Monday 1 October 2012

There It Is...Our Ship has Sailed...Until the Next Time! September 02-September 29, 2012

So, just to make our Maritime experience complete, we thought it would be good to pull everything together and present our trip as bit of an overview in our usual tongue and cheek fashion.  Here goes...

In 29 days we:
    Fundy National Park
  1. 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!
  2. visited 11 liquor stores:
    1. 2 times in New Brunswick (NB),  plus 4 wineries
    2. 3 times in Nova Scotia (NS),
    3. once in Quebec (QC) , but does this really count if you picked up the goods in a grocery store?
  3. visited grocery stores 8 times, and in addition 2 bakeries:
    1. 2 times in NB,
    2. 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), 
    3. once in PEI,
    4. and once in QC, but we also bought bread at a local bakery there too.
  4. searched for assistance from the services of 16 Provincial and Municipal Visitor Centres, and numerous friends:
    1. 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,
    2. 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.
    3. 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!
  5. bought a quilt for our trailer,
  6. saw whales,
  7. sailed on a tall ship...okay, SAILED may be a bit of an exaggeration due to the weather conditions, but the intent was there,
  8. Garrison District Ale House, Fredericton
  9. drank beer with the locals in more taverns than we can currently count,
  10. 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);
    1. Walinaik Cove, Mactaquac Park Arm, Mactaquac, NB (linked to the St. John River)
    2. Utopia Shubenacadie River, NB (an off-shoot river of the Bay of Fundy, during the floods of Hurricane Leslie near the Tidal Bore)
    3. Cape Enrage, Chignecto Bay, NB
    4. Hopewell Cape, Chignecto Bay, Hopewell Rock, NB
    5. Hall's Harbour (Bay of Fundy), NB
    6. Lower Economy, Minas Basin, NS
    7. Five Islands, Minas Basin, NS
    8. Spenser Harbour, Minas Basin, Great Village NS
    9. Hall's Harbour Dip
    10. Evangeline Beach Road, (Bay of Fundy) Grand Pré, NS
    11. Mahone Bay, (linked to the Atlantic Ocean) NS
    12. Lunenburg, (Atlantic Ocean)NS
    13. Halifax, (Atlantic Ocean) NS
    14. Pillar Rock Bay, Cabot Trail, NS (Cape Breton)
    15. Baddeck Bay, Baddeck, NS (Cape Breton)
    16. Cavendish National Park, (Gulf of St. Lawrence) PEI
    17. Oyster Harbour, PEI National Park, (Gulf of St. Lawrence) PEI
    18. Parlee Beach, Shediac, (Northumberland Strait) NB
    19. St. Andrew (2xs), (Passamaquoddy Bay) NB
    20. St. Andrew, Whale Watching, (Bay of Fundy) NB
    21. Charoletteburgh, St. Lawrence River, Lancaster ON
    22. Coburg Beach, Lake Ontario, Coburg ON
  11. stayed at 13 campgrounds (sort of), 1 B&B, 1 Inn/Lodge Resort and provide our star rating opinions out of 5*'s:
    1. KOA St. Nicholas, Quebec City (2 nights) ****
    2. Mactaquac Provincial Park, Fredericton NB (2 nights) ****
    3. Fundy National Park, Alma NB (3 nights) ****
    4. Wide Open Wilderness, Utopia NS (1 night) ***
    5. Land of Evangeline, Grand Pre NS (2 nights) ****
    6. Camp Davis, Private TC Campground, Head of Chezzetcook, NS (6 nights)#  *****
    7. Keltic Lodge, Ingonish NS
    8. Bluenose B&B, Lunenburg NS (2 nights)***
    9. Whycocomagh Provincial Park, Whycocomagh, NS (3 nights)# ****
    10. Keltic Lodge & Resort (Executive Suite)# (1 night...sigh) *****
    11. KOA Cavendish, PEI (1 nights) **
    12. Sun & Shade Campground, Borden-Carleton, PEI (1 night) ****
    13. Rockwood Park, St. John NB (1 night) ***
    14. Kiwanis Oceanview Camping, St.Andrew NB (2 nights) *****
    15. Pointe-aux-Oies Campground, Montmagny QC (1 night) ***
    16. Charlotteburgh Park, Lancaster ON (1 nights) *
      1. #are nights the trailer stayed in one spot, but we stayed in other accommodations, matched with same colour#
      2. Lodging cost us $707.53 (camping), $414.00 (B&B), $151.32 (Lodge/Executive Suite)
  12. Tricia took approximately 3,604 pictures and 4 videos.  Thank goodness for digital photography!  Ken is still counting!
  13. 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!
  14. experienced more than we ever thought imaginable...priceless.
We aren't sure how helpful any of this may be to us looking back, or to you in considering a trip similar to ours, but it was revealing to us in a few ways when we pulled this information together to post.

