Friday, September 25, 2009
We're going back home today. Our trip is over.
Once we packed up, we went to pay for the night. They had said it was fine if we paid on our way out. We made a short pit stop at the beach, so Samer could take a few photo’s of the coast/beach. Then we got on the road towards Fredericton and then towards Grand Falls. We took exit 18 in Edmonston and stopped to gas up and to eat. We stopped again at a subways and this one had whole wheat bread, so we had lunch there before continuing to drive.
We stopped at a road side stop past St Jean Port Joli and then we switched drivers. It was mid afternoon. I predicted we’d be around Quebec City for rush hour and I was right. We were there around 5ish and ended up in a lot of congestion for about 30 minutes and continued on the 20 until we met up with the 30, and we took that to avoid coming in by the Champlain bridge downtown. The 30 becomes the 132, and you can get the Mercier bridge that way, which is easier living on the West Island of Montreal. You avoid all the downtown traffic.
We got home around 8:30 and found Bill hanging out with the cats. He’d been house sitting for us. Was just weird that there was no car in the driveway. He had Earl, his mom’s bf, drop him off on the way to work Monday the week before.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
We head towards Digby, to take the Ferry to St John's
We bought our tickets for the Ferry from Digby to St John’s and then went to eat in Digby, at Shore line restaurant and gift shop. I had the greek salad and fries, he had an ‘Acadian poutine’ and shrimp fussily alfredo. Was pretty good. We had originally stopped in the Subways but they had no whole wheat bread which is a deal breaker for me.
Then we spent the time we had left in Digby shopping for souvenirs. I even picked up 2 M of Nova Scotia plaid fabric! We got on the Ferry around 4pm and I’m typing as we are about to leave Digby from the ferry. This particular ferry takes 3 hours to cross the bay of Fundy. Unfortunately I was a touch seasick and ended spending par t of the time at the laptop station recharging Samer’s laptop and surfing a little.
We could might have seen whales but didn’t. We got to St John’s just around dark. We took the road to New River Beach, probably 20 km away. It’s a provincial park on the shore of the bay of Fundy. It was pretty scenic, except we arrived in the dark.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
We spend the day in Halifax near Pier 21
Ironically if we’d followed our gut, we would have landed in Peggy’s cove. In the end lacking a good map, we followed the tourist info sign, which took us to Halifax Harbour. The downtown part, near pier 21, were the Maritime Museum, the SSC Arcadia and the HMSC Sackville are located. We toured the museum where we could have spent 4 more hours. But I knew the ships’s tour ended at 5pm, so we hurried up. We also ate at Murrays [murpheys? ] restaurant a 1 lb lobster and some sweet potato fries. We bought souvenirs there as well.
After the visit of teh ships, we walked around a couple of blocks to take pictures of |St Mary’s cathedral and 2 other churches that were within eyesight of each other. We had parked the car and did all this tour walking. We arrived in Halifax by one bridge and left by the other. We got lost kinda a 2nd time going to Porters Lake park & campground, but at least we knew what road the park was on and found it more easily.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
We leave Cape Breton and head towards Halifax
Today we drove from Whycocomagh National Park in Cape Breton to Porters Lake National park, in the outskirts of Halifax. Instead of taking the main highway, we decided to follow the eastern coast, going through every little port and inlet. The only time we diverted from the road was to avoid a ferry, since we didn’t know the schedule and figured t might delay us.
We stopped in Sherbrooke at the Sherbrooke Inn for lunch. I had the haddock and fries, Samer had the fettucine, and some fries. We got lost on the way into porters Lake and ended up circling around it well spiralling around it before we actually found our way. We made it around 8pm. Nice spot, we thought it would rain, because it was cloudy originally but then Samer ended up watching the stars.
Monday, September 21, 2009
We stopped in Membertou, Visited Louisbourg and camped in Whycocomah
We walked around, and just before leaving ran into the Mi’kmaq exhibit and got into a convo with the Mi’qmaq lady who gives info about the booth. She was a delightful lady. Funny first she thought Samer was my son, then she thought he might be native. But when I told her he was 15 years my junior and that he was more mature then my ex... she gave me a you go girl.
