Jenn had a friend she knew online through her side hustle and wanted to meet up. Having covered so much ground the night before it was only a short drive to a restaurant where her friend Shirley greeted us with a smile. A lively chatter began as we chowed down on the tasty meal set before us. With a bright and beautiful day waiting outside we simply had to continue the conversation outdoors.
A nearby boardwalk along ocean waters served as the perfect walkway for an afternoon stroll. Up and down the wooden planks we walked, taking in the suns shining rays as we looked out across the sea.
My cousin Drew lived in Charlottetown and we decided to meet for dinner at Piers Quay. He was eager to hear about my travels and I gladly filled him in on the details. While it was awesome catching up, nighttime was approaching, so we said our farewells and went our separate ways.
With Jenn’s flight leaving early in the morning, the two of us found a campground close to the airport where we got an early nights rest. It was still dark when we woke up and I drove her to the airport. Goodbyes are always tough but I know we’ll see each another again soon. Poor Winnie was fixated on the window, watching her walk away before she disappeared into the airport. With Jenn catching her flight home I returned to the campground and dozed off again. I must say, it felt a little lonely not being squished into the side of my tent.
Right as I woke up it began to pour. Luckily I’d pitched my tent under some trees which deflected some of the rain water as I packed my things back into the car. The first thing I had on my list for the day was to restock some supplies. A short drive into town took me to one of the markets where I picked up what I needed before returning to the vehicle, a lengthy drive awaiting me.
It’s interesting viewing some of the restaurants scattered throughout the country, some have some staggeringly similar resemblances. For instance, Robyn’s seems quite similar to Tim Hortons. Boom Burger is another one, feeling awfully similar to Five Guys. Who copied who I wonder?
I had spent plenty of time exploring Prince Edward Island and I was ready for something fresh. Working my way west took me to the lengthy Confederation Bridge. I drove to the shoreline and admired the engineering feat, it truly was incredible seeing a bridge stretch on for so long, 12.9 km in total!
I pressed on south, crossing the bridge and soon arriving in Nova Scotia once more. I realized I was making slower time than I had hoped for. With a near constant rain and fog following me the entire day, I was driving slower than usual. All the thick clouds gathering above caused the darkening sky to creep up on me rather quickly. Night had arrived and I wasn’t stopping, I was determined to cover lots of ground. I saw a neat looking town named Lunenburg less than an hour from Kejimkujik and decided I’d view it in the morning. A campsite was nearby so I decided I’d call it for the night and continue to the exploring tomorrow.
With Jenn visiting, I’d let myself fall behind quite a bit on the blog. Today it was time to remedy that situation and catch up. I went to a nearby Tim Hortons where I spent my entire afternoon getting caught up on the entries. I had a few more hours of daylight to take advantage of when I’d left the restaurant and decided I’d spent it checking out the town of Lunenburg, a world heritage site. As I entered the town I was greeted by colorful wooden buildings that lined up along narrow streets.
Despite the tourism attraction the city had a calm feel to it, as though the wheels of time had ceased their spinning and the buildings remained frozen in perfection.
My meandering took me to an old school academy that’d been converted into a library. I entered through the doors and explored for a bit, walking along old creaky floors that so many students had tread on before me.
The sun was beginning to set so I found a restaurant where I grabbed a bite to eat before returning to the car. Feeling pleasantly stuffed I took to the roads heading east to Kejimkujik National Park where I finally dozed off.
Hurricane Dorian had been cruel to Kejimkujik National Park. Sadly they’d closed all their trails. While I was disappointed I couldn’t explore it like I wanted to, I still drove around exploring what I could.
I booked a ferry to New Brunswick that left at 11 am from a town called Digby. With a tight schedule to make it there on time, I’d minimized my stops as I ventured towards the docks. Being on the road so much I’ve seen the autumn colors appearing more frequently everyday. Crimson leaves now stood out among a sea of green as they waved back and forth in the morning breeze.
Off in the distance I could see my vessel, waiting patiently for its passengers by the docks. I’d made it there in good time, a calming relief. It wasn’t long before I’d driven up the ramp and parked my car. As I walked up the stairs I found the perfect spot beside one of the windows where I settled in and appreciated the view.
In only a few hours the ferry had traversed across the Bay of Fundy and made port in the town of Saint John, New Brunswick.
I was feeling pretty exhausted, the lack of sleep from the night before was taking its toll. Due to this I sat in my car for a bit, looking up places to see and catching up on a few things. After some time had passed I set out to explore the city.
The first destination I’d chosen to see was Prince William Street. An array of old buildings standing strong and tall through the years greeted me as I arrived, giving the many onlookers a glimpse into the past.