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!
We are grateful to so many: 
      Camp Davis, a TC Exclusive Campground
    • 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.)
My holidays this year are all spoken for, but as soon as more come available, plans will be made for our next adventure.  What direction shall we go?  I guess you'll just have to wait and see!  Until then, your suggestions are ALWAYS welcome!

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

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hurrah! Finally I got a weblog from where I can in fact obtain helpful information concerning my study and knowledge.



Here is my blog post; louis vuitton mahina xs

Anonymous said...

Hi there, for all time i used to check webpage posts here in the early hours in the dawn, as
i love to find out more and more.

Feel free to visit my blog post :: michael kors mens watches
my page - michael kors perfumes

Anonymous said...

I'm truly enjoying the design and layout of your website. It's a very easy
on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit more often.

Did you hire out a designer to create your theme?

Superb work!

Here is my homepage :: justin bieber supra shoes

Anonymous said...

I drop a leave a response each time I like a post on a site
or I have something to contribute to the conversation.
Usually it is a result of the fire communicated in the
article I browsed. And after this post "There It Is...Our Ship has Sailed...Until the Next Time! September 02-September 29, 2012".
I was moved enough to post a thought ;) I actually
do have a couple of questions for you if you tend not to mind.
Is it simply me or do some of these responses look like they are coming from
brain dead folks? :-P And, if you are writing on additional sites, I would like to
follow you. Could you make a list all of all your social sites like your Facebook page, twitter feed, or
linkedin profile?

My webpage michael kors mens watches

Anonymous said...

Magnificent website. A lot of helpful information here.
I am sending it to several pals ans also sharing in delicious.
And naturally, thank you in your sweat!

Take a look at my site ... Cheap Nike Air Max 1

Anonymous said...

I blog frequently and I truly thank you for your content.
This article has really peaked my interest. I am going to bookmark your
blog and keep checking for new details about once a week. I opted in for your
Feed too.

Here is my homepage: fake oakleys

Anonymous said...

Excellent post. I'm dealing with some of these issues as well..

Here is my blog post wholesale oakley sunglasses

Anonymous said...

Howdy! This article could not be written much better! Looking at this post reminds me of my
previous roommate! He always kept preaching about this.
I'll forward this information to him. Fairly certain he'll have a great read.
Thanks for sharing!

Feel free to surf to my weblog; ミュウミュウ

Anonymous said...

Wonderful website you have here but I was curious about if you knew of
any message boards that cover the same topics talked about here?
I'd really like to be a part of group where I can get feed-back from other knowledgeable individuals that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thank you!

Feel free to surf to my site: クリスチャンルブタン

Anonymous said...

For most up-to-date information you have to go to see the web and on internet I found this website as a most excellent site for newest updates.


Also visit my page ... www.christianlouboutinoutletstorex2013.com

Anonymous said...

Hi to every body, it's my first go to see of this web site; this web site carries amazing and really fine information for readers.

my website fidaltrentinomagazine.blogspot.fr

Anonymous said...

Can I simply just say what a comfort to uncover someone who actually knows what they're discussing on the net. You definitely know how to bring a problem to light and make it important. More and more people should read this and understand this side of the story. I can't believe you aren't more popular since you definitely possess the gift.

Here is my web-site クロエ

Anonymous said...

