In 29 days we:
- picked up one hitch-hiking moose, severed his antler and ear, prep'd him for surgery, but the surgery was not successful. At least the patient survived!
- visited 11 liquor stores:
- 2 times in New Brunswick (NB), plus 4 wineries
- 3 times in Nova Scotia (NS),
- once in Quebec (QC) , but does this really count if you picked up the goods in a grocery store?
- visited grocery stores 8 times, and in addition 2 bakeries:
- 2 times in NB,
- 3 grocery stores in NS, and one in Cape Breton (which is really Nova Scotia, but they don't like to think so!), and 2 visits to a local bakery (in the same day),
- once in PEI,
- and once in QC, but we also bought bread at a local bakery there too.
- searched for assistance from the services of 16 Provincial and Municipal Visitor Centres, and numerous friends:
- before we left, we received mail from centres and campgrounds in both NB & NS, a care package of maps and information from Joyce, and a care package in lieu of signing up with CAA before we left,
- We also visited centres at the KOA in St. Nicholas, Quebec, Fredericton City Hall, NS Boarder Info Centre, our personal tour guide extraordinaire Davis Edwards, Cape Breton, Beddeck, Cavendish, St. Stephens, NB/Quebec and Quebec/Ontario Visitor Centres.
- On this note, if and when we travel again, or if you plan to venture out on North American roads, we HIGHLY recommend stopping at this centres. The staff are friendly, helpful and a huge resource to the areas they work/live in. Without them, we would have been lost...okay, we still got lost, but we would have been MORE lost!
- bought a quilt for our trailer,
- saw whales,
- sailed on a tall ship...okay, SAILED may be a bit of an exaggeration due to the weather conditions, but the intent was there,
- drank beer with the locals in more taverns than we can currently count,
- took a "dip" in 21 different bodies of water that linked us either to the Bay of Fundy or Atlantic Ocean. These were the bodies of water (in order of appearance);
- Walinaik Cove, Mactaquac Park Arm, Mactaquac, NB (linked to the St. John River)
- Utopia Shubenacadie River, NB (an off-shoot river of the Bay of Fundy, during the floods of Hurricane Leslie near the Tidal Bore)
- Cape Enrage, Chignecto Bay, NB
- Hopewell Cape, Chignecto Bay, Hopewell Rock, NB
- Hall's Harbour (Bay of Fundy), NB
- Lower Economy, Minas Basin, NS
- Five Islands, Minas Basin, NS
- Spenser Harbour, Minas Basin, Great Village NS
- Evangeline Beach Road, (Bay of Fundy) Grand Pré, NS
- Mahone Bay, (linked to the Atlantic Ocean) NS
- Lunenburg, (Atlantic Ocean)NS
- Halifax, (Atlantic Ocean) NS
- Pillar Rock Bay, Cabot Trail, NS (Cape Breton)
- Baddeck Bay, Baddeck, NS (Cape Breton)
- Cavendish National Park, (Gulf of St. Lawrence) PEI
- Oyster Harbour, PEI National Park, (Gulf of St. Lawrence) PEI
- Parlee Beach, Shediac, (Northumberland Strait) NB
- St. Andrew (2xs), (Passamaquoddy Bay) NB
- St. Andrew, Whale Watching, (Bay of Fundy) NB
- Charoletteburgh, St. Lawrence River, Lancaster ON
- Coburg Beach, Lake Ontario, Coburg ON
- stayed at 13 campgrounds (sort of), 1 B&B, 1 Inn/Lodge Resort and provide our star rating opinions out of 5*'s:
- KOA St. Nicholas, Quebec City (2 nights) ****
- Mactaquac Provincial Park, Fredericton NB (2 nights) ****
- Fundy National Park, Alma NB (3 nights) ****
- Wide Open Wilderness, Utopia NS (1 night) ***
- Land of Evangeline, Grand Pre NS (2 nights) ****
- Camp Davis, Private TC Campground, Head of Chezzetcook, NS (6 nights)# *****
- Bluenose B&B, Lunenburg NS (2 nights)# ***
- Whycocomagh Provincial Park, Whycocomagh, NS (3 nights)# ****
- Keltic Lodge & Resort (Executive Suite)# (1 night...sigh) *****
- KOA Cavendish, PEI (1 nights) **
- Sun & Shade Campground, Borden-Carleton, PEI (1 night) ****
- Rockwood Park, St. John NB (1 night) ***
- Kiwanis Oceanview Camping, St.Andrew NB (2 nights) *****
- Pointe-aux-Oies Campground, Montmagny QC (1 night) ***
- Charlotteburgh Park, Lancaster ON (1 nights) *
- #are nights the trailer stayed in one spot, but we stayed in other accommodations, matched with same colour#
- Lodging cost us $707.53 (camping), $414.00 (B&B), $151.32 (Lodge/Executive Suite)
- Tricia took approximately 3,604 pictures and 4 videos. Thank goodness for digital photography! Ken is still counting!
