Here we are in the Fundy National Park, great park nice site.
This post picks up as we move from the US to Canada specifically the Maritimes. If you have not already done so check out the first part of trip in the previous post. The US part of the journey went very well and came off as planned. However, we were not so fortunate on this next leg. Even with all the advance planning things frayed more times than we would have liked. Overall, we had a good time and were able to roll with the punches, well up to the end.
Our take a way experience is clouded by the really bad roads. The experience 7 years ago was they were bad but not as bad. Over the course of our trip we lost several tires, pop rivets on the trailer, broke off a cabinet door and were constantly tightening the pieces and parts as they shook loose. This was a common theme with many of the other travelers we met along the road. At this point, not sure we would take the RV back to Canada again if things there do not improve. Then to top it off once we got back in the US the cooling system on the truck failed which was fixable with a little time and a credit card (luckily the service folks had the parts in stock).
The fateful part was we had to cut the trip short by two weeks as Larry ended up with a shoulder/rotator cuff problem that took over. Not being able to sleep, the quality of life on the road seemed to be going down hill so we headed for home base. It is hard to be in an RV when you are not feeling well. It was difficult decision to come back early and really left a void.
Update on the shoulder, to make a long story short, we are in an assessment period working on what comes next. It has ended up being more than just a shoulder issue. The good news is the quality of life is better thanks to our medical support team, steroids and physical therapy.
That is more than enough of the downside of the trip, life moves on… The Maritimes are beautiful and a great place to visit. The people are interesting and there is so much history that is so different from that of the US. We love the historic sites along with all the recreational opportunities.
The Maritimes are known for their seafood. The decision was made before we left that we would/could compromise our plant-based diet. Jan stayed on track but Larry not so much.
Of course we take our culinary talents on the road. Maintaining the plant based life-style on the road takes a bit of work, well maybe a few work arounds!
Summer comes late this far north. The spring wild flowers were in bloom. It was a pleasure getting out to see what spring and summer had to offer.
The photo library ended up with lots and lots of flower shots…
The Bunch Berries were in full bloom…great presentation!
The Blackberry along the hiking trails were in full bloom.
The stands of yellow and orange Hawk Weed were impressive.
This was our third trip to this part of Canada. Each time we spent time on the Bay of Fundy. Watching the tides come and go never seems to get old. The tides here can vary between 30 and 50ft depending on the time of the year.
Greetings from Hopewell Rocks on the Bay of Fundy. Had to do a little scaling the rocks to stage this one.
Color on the Bay of Fundy at low tide. Tides vary here by 30 feet every day.
The tide is in…background is Alma, New Brunswick.
Does this remind you of a dinosaur or maybe the Star Wars All Terrain Armored Transport. Bay of Fundy at low tide.
The tide is in. Access is via kayak instead of walking on the ocean floor.
Fun to explore the Hopewell without getting your feet week…although a bit muddy at times.
Very interesting seaweed, worth checking out.
Another Hopewell creature.
Prince Edward Island is a special part of the world. It is like walking back in time. The land is beautiful, the people are so friendly and for us this time the weather was outstanding. We stayed in the National Park on the North Shore. Great location to use as a base. There you find really nice beaches with plenty of places to bike or hike. The largest city is Charlottetown a colorful stop with lots of history. We poked along the coast checking out the farms and small towns. It was easy to spend a few days on the island again. It would be easy for us to go back again.
Here we are on the idyllic Prince Edward Island. Here is an iconic scene.
Nice stop on PEI along the coast where building an Inukshuk is the thing to do. These structures are used traditionally as landmarks or commemorative by Inuit people.
Found this fun beach on PEI. Good to take a long walk in a remote setting.
Morning walk found the home for Bank Swallows. Also large restricted areas for the Piping Plovers.
Enjoyed our stop in PEI’s largest city also the Capital. Last time we visited they were commemorating the War of 1812.
Charlottetown downtown where you can find some good food…
There are 35 lighthouses on PEI. Just had to check this out, fun setting.
