Cross Canada and Back, Part 26

Drive to NB, Shediac, Cap-Pele, Bouctouche Dunes

It is July 19th 2011, and day 65 of our trip.

We received word that our trailer was fixed, and it was ready to roll with the new axle installed. After anohter wonderful breakfast at Peter and Maia's, we left Nova Scotia, and headed for Prince Edward Island where we picked up our trailer. 


View Drive to NB, Shediac, Cap-Pele, Bouctouche Dunes in a larger map


As we crossed the wonderful Confederation Bridge again the sun was shining down on us. 

Confederation Bridge

Confederation Bridge

There was an extra charge this time to cross the bridge, a cost of $7.00 per extra axle, equals $14.00 for a total of $55.00. We headed  for the town of Shediac on the North/East Coast of New Brunswick.

We took the "Acadian Coastal Drive" up the beautiful coast line. We arrived in Shediac and were setting up camp at the Parlee Beach Campground. It's a provincial campground and is run very well. 

Parlee Beach

Parlee Beach

What is really nice in New Brunswick is that most people are totally bilingual. They switch back and forth from English to French without a problem or an accent. I wish I could do that.

We went for a long walk on the beach and sat and enjoyed the sunset.

Parlee Beach

Parlee Beach

The next morning after breakfast and a bit of computer work, we decided to drive to Cap Pelé which is famous for its smoked fish. 

Amazing the people along the coast here seem very well off. Their homes are super well kept, the grass is trimmed  to golf course standards, and flowers and flower baskets decorate  their  homes.

Cap Pele area home

Cap Pele area home

In Cap Pelé there are tons of fish processing plants in operations. We picked up some smoked herring and headed back north. We stopped in at our trailer to drop off the herring, and enjoyed a café crème made by our trusted coffee machine.

On the road again we stopped in at Canadian Tire in Shediac, and bought a couple of lawn chairs ( we felt that summer finally had arrived). 
Further up the coast, we found our way to the Eco-Centre Irving, at La Dune de Bouctouche.

Visiting La Dune de Bouctouche

La Dune de Bouctouche with its boardwalk

These sand dunes are a must to see if you visit the area. The sand dunes stretch for about 12 km along  Bouctouche Bay. They are the result of the constant action of the wind, tides, and the sea currents. Here you can also find some of the warmest waters on the east coast.

At La Dune de Bouctouche

Part of the dunes have a wonderful boardwalk. We spent hours just walking along and taking it all in. Unfortunately some of the east coast storms have done serious damage to the boardwalk.

Damaged boardwalk at La Dune de Bouctouche

For more pictures of this part of our trip, click the picture below, or go direct to the slide show here.

Drive to NB,Shediac,Cap-Pele,Bouctouche Dunes

Cheers,

Anders and Liz

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Kudos to ICBC and 1000 Islands RV Centre

Compliments to ICBC and 1000 Islands RV Centre, ON

There are so many times in life when we are upset, and we voice ones opinion.  I think that can be good to a certain extend. We also think that one should give credit when credit is deserved, this is many times overlooked.


If you have been following our blogs, you know we ended up in a windstorm on the coast of New Brunswick and received almost $6,000 worth of damage to our trailer. The trailer next to ours flipped over, several more trailers rolled, it was not a pretty picture.

ICBC

We contacted  ICBC  (Insurance Corporation of British Columbia) that same day the twister hit. We were told that an out of province insurance adjuster would contact us. Sure enough, soon we had a call from Kirsten with ICBC in Vancouver.

Windstorm damage to our trailer

Trailer next to ours that flipped (5 more units in the park flipped as well )

Kirsten was very professional and supportive. If you looked at the blog from when the twister hit, you know it was a mess. We had lots of pictures and a movie of the damages made to our trailer and the trailers around us to show Kirsten the extent of the damage.


Kirsten informed us that we could have the damage repaired where we choose. We might have to pay the dealer ourselves first depending on the dealer. Since we were almost ready to head in to Québec, and my French is pretty well non existent, we thought it would be better to pick a dealer in Ontario.  


We have some friends that we would visit not too far from the 1000 Islands on the St Lawrence River, and we found a dealer there close by that is a "RV Care" dealer.

1000 Island RV Centre

Based on the research we did, we picked 1000 Islands RV Centre  in Gananoque, Ontario to do the repair work. From the first contact, till the day we picked up the trailer all repaired it was a super experience. 


