend which I could not see from my vantage point if we should proceed or not.  Like the good navigator Ken is, he hopped out, jogged down the hill and scouted out the possibilities to help decide if the the trailer could be safely turned around if we went any further.  As the good driver I am, I had an exit plan!  We'd simply use one of the cottage driveways if the navigator signalled the thumb down sign.  Turns out, since the tide was VERY low, there was a clearing where we could use as a turn around point.  It was tight, but we got TC turned around without issue.  As an award to our efforts, the view was unbelievable!  As tide combers go, we struck "gold" in our finds and the pictures I think were amazing!  Thank you Davis.  Even though you are no longer on the journey with us, you continue to inspire us!  What a guy!



Look at the water line on the tie dock!
Tide surges are pretty incredible here



Moored boats and barges, ready
for tomorrow's run.



Just beyond Chance Harbour, continuing on the 790 west, we came across a fishing village called Dipper Harbour, with industrial sized fishing boats and all the traps just brought in by a small float barge.  The fisherman were still in huddle position and the distributors were all arriving with their empty tub creates and flat bed trailers to hall the catch away.  If I knew at all how to actually cook live lobster without being upset eating them, I would have stopped and asked to purchase some.  Instead, I'm opting to purchase only cooked lobster for this trip.  Maybe next visit I will be braver!

In following the 790 west back to the Trans Canada, we continued on in search for gas.  This has been the longest bout yet in going without being topped up, and $130.01 later, we were back on the road.  Although this may seem steep, the last tank fill up was on the North Shore, or the Green Gables Shoreline of PEI. That's the entire width of PEI, across the Confederation Bridge, and all the way across New Brunswick on a 3/4 tank of gas!  We were pretty pleased with "Casper's" performance!  (Casper is the truck's name for those of you who don't know.)

View from our campground, low tide,
approximately 2:30 p.m.

View from our campground, high tide,
approximately 7:30 p.m.

We arrived at our destination, the Kawanis Oceanfront Camp in St. Andrew-By-The-Sea at about 1:00 pm.  John & Nickki, Dana & Linda, it really is too bad you didn't have time for this campground gem.  It is absolutely immaculate and the location is incredible!  It sits at the tip of this gorgeous town's peninsula.  It's  pretty open and vulnerable to the waters on all 3 sides known as Passamaquoddy Bay.  (Hence the word 'Peninsula'!  ~ Yeah thanks McFadden, I can already hear your laughter over that statement...but I am leaving it in anyways!)   Stunningly beautiful, we can see land of the United States of America from our shoreline.  Our campsite is about 60 feet to the shoreline, but that's only because we chose not to be in the front row!  We still have a clear shoreline view and have been sitting watching the boats motor or sail by most of the afternoon from several different vantage points.  Once again, the only thing that's missing for me is the Rye and Pepsi, but I need to go to the town liquor store and re-stock before this can happen!

Joyce & Wanda, you will be very pleased to know Ken and I FINALLY made use of our bikes!  With the campground situated pretty much in the heart of town, it's a quick and easy bike ride in, maybe less than a kilometre.  After getting settled, Ken and I rode our bikes down Water Street, checked out the lay of the land, walked the board walk, and headed to a recommended watering hole and restaurant ~ the "Red Herring" and had a few pints on the wharf.  Kevin, the owner, chatted with us numerous times and helped make our afternoon even more perfect, though I thought that would simply not be possible.  Turns out it was! 

Afternoon "tea" on the Wharf at the
Red Herring.  We'll be back Kevin!

Unfortunately we forgot to bring the backpack with us, so Myles was left at the trailer and there was no way to get our purchases from the town liquor store back to the trailer.  As soon as I finish my blog entry here (the sun is about to go down and it's progressively getting cooler by the minute!), I'll hop back on the bike, leave Ken watching the tide come in and pick up our "after dinner cocktails" for consumption later!  I ask you, can it get any better than this?  I simply think not!

Now tucked back in our trailer - they are calling for frost and 4 degrees tonight!  I'll tell you, when that sun drops, it's darn cold, fast!  Good thing we restocked from the "Glass Store"!  We are now in for the night after a beautiful sunset and nice hot shower. We've booked for 2 nights here, but if you ask me, it's likely going to be at least 3 and if there is any way I can squeeze in more time somehow, I assure you I will! 

It's going to be REALLY hard to leave St. Andrews.  It's only fair to thank Grant & Nancy, Beth & Kim for their insistance we include this stop on the trip.  Kudos to all of you for your insistance - we are in love with this town!  We have the day packed with some pretty awesome stuff tomorrow.  If the weather cooperates, and it's suppose to, I could possibly cross not one, but TWO items off my Bucket List.  Ahhh, but that's for tomorrow's blog...

Oh, Aunt Linda?  Ken and I have been listening to country music for almost a week now.  Uncle Bob would be proud I am sure, but in fairness, other than CBC Halifax, it's the only stations we can get!  Our ears are starting conform I think!

Stay tuned and find out how tomorrow works out for us!  Just needing to leave you wanting more...  Instead of a quirky "local" quote, I will leave you with the quote posted at the Red Herring Tavern...Enjoy!

Perfect!

Until tomorrow,
Cheers,
Ken & Tricia