After leaving Louisbourg, we drove back towards Lake bras d’or to Whycocomagh provincial park. It wasn’t my idea to go back that away... however it was the only provincial park in cape Breton that still was open for camping. It was a great choice. We were camping up in the hills and had a view from our campsite on Lake Bras d’or. Also with the breeze, most of the time, the smell of sweetgrass was distinctly floating through. The sky was also good for stargazing and we enjoyed a nice fire. It didn't rain, and it wasn't particularly cold.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
We drive around the Acadian side of the Cabot trail and head for Sydney
Well I hadn’t realized it was Sunday and in some communities it means everything is asleep till 10 or even noon. Well that gas station was opening at noon. Not to worry, there was also Cape North which should have gas station. Well they were closed too. We eventually got to Pleasant Bay and found no gas station. We even stopped at a motel to ask where the nearest gas station was and it was Cheticamp.
By then the out of gas light was actually on. This means that part of the top of the highlands we didn’t stop much at the lookouts to take pictures because we didn’t know how much fuel we had left and we weren’t going to take a chance. We also drove on momentum in down hills to help conserve fuel. Thankfully we made it to Cheticamp and fuelled up along with 3000 bikers that were doing the Cabot trail for breast cancer. We finally understood at Cheticamp why we had run into so many bikers that day already and most with pink ribbons. There was some sort of drive your bike for breast cancer thingie.
We had lunch at the restaurant of the Parkview Motel. I had the Acadian fish soup, and he had the fish and chips. We stopped at the local dollar store there picked up souvenirs, and also a pink scarf to put on the car, driving for Gloria... After we kept driving, we were hoping to find where the hell Membertou was. And we had decided to go to Louisbourg after picking up brochures at some tourist shop or another. We stopped at a gas station in a Mi’kmaq reserve to ask where it was. We were sold a map of Nova Scotia and sent to the suburb of North SYDNEY. Right after that, a Hawk crossed my path like we were in teh right direction.
We drove towards Sydney and that was fine. But as soon as we entered Sydney we started getting lost and arguing about it too! We eventually found Membertou reserve and the gift shop. Of course it was closed. But we found in the same building Kiju’s restaurant. We had dinner there. I had the Atlantic salmon. He had the chicken and shrimp curry. We started dinner with hummus and pita as a appetizer.
We then decided to settle in at the Day’s Inn on King street and of course got lost 3 times trying to get to it :P We chose it because it had smoking rooms. Incidentally, it also had a pool and hot tub. We used the hot tub for about 30 minutes. It was nice and warm. This cost $128 with taxes. The most expensive night of our trip. We also had wifi internet access free, so I chatted with my girlfriend and my eldest daughter a bit.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
We drive around the Scottish side of the Cape Breton Highlands
We went back to our campsite, got tea and first went looking for the beach at wreck cove that a friend suggested. We stop at what I think is it, and Samer thinks it can’t be it, so we go on down the road, not much further and a road repair worker has us stop to wait. We ask here where wreck cove is and she says .. you’re in it. We ask about the beach, she says we just passed it. Of course if I’d been smart I would have just u-turned then and there, but didn’t.
Instead we stopped at the Wreck cove general store, then we went back up the road. Went to the beach to take photos and enjoy the moment. It was cool, I ate wild raspberries growing there. Found myself familiar with the vegetation. The asters, the raspberry bushes... the golden rod... and even fireweed. Heck we stopped on the road at a large fireweed patch because I wanted to cut some out to bring back home. When we got there a large blue-green dragon fly was waiting for us. It just stayed there, posing for us.
From Wreck cove we drove past our campground to Neil’s harbour and drove around the little trails. We stopped at all the different gift shops, including one Scottish one where they carry all tartans for all clans. We stopped at all the lookouts and places from Ingonish to Bay St Lawrence and then back in the dark of course, in the sinuous mountain roads I love driving so much :P
Much like at Fundy, we had rain and sun and took pictures of a rainbow going up the Cabot trail earlier in the afternoon.
Friday, September 18, 2009
We take the ferry to Nova Scotia and head straight for Cape Breton Highlands.....
We drove around the eastern side of PEI before taking the Woods Island Ferry to Pictou in Nova Scotia. From there we took the road that took us to cape Breton. We drove until we found the Cabot trail and followed it. By then it was getting dark. Of course as we went up Smokey mountain, I had a truck up my ass with his bloody lights blinding me the whole fucking way. It was irritating. At some point I managed to find a place to pull into and let all the 20 cars that had accumulated behind me pass.