Another popular area I simply had to see was the Reversing Falls. It was similar to the tidal bore I’d seen in Truro, where an influx of water from the ocean would reverse the flow from the river. As I arrived, the great influx of water from the morning tide was returning back to sea, leaving interesting looking bumps on the rivers surface.
I’d planned to drive out to Fredericton the next day so I said my farewell to Saint John and began venturing north. I was making good time but soon an impassable obstacle lay before me. The road was gone! A construction project to rebuild part of the road was underway and my only way to Fredericton was to backtrack around 20 km.
Sometimes what might appear as negative at first actually works out for the positive in the end. Sure enough, right by the end of the road a little farm was selling maple syrup and honey and I decided I’d waltz on over to take a peek. As I got close to the door a bunch of noisy ducks nearby announced my arrival and a man came out to greet me. For some reason I have a knack for running into pastors. The friendly gentleman began to talk to me about the bible and his walk with God. He seemed so fulfilled in life, with a deep sense of peace and joy that encompassed his personality. In a kind gesture he gave me some Chaga Tea, a rare and expensive delicacy. While I’d enjoyed our conversations it was time to say farewell and find a place to camp. I managed to find a nice campground about 30 minutes outside Fredericton where a day of adventures came to its close as I took to my pillow at last.
From the moment I woke up and began my journey into Fredericton all I wanted was to return to the wilderness. Being that Fredericton was the capital of New Brunswick, I certainly wasn’t gonna pass it up and soon found myself entering the city limits.
It was raining on and off as a wave of fog crept through the area. I did the majority of my exploring in the car, occasionally stopping to take a short walk around a neighborhood or get a closer look at something.
I found an empty field nearby where I took Winnie to burn off some of her energy as she’d been fidgety in the car. I was glad I did so as she quite literally ran circles around me non stop. With a tuckered out pup I returned to my vehicle, doing my last bit of exploring before dusk’s arrival.
Night driving has its ups and downs. One of the perks is you’re able to cover a lot of ground with the roads being far less populated. You miss a lot of the scenery at night though, along with added hazards such as moose that frequent many of the roads after sundown. When the daylight fades into night I embrace the changes the night brings and make the best of the situation, covering as much ground as possible. It was with this mindset I drove out of Fredericton and into Fundy National Park where I pitched my tent in eager anticipation of the morning.
I woke up excited and ready to explore Fundy National Park. It wasn’t long before I’d packed up my tent and took to the first trail of the day.
As the warm air from the land mixed with the cool air of the bay it created a foggy mist that blanketed the park most of the day. The vegetation flourished in the damp atmosphere, bringing forth healthy looking plants growing alongside moss covered rocks.
I arrived at a beach where due to the tide being at its lowest I was able to walk out a good ways. A nearby dock was a reminder of how high the tide rose, the lonely walkway staying a good height above the rocky shore.
With so many things yet to discover, I retraced my footsteps and immediately started down another trail. The air surrounding me was pure and refreshing, every breath invigorating my steps as I tread upon the paths before me.
I was stuck debating if I should stick to smaller hikes or tackle a big one. I ended up choosing a variety of smaller hikes, the longest being 5 km as I explored the park. It didn’t matter where I walked as I was rewarded with beautiful views of the land in every direction, from creeks heading down the rocks to the ocean, to lush vegetation that thrived on the forest floor.
I pulled up to the final trail of the day, Dicksons Falls. This was the most popular trail in the park and I’d saved it for last. It wasn’t long before I could see why it was so popular as the walk took me alongside a cascading river that lead up to a tumbling waterfall, it was truly a sight I wouldn’t forget.
Darkness had finally arrived and I set out to Hopewell Rocks. Along the way I passed through the town of Alma where moored boats sat on the sand at least 20 feet below the docks! The Bay of Fundy is known for its dramatic changes in tide levels, within several hours those boats would be floating beside the docks once again.
I kept pressing on until I found the campsite I’d been looking for, an area just outside of tomorrows destination. To say I went to bed excited for the following day would’ve been an understatement.
I was awake and on the road bright and early. With the tide being it’s lowest at 8:36 in the morning I wasn’t gonna let myself miss out. A short little drive took me to my destination for the day, Hopewell Rocks, the home of the highest tides in the world.
Soon I was walking down the trail that led to the beach, an area famous for its odd looking rocks that’d been worn down by the daily surge of water.
As I began my exploring on the beach a nearby attendant informed me that the water was rising 39 feet that day! With the gaps between low tide and high tide being only 6 hours, the enormous influx of water that would soon arrive was a staggering thought.
I took my time walking up and down the beach, making sure I saw everything it had to offer before the inevitable tide washed my footsteps away.
The park rangers began to guide people back towards to stairs as the water began to rise dramatically. Within minutes your exit could easily be cut off and you’d be stranded in a cove surrounded by cliffs. Every time the water would near it’s cut off point the rangers would hurry us all to the next area where we’d be able to admire the change for a short while before being moved along once again. The rangers did a good job, nobody was forgotten and they would allow you to stay in an area until the last minute or two which was perfect.