Historic St. Paul’s Anglican Church.
These two guys are discussing the Confederation which seems to still be controversial with some… Lots of history here.
There are lots of National Canadian Historic sites to check out…this one focuses on Cod fishing.
Lots and lots of potatoes. Potatoes are the primary farm crop on the island.
Potatoes in bloom, nice backdrop,
…also many hay fields.
Here we at Cavendish taking an early morning walk.
What a difference a day makes…great early morning color this day.
Liked this early morning shot…
PEI is the home of Anne of Green Gables. For past visits this historic site never hit the to do list. When we were here six years ago the site was very popular for weddings especially those from Japan. This time we put it on the list for a half day visit. I must say it exceeded expectations and now can recommend it for anyone who comes to this part of the world and knows about Anne. The setting and the grounds are very well presented. Several curated hiking trails are worth the time.
Anne of Green Gables Historic site. This is the uncles house that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery to write the ever popular book. Did you read the book?
Jan in Anne’s garden.
This is the barn that went with the farm in Anne of Green Gables, how used as a center piece for the historic site.
Our schedule included four ferry trips. Newfoundland takes some planning, i.e. reservations. There are two main ports one on each end of the island. We came over on from Nova Scotia to the west end which takes about 7 hours and the return from the east end takes 16. Off the north side of the island is Fogo, a day ferry trip which we did. We had booked a ferry to Labrador but due to tire issues had to head back south to find replacement. That part of the world is very remote with limited services. The last ferry was from Digby in Nova Scotia to St John, New Brunswick saves a day drive time back to the US.
This trip was all about ferries. This is where we staged for the trip across the water to Newfoundland. Here we are on Bras Lake d’or a very picturesque setting.
Evening on Lake Bras d’or from the Arm of Gold Campground.
Site near North Sydney, home base for the Newfoundland ferry. Actually this was our third visit to this location in the last 15 years.
Another North Sydney, Nova Scotia view. The blue water is impressive.
Waiting for the ferry seemed to be a regular pass time for this adventure. This small ferry picked us up on Fogo Island.
Another ferry shot…yes, it was very windy.
I liked this shot. The trip to Newfound took 7 hours and the return trip was 16 hours.
The first stop was the Gros Morne National Park. This was a highlight of the trip. The weather was great. The pictures tell the story.
Here we are at the Gros Morne National Park on an early morning hike around the lake.
Gros Morne is beautiful…
Found this spot along the trail…the Blue Flags are impressive.
I walked this trail every morning we were at Gros Morne…great trail. On some mornings was greeted by Mr and Mrs Beaver out for their morning swim.
Awesome view…
More Gros Morne hiking views…
Liked this shot taken along the trail…
Life is good. Nice day, warm weather with a light breeze makes for a memorable time.
Gros Morne has mountains and Newfoundland can be cold all year.
Gros Morne Tablelands is where two continents collided. One side of the road is barren/rocky and the other side wooded. Interesting terrain!
This hike started in the rocks and ended with us getting our feet wet.
This is what was on the other side of the rocky trail. Bit of a swamp plus some very steep slopes along the way.l
Long Gros Morne view…
Melting snow creates running water, enjoyed this hike a lot!
Behind the mountain is the Gros Morne Fjord. The hike was too long for the amount of time we had which we regretted. The hike requires at least one overnight on the trail plus forging a river or two.
Jan taking a break along the trail.
Larry catching a few rays along with a water and snack break…
Exploring we found this beach which was very busy. The temps were way above average and the locals were looking for relief.
Of course Newfoundland has its share of light houses.
This was a view behind our RV site at the Sir Richard Squires Provincial Park.
A very fascinating and fun part of the island is the Twillingate area on the north shore. It is a very colorful fishing area. As the fishing industry slows down the area is promoting tourism so change in play. The people there are very proud of their heritage and push to promote their peninsula as the best in Newfoundland.
Newfoundland’s north share has great views, unbelievable seafood and fun towns to check out.