Great items from you, man. I've be mindful your stuff prior to and you're simply too great.
I actually like what you've bought right here, really like what you're saying and the best way
in which you say it. You are making it enjoyable and you continue to care
for to keep it wise. I can not wait to learn far more from you.
This is actually a terrific web site.

my page - http://www.toryburchoutletstore2013.com/

Anonymous said...

I always spent my half an hour to read this web site's posts every day along with a cup of coffee.

My web site :: http://thefinders-keepersblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/designerapparelcom-giveaway-juicy.html

Anonymous said...

Hello! This post could not be written any better!
Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate!
He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this page to him.
Fairly certain he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!


Take a look at my website: クロエ バッグ

Anonymous said...

It is best to take part in a contest for probably the greatest blogs on the web.
I will suggest this web site!

Feel free to visit my homepage :: クロエ バッグ

Anonymous said...

Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads up and let you know a few of the images aren't loading properly. I'm not sure why
but I think its a linking issue. I've tried it in two different web browsers and both show the same results.

My blog post: polo ralph lauren outlet

Anonymous said...

What's up to every body, it's my first visit of this web site; this website includes
amazing and in fact good stuff for readers.

Feel free to surf to my web-site: polo ralph lauren outlet online

Anonymous said...

Excellent web site you have here.. It's difficult to find excellent writing like yours nowadays. I really appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!

my site polo ralph lauren outlet

Anonymous said...

Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I've really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. In any case I'll be subscribing to your feed
and I hope you write again very soon!

Also visit my homepage: Replica Rolex Watches

Anonymous said...

Your style is very unique in comparison to other people I have
read stuff from. Many thanks for posting when you've got the opportunity, Guess I will just book mark this blog.

My weblog Replica Watches

Anonymous said...

I love reading through a post that will make men and women
think. Also, thank you for allowing for me to
comment!

Also visit my blog post - http://concordancewatch.wordpress.com

Anonymous said...

Asking questions are actually fastidious thing if you are not understanding anything fully, however this article presents pleasant understanding even.



Also visit my blog post ... Replica Rolex

Anonymous said...

Inspiring quest there. What occurred after? Thanks!

my web-site :: Replica Watches

Anonymous said...

Great blog! Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers?

I'm hoping to start my own site soon but I'm a little lost on everything.

Would you suggest starting with a free platform like Wordpress
or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that
I'm completely overwhelmed .. Any recommendations? Thanks!

Also visit my web-site - Replica Rolex Watches

Anonymous said...

Saved as a favorite, I love your website!

Here is my blog: Replica Rolex

Anonymous said...

I don't even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good. I do not know who you are but certainly you are going to a famous blogger if you aren't already ;) Cheers!


Here is my homepage :: Replica Watches

Anonymous said...

Hi there! Quick question that's entirely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My site looks weird when viewing from my iphone4. I'm
trying to find a template or plugin that might be able to fix this issue.
If you have any suggestions, please share. Many thanks!



my site: クロエ 長財布

Anonymous said...

Thanks a lot for sharing this with all folks you really understand what you're speaking approximately! Bookmarked. Kindly also talk over with my site =). We can have a link exchange agreement among us

my weblog ... sosyal.tekbilim.com

Anonymous said...

Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it's truly informative. I'm gonna watch out for brussels.
I'll be grateful if you continue this in future. Many people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

My homepage ... ミュウミュウ

Anonymous said...

What's up, after reading this remarkable paragraph i am as well happy to share my familiarity here with friends.

my website christian louboutin shoes

Anonymous said...

Have you ever thought about publishing an e-book or guest authoring on other websites?
I have a blog based on the same information you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information.
I know my subscribers would enjoy your work.
If you are even remotely interested, feel free to
send me an e-mail.

Here is my webpage: christian louboutin shoes

Anonymous said...

This piece of writing will assist the internet people for building up new webpage or
even a blog from start to end.

Feel free to surf to my website; Replica Rolex Watches

Anonymous said...

Excellent blog post. I absolutely appreciate this website.
Keep writing!

Look at my blog post :: Replica Rolex

Anonymous said...

I don't even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I do not know who you are but definitely you're
going to a famous blogger if you aren't already ;) Cheers!

Here is my webpage Replica Watches