Now with so many people around, cameras were always out and two asian ladies nearby wanted a picture with Winnie. I warned them that she might jump up on them and get them muddy if they took the leash but they said it was alright. Sure enough they wanted the perfect picture and got Winnie all excited, well with muddy paws she jumped up and got their pure white sweat pants covered. They were good sports about it, laughing as they returned the leash . I must admit, it was a proud dog dad moment as I stood there chuckling to myself at the hilarity of the situation. The rising tide was covering the last exit and the park ranger I’d been chatting with let me be the last one off the beach for the bragging rights which was pretty nice.
I booked a much needed oil change in the nearby town of Moncton. With a full day to spare before my appointment I decided I’d drive up to Kouchibouguac National Park, where I’d be able to spend a day hiking before returning to Moncton. By the time I arrived in the park it was dark, so I pitched my tent under the stars and finally dozed off.
I laced up my hiking boots bright and early in eager anticipation of the views that awaited me.
The first trail of the day took me through the bogs. Now the primary creature that inhabited this area was mosquitoes, but due to the changing season perhaps, there wasn’t a single blood sucker in sight! I got to enjoy all the views without the pesky insects, talk about a jackpot. A light misty rain fell on the damp swampy land as I made my way along the boardwalk to the end of the trail. It felt so unique, I’d never seen an area like this before. The blend of colors and plants that found their home in the bog was quite incredible.
With the first hike of the day being such a wonderful find, I took to the beaches for my second hike. At the entrance a wooden boardwalk guided hikers out and across the sand dunes, through tall waving grass and shallow streams with adorned with colorful mossy patches that grew along the waters edge. Soon the boardwalk arrived at a pristine beach that stretched on as far as I could see. A chilly breeze swept through the area, accompanied by the sounds of the ocean waters crashing into the shore . I could have stayed there all day. I walked along the waters edge, taking my time appreciating the moment before retracing my footsteps as I returned the way I came.
I had opted to do all the smaller trails rather than a day hike. This led me from trail to trail, exploring much of what the park had to offer. The more I walked around, the more I felt this national park was a true gem. There were far less people than other parks and everywhere I went I was in awe at the vast blend of scenery.
It came time for my final hike of the day, a walk through the pine trees. As I took to the path it felt like I’d entered another realm. A layer of pine needles carpeted the forest floor, a pleasant padding for those who walked upon the trail. Mushrooms grew on rotting wood from many of the fallen trees, slowly returning the great pines to the soil where new life would spring up and the forest would continue to thrive.
Feeling the exhaustion setting in I decided I’d set up my tent and call it a day. With a vast collection of stars hovering in the great expanse above me I crawled into my tent and dozed off. What a fulfilling and adventurous day it’d been.
I realize if I wanna make it back home in time I’m gonna have to start covering some serious ground, averaging around 400 km per day. With so much distance ahead of me it was time to bring my car in for service. I’d booked an appointment at Moncton Honda for an oil change and set out towards them.
The dealership was admittedly a mess. A 30 minute oil change took an hour an a half due to them losing my keys and poor communication between their staff. At least I got my car prepped with some fresh oil for the roads ahead. I didn’t stay in Moncton very long, in so many ways it reminded me of my home town Brantford. The majority of the people had that hardened look, the kind that living in a small town full of trouble brings.
With so much ground to cover I took to the roads, chasing the sunset until the moon rose up high into the night sky. I eventually gave into exhaustion and found a place to pull over where I dozed off in my car.
Sleeping in the car usually makes for a night of poor rest and by the morning I was definitely feeling the effects of it. On the bright side, I got on the road pretty early and before long I’d left New Brunswick as I entered Quebec.
Choosing to rest up and do the coastal drive in the morning was the right choice. With not a single cloud in sight it was the perfect day for a drive alongside the water.
The coastal drive had a lot more activity then I’d thought it would as I drove past countless buildings and all sorts of unique artwork that adorned the sides of the road.
While I know I need to cover a lot of ground it’s definitely challenging as there are so many incredible views everywhere you look. I find myself stopping constantly as I take in a picturesque scene before me or to let Winnie stretch her legs.
As the sun was beginning to set I arrived at Forillon Nation Park. I stopped by the office to grab a map, then proceeded to find a nearby campground where I set up my tent in the remaining light. I grabbed some wood and made myself a cozy fire. As I sat there I figured I mine as well cook something up, so I made myself some dinner and chowed down. With the last of the burning embers turning to ashes I sat there staring up at the night sky, with no light pollution the stars were out in abundance. It came time to get some rest for the big hikes the following day so I climbed into my tent and dozed off at last.