If you ever get to Newfoundland check out Twillingate. Our stay at the Dildo Run Provincial Park was very interesting and exceeded expectations.
Jan stopping along the coastal trail to get another shot.
Twillingate lighthouse where we saw several mink along one of the trail.
Aggressive hiking trail supported by the town of Twillingate…
Twillingate color…
Twillingate museum with a whale or two on display.
From Twillingate we took the ferry to Fogo the largest offshore islands. It too is a well-known fishing area, moving to more tourism and also known for an inspiring arts scene. Yes, it does have a lot of character and we were glad we made the trip. The downer was the icebergs are staying north this year.
Pictures from a day trip to Fogo Island, a very different part of the world. More pictures to follow.
Fogo is known for fishing, being artistic and now has a new large hotel which dominates the landscape.
Brimstone trail a great hike with some good views.
Fogo Island view.
Here is where Fogo gets interesting, have you heard of the the Flat Earth Society. According to the sign this is one of the four corners of the world.
Fogo Island Brimstone Hill.
Fogo Island…
Fogo Island view
This view caught my eye, it has a lot going on that makes it interesting.
Fish related buildings make for nice shots…
Tourist stop supporting the history of the fishing industry on Fogo…
These boats were all lined up just for this “photo”.
Another photo that tells the story of life on Fogo.
Continuing east, the next stop was the Bonavista peninsula. Historically it came from the same roots as Twillingate. We found the two communities are very competitive both with their assessment of the quality of seafood and for tourist dollars. The area is worth checking out. Here you can get up close and personal with the Puffins.
Elliston the capital of the world for root cellars…they were everywhere plus still in use.
Next stop was Elliston on the Bonavista Peninsula to get a glimpse of the Puffins
These guys landed almost within reach. They have some personality.
Puffins in the clover…
This guy seemed to be posing for everyone with a camera.
Jan took this picture and I wish that I had… It almost looks like a painting.
…more of the Newfoundland coast.
Bonavista folks tells us they have the best seafood, the same thing the folks in Twillingate told us as well.
A fun find on Bonavista was the town of Trinity. Here we found good theater, great places to eat, lots of history, a micro-brewery and lots of local color.
A surprise was finding Trinity, Newfoundland. Very colorful and full of character.
Trinity Historic District which now includes local theater.
This man was carrying his catch of the day…
Finding the Skerwink Trail a well-known hiking trail was a surprise.
The Skerwink Trail is one of the 25 top hikes in North America. The day we took this on the fog moved in and visibility was down to zero. No worthwhile pictures!
This is the start of the hike before we hiked up into the clouds…
Of course, there is always the coast, a lighthouse and several state historical sites.
Of course there is a lighthouse on the Bonavista Peninsula.
Newfoundland coastline, another great view!
…More Insukshuks…
Ryan Premises National Historic Site…another stop to catch up where Newfoundland came from…
“The” store Ryan historical site…
The final stop in Newfoundland is St John’s. Cape Spear is the eastern most point in North America. A well developed and well visited site. Again, will let the pictures tell the story.
Final stop in Newfoundland, St John’s staying at the Butterpot Provincial Park.
Enjoying Cape Spear St John’s, Newfoundland Eastern most point in North America.
Cape Spear Lighthouse
Larry enjoying the view and Newfoundland…
Cape Spear view across the bay
Cape Spear, what do you think of the view…
After Cape Spear you have to do Signal Hill. This is an area that overlooks the harbor and the city of St. John’s and dates back to the 17th century.
St John’s vista from Signal Hill.
Another view from Signal Hill…entrance to the St John’s Harbor
Signal Hill…the communication and emergency warning system for St John’s of the past…
Jan found another Inukshuk…
Documenting our visit to St John’s, Newfoundland
Of course, there is always another micro-brewery. In this case Quidi Vidi Brewery. Fine brews for sure…
Quidi Vidi Brewing Company – Fast food. Took a time out from the Plant Based diet for some very good fish and chips!
Great place for some good beer. You get to bring in food from next door.
The next day there were over 50,000 people here for the St John’s regatta.