- dined out 21 times (including meals within the lodging arrangements) - We admit, this was more times than we originally thought we would, but two things support an argument for this, a) how else are you suppose to learn about the culture and b) we were on holidays!
- experienced more than we ever thought imaginable...priceless.
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| Fundy National Park |
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| Garrison District Ale House, Fredericton |
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| Hall's Harbour Dip |
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| Keltic Lodge, Ingonish NS |
Finally, what did we learn? Besides the obvious, how much we learned about the eastern quadrant of our amazing country, we learned:
- we CAN live in 21' foot living quarters without killing ourselves doing, but 1 month made us both appreciate even more a luxury most of take for granted: our own personal space to shower and clean indoor plumbing!
- Speaking and understanding French is not essential, but we can only imagine how much stress would have been avoided had we removed this barrier
- connecting with locals, showing the locals we are visitors and respect everything about their culture (on a side note, we witnessed a few "cruise folks" not displaying their best visitors face to the locals), minding your manners and being grateful as you go, ("please" and "thank you" go a long way, but so does respectful gratuities and simple gifts of thanks!) contribute to how, as a visitor, you are welcomed and wanted by the locals.
- We noticed several times along the highway, especially in NS and NB, folks who would stop their car along the highway, get out and pick up garbage on the side of the road. These folks REALLY care about their landscape. We play a part in this, don't leave more than your footprint, take pictures as keepsakes and pick up garbage as you go, save a local from doing it!
- Again, especially in NB and NS, if a pedestrian is standing at the side of the road, yeild and let them cross without hesitation! Pedestrians come first - right Davis?
- The Maritime Provinces appeared to us they aren't the "Have-Not Provinces" we thought they were. Although we wonder, is this true, or is it that Ontario could benefit from learning how to do a few things more efficiently?
- The world is HUGE. Since our return, family and friends ask us if we would go back. For me, I would go back in a heartbeat. I might tweak a few things, make them a bit different, perhaps not visit ALL of the things we have done, but try and see a few other spots along the way, spend more time in some places, less time in others, but in all honesty, as much as I'd love to return, this trip has forced me to realize there's an amazing world out there I need to see, before I can't see it. Life is too short. Some of us realize it sooner than others for whatever reason, but the discovery is call our names - now. We want to fly out to Labrador and Newfoundland in the next year or two and see as much of the quadrants of the Maritimes we didn't have time to see. We simply do not know how folks manage to see the Maritimes in 2 weeks - 4 barely made us feel as though we covered it!
- Davis who unconditionally opened his home, cooked for us, shared his stories and experiences and gave of his time and vehicle. How could we ever show you how grateful we were to you? We hope you allow us the opportunity to show you our hospitality.
- To all those who kept our "home fires burning" while we were away. Streak for Cancer was in good hands with all of you, and Chris and Anne kept our home and contents safe - the plants were happier in our absence I am certain!
- To my Mom & Tony, my brothers and their families, my Aunts (& Rhonda), and all of you who sent us off on our "second honeymoon" in recognition of 25th Anniversary before we left. What an awesome way to start our trip, spending even a little bit of time with each of you was great, but let's spend more time together now that we are back!
- To my colleagues at BFM/BKM who covered my time away. Four weeks is a long time for such a small staff, but like always, you made it possible.
- To the Taylor Family for making such a reliable light-weight trailer. It was great travelling with confidence.
- To the rolling hills, steep embankments, landscapes, wildlife and artisan structures. Keep being what you are, there are TONS of folks we will be sending your way!
- To the folks we met along the way - too many to name. From bookmobiles to shipmates, interpreters to town officials, and campers to passerby's - each of you made our trip awesome!
- To our blog followers. We loved your comments, enlightening bits of information and emails. (Even though not everyone could post for whatever reason.)
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| Camp Davis, a TC Exclusive Campground |
Until we chat again, don't be strangers. We are pretty sure you know how to reach us, but just in case, grayt2b@rogers.com will get you to us!
That's pert'neer it for us!
Bon Soir,
Cheers,
Ken and Tricia Gray