I’m still driving at like 60 or less when road is more curvy, when I get someone up my ass again. When he passed me we realized it was an RCMP SUV. Of course the guy had to know we didn’t know the road well, what with a Quebec licence plate?!? We did make it to the highlands and campground and the guy was super nice, told us to pay in the morning and get our park permits then too.
We of course set up camp in the dark. I had crashed by then and was very pissy. All the stress of driving up and down mountain roads with on and off rain, and people tailgating had seriously done a number on my mood. But all was good after I ate. We realized we could hear the waves from our campsite at Broadcove. It rained off and on all night. It was warm though in comparison to the nights in Fundy and in PEI.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
We have dinner in Charlottetown....
We took pictures, checked out the gift shop and then drove back on the TransCanada to stop in South Granville on route 231 at a wind chime making place and picked up 2 amazing sounding wind chimes. Really nice guy with a black & white cat that’s ubber friendly. Then we kept going to Charlottetown, were we stopped at the Canadian tire there. Our propane stove died, and we were also out of propane. Then we headed towards the wharf for a seafood dinner.
The place on the wharf looked more like a noisy pub and I really wasn’t in the mood so we walked a bit around the area, and stumbled into a small place called Fishbone, which is also a jazz club providing live entertainment on the terrace. We ate inside, good thing too; the trumpet player couldn’t keep a note! The food was amazing. We started with PEI blue mussels as an appetizer. Then he had a salmon curry with Naan bread and I had haddock fillet with fries. Also really good and I had no problems digesting.
It was at that point that we realized that we were not an hour later in the Maritimes but an hour ahead. And it was already 8pm and we still had a drive to Woods Island. We were going to stay at the Northumberland Provincial Park and camp, but by the time we good to Woods Island it was 10pm and usually it’s too late to check in to a park. So we found the Meadow lodge motel.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
We head towards PEI and cross the Confederation Bridge.
Then we ate at Wendy’s, and headed towards the Confederation Bridge. It took roughly 12 minutes to cross. It’s just 2 lanes, one each way, with an 80 limit. I had some Islander tailgate me most of the bridge! Once off the bridge, we headed towards West point. Where the West point lighthouse is, there is also the Cedar Dunes Provincial Park. Small campsite on the same ground as the West Point lighthouse, right on the south west point of PEI. The sunset on the gulf of the St Lawrence was stunning. We walked on the beach at 1am taking wacky pictures. He also had fun with his telescope as the sky was absolutely clear. The wind was magical, but also a little cold. Was a different kind of cold then Fundy, not as damp, but far more windy.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Exploring Fundy National Park
Monday, September 14, 2009
We make a run for Fundy National Park
We stopped at Timmy’s in Grand falls though we wanted to see the fall and go to the
Sunday, September 13, 2009
We leave going towards Riviere du Loup....
First day of trip and we left
Well just as I got to the intersection I see a silver 2007/2008 Sebring pop in front of me. I pressed on the brakes like I’ve never done before. I thought I’d avoided the car but unfortunately I hit the bumper. Great way to start a vacation. I pulled over and got out of the car. Turned out to be grandma & grandpa coming back from spending the day in
No one was hurt, but a few seconds difference and we might all be dead. I didn’t stop enough to miss the other car, but enough so that everyone survives. The old lady had the nerve to say I was coming pretty darn fast to the police. The office told her nicely that it was a 90km/hr road and that’s pretty fast. Then later after doing the report he told her she was lucky he was feeling generous because he could give her a citation for not stopping at a stop. She started to argue the point with him. He said she had a stop and she should not have proceeded until she had a clear view of intersection and no one was coming. Obviously she had stopped and went without checking for traffic.
When we first started to cross the street, someone said to us “yeah this car sped past us, we’re not surprised something happened to them”. The good Samaritans also said it was the old lady’s fault, and so did the people whose house we were in front.
I realized afterwards that the good Samaritans, probably stopped, because they lost good friends just a year ago at that intersection. More so they called the cops because they want a light at this intersection. Every complaint of accident adds fuel to that fire.
We had dinner in
We finally go on our Maritime Vacation....
So I am posting the log I kept of each day, as they happened mostly, while I could still remember.