This brewery has a very colorful history.
Our stay in St John’s was the Butterpot Provincial Park. Truly outstanding setting with lots of views and some really good hiking.
Butterpot mountain the name sake for the Provincial Park. This picture taken on a early morning hike.
The Butterpot trail.
As I said the trip back to Nova Scotia takes 16 hours. The plan, have dinner on the ferry and book a stateroom. The unplanned part was the roughest crossing of the year. The next stop was the Fortress of Louisbourg. A national historic site from the 17th century. This is a stop we have done with each of our visits.
Louisbourg historical site and unbelievable experience. The site was completely rebuilt in the thirties.
The historical site was reconstructed during the depression somewhat like the CCC in the US.
Nice perspective, don’t you think?
A park official told us the the roof was just replaced at over 9 million dollars. Many events and crafts are demonstrated daily. Very interesting, this was our third visit over the years.
This young man was very serious with his craft.
We enjoyed the interaction with those playing the their role and the on-grounds experience.
What is a visit to Nova Scotia without a few photos at Peggy’s Cove. The setting of the lighthouse in the rocks is awesome and again, a very enjoyable stop.
Cannot resist a colorful sunset. This one taken from our RV site at Peggy’s Cove, Newfoundland.
The shadows are long and soon to give to the dark of night.
The setting at the Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse.
Peggy’s Cove is all about the rocks. This shot has a colorful backdrop.
Peggy’s Cove is very popular. Mid-morning it is even hard to get a parking place.
Much more peaceful here early morning…
Jan and I climbed over the rocks to get this shot…
The last stop in the Maritimes was Digby to catch the ferry. The surprise was the pan-fried scallops…outstanding!
One of our last stops was Digby where we found some great seafood and caught the ferry heading back to the States.
The first destination in the States, Acadia National Park. What can I say other than why did we wait so long to come back…
Enjoyed a stop at the Acadia National Park. Yes, the Maine coast has plenty of fog.
From the Acadia Loop Drive Road.
Found this cove on one of my early morning walks.
Impressive stone work and lots of bridges that make Acadia special.
A day without any fog…
Fun early morning shot…
Lots to do and plenty to eat in Bar Harbor.
Bar Harbor waterfront
Bar Harbor, iconic Maine setting right here!
As part of my family genealogy project, the trip included a stop in Salem, MA. There is family history here dating back to the 1600s and the Witch Trials.
Salem Witch House… Lots of interesting old buildings with lots of history.
My eighth Great-Grandfather was hung as a witch in 1692. We came to Salem to personally check things out. The National Park Service does a great job bringing that period of time into perspective. The media presentation was well done.
The memorial wall for those who died in the 1600s.
Toured the historic waterfront. The district is very well done and where you can learn a lot about Salem’s past.
After Massachusetts the next stop was Connecticut. After those two states the only states still left on the retirement bucket list are Rhode Island and Maryland. The plan is catch them next year.
Now the trip plan called for us to catch up with family in New York and Pennsylvania. It was short drive from Connecticut to Kingston, NY. There we catch up with Mark and Kevin. We had a good visit with them. There we managed to get out on the trail and find an outstanding Vegan Restaurant in Woodstock. This is where the truck got fixed to continue the journey.
A highlight of the trip was getting to catch up with Son Mark in Kingston, NY
Here we are on the top of Overlook Mountain near Woodstock.
Mark and Kevin on top of Overlook…
Overlook Mountain Hotel a relic of the past – Active from 1820 to 1920. Great hike to get there…
It was good to get back home. The medical support team here is great. Now the hard work begins to get things fixed and to get back in the swing of things full time.
Although we were down for the count for this trip we are not out. Plans are in the works for what comes for the rest of this year and next. There are always so many options it is hard to narrow them down to the time available.
Overall this was a great trip with many good memories.
Back to home base always seems good, well at least for a few days.
Now we get to put feet up on the back deck. Good to see “Tummy” again although he was more interested in a good meal!
God Bless,
Larry and Jan