Fredricton - September 5, 2012



Rain drops fall at Mactaquac Provincial Park



So after yesterday's adventure and travel, we decided to stay put at the Mactaquac Provincial Campground in Bright New Brunswick for another night so we could and travel into Fredericton, about 30 minutes away without towing the trailer.



Since we arrived in the dark, it was hard to imagine the layout of the park, so we woke, had breakfast and then ventured out to see the campground...in the POURING rain!  We actually welcomed rain to be honest, we thought it might help relax the day and remove any pressure and anxiety.  It did until we realized the pathway we parked on last night was a drainage way for the 4 hills that surrounded our campsite!  No fear though, it was very picturesque and warranted staying put!

We took a walk to see the campgrounds in the morning.  It is actually a rather large park with rolling hills and campsites everywhere - and we mean everywhere!  They permit seasonals here, who find a patch of property and turn it into a campsite.  There are wooded areas and open fields, but what is amazing is that every section of campsites (about every 20-25 campsites) have their own comfort station and a covered, stone wall shelter that houses about 4 picnic tables and 2 built-in wood stoves!  They are so cute!  MacG's chief Comfort Station manager Heather would go insane with this many stations to maintain in a day!!  But like MacG, these facilities, although aged are kept in pristine shape and, honestly, you could eat off the floor - I wouldn't but you could!  Along our walk, we headed for Lake Mactaquac where Tricia did her traditional foot wade in.  The river was actually warmer than the rain falling! Across the lake is a major dam (you guessed it Mactaquac Dam) which also serves as a bridge from the dreaded Hwy #105 into Fredericton.  The dam drops what seems more than 100 feet on the other side and it's character is amazing.



A Hot Monkey for Tricia &
a Pump House Scotch Ale for Ken!



Fredericton was impressive, even though, for a moment, we considered maybe not going and just having a quiet day at the camp.  We were both glad we ventured in!  We started at the Fredericton Visitor's Centre where Deborah was instrumental in convincing us to be tourists and take in the sites.  It was raining so hard - the street water was going over our shoes, so we decided to start out town tour with a pint (or two) at the local pub "Garrison District Ale House".  Needless to say, Ken has found his new favourite brew - Pump House Scotch Ale while we enjoyed an awesome meal to boot.  We then visited the Soldier's Barracks, now hosting the Artisan studios where of course I bought a pair of pewter earrings! 

From there we saw the Fredericton Library and inquired about the Fredericton Bookmobile - unfortunately they were out on the road - and when I say this, I am not talking about being out on Arkell Road Philip, I mean OUT in the middle of well, no where!!  They stop at gas stations along highways, road side attractions and country side community halls.  They have not ONE but THREE bookmobiles that service the area of Fredricton, AND they have a driver who ONLY drives and a Librarian who manages/supervises everything else in EACH individual bookmobile.  There is a chance we might be able to catch up to one of the vehicles tomorrow, but we will have to see. 



Deborah & Ken discussing the amazing
tapestry of Fredericton City Hall
Council Chambers



After the library, we went to the town lighthouse, the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, the Provincial Legislative Assembly Building and then back to City Hall where we had a private tour of the Council chambers, which display tapestry that tells a very unique history from the beginning to now of Fredericton.  On our way out of town we stop and toured the Christ Church Cathedral, the first Anglican Cathedral of Canada, where Queen Victoria had to change the status of the town to a city in order to permit a cathedral to be built.



If nothing else, we truly feel as though we absorbed ourselves in the the New Brunswick culture today!  We spoke, drank, ate and dodged rain drops with the locals and it was ALL awesome! We may not have squeezed an afternoon nap in, but it sure paid off!

Tomorrow promises a bit of a drive ahead - destination: Bay of Fundy National Park.  From there we hope to use this point of interest as our home to branch out again to site see more. 

Can't begin to tell you how amazing the adventure is so far!  Hard to imagine there's more ahead to continue to wow us!

Chat soon!

Ciad Mile Failte - A Hundred Thousand Welcomes."
Ken & Tricia