To start with I talked with the service manager Carl. He did a fantastic job communicating with ICBC, getting the authorization and ordering in all the parts needed so that the day we arrived, they just could start with the repairs. 


Matt, also in the service department, looked after everything to make sure things ran smoothly, and he contacted us with regular updates during the three days they had our trailer. 


Both Carl and Matt did a super job, and we could not be more pleased. The work performed was also to the highest standard. Well done!

Conclusion

In conclusion: we learned  that it is very important to have a good insurance company like ICBC, that will help you out when you are 8,000 km from home.

Life is good!

It also pays to do some research into who is going to repair your RV when you are on the road and have a mishap. RV Care dealers are a good place to start, and 1000 Island RV is just what we were looking for.


Thank you Kirsten at ICBC, and Carl and Matt at 1000 Island RV for jobs well done!


Cheers,


Liz and Anders

Cross Canada and Back Part 25

The Ovens Natural Park, Hirtle Beach and Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

It's the 18th of July 2011, day 64 or our "Cross Canada and Back" trip. We are still in Tantallon NS visiting our good friends Maia and Peter. Today they will be our tour guides, what a treat.



View The Ovens, Hirtle Beach and Lunenburg in a larger map

The Ovens Natural Park

After another wonderful breakfast, we are off to "The Ovens" or "The Ovens Natural Park". These caves were first natural caves, and were then excavated by mining activities in the 1861 gold rush that took place at the Ovens. 

The Ovens

Peter, Maia and Liz

 At the peak of the gold rush, the Ovens was surrounded by a town of over a thousand miners, including hotels, stores, and a bank. The buildings are long gone by now, but you can still find some remnants from the mining industry.

Walking down in to one of the caves

Liz definitely out of her comfort zone...

There is a great little hike you can do, and you can even walk down into some of the caves. Just wonderful vistas. There is also a quaint restaurant "The Ol' Miner Diner" if you want to sit down and have a meal.

Anders at the Ovens

Anders and Peter

Inside the cave

If gold-rush fever hits you and you feel lucky, you can pan for gold down on the beach. Equipment can be rented in the store/restaurant. Very interesting.

Hirtle Beach on Hartling Bay

Next we were off to Hirtle Beach. Hirtle Beach is a gem hidden away, few know about.

Anders and Liz at Hirtle Beach

Liz at Hirtle Beach

Here you will find an incredible beach that goes on forever and a wonderful surf that comes crashing in.

Peter and Maia

Anders on Hirtle Beach. He just has to get his feet wet.... 

We walked around the beach and enjoyed the wonderful scenery. And I had of course get my feet ( and pants ) wet.

Lunenburg

What a picturesque little town this is. In 1995 Lunenburg was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List and a plaque in its honor was erected. The character and history in this town is visible everywhere. 

Lunenburg Harbour

Flowers everywhere

Lunenburg dates back to 1753 when mostly settlers from the Upper Rhine area (present-day Germany), the French and from the German speaking Swiss cantons and from the French speaking area of Montbeliard. More on the history of Lunenburg on the Lunenburg.com website.

The Mariner King Historic Inn in Lunenburg

Lunenburg

One of the main attractions is the sailing ship "Bluenose II". The first Bluenose who sank off Haiti hauling freight in 1946 was also nicknamed "The Queen of the North Atlantic". For 17 years this ship would win the International Fishermen's Race. The Bluenose II is a replica of the old one.


There is a Bluenose exhibit in the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic on the waterfront of Lunenburg, a worth while visit.

Lunenburg

Lunenburg

The architecture in town is very interesting, and we found ourselves just walking around looking at all the buildings. The rebuilt replica of the St. Johns Anglican Church is a wonderful piece of craftsmanship.

St. John's Anglican Church

Liz in front of St John's Anglican Church in Lunenburg

Inside St John's Anglican Church in Lunenburg

After a fantastic day of discovering these wonderful places it was our turn to treat and say thank you to Maia and Peter for their hospitality. We went to the Gingergrass Thai and Vietnamese Restaurant in Halifax. The food is exceptional and the service is the best. A must eatery in Halifax.


For more pictures from this part of our trip, click on the image below or go directly to the slide show here.

With Maia & Peter,Ovens,Lunenburg,Hirtle Beach

In our next blog we will go and pick up our trailer.


Cheers, Anders and Liz

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Cross Canada and Back Part 24

Kejimkujik National Park of Canada, Mahone Bay and Peggy's Cove

16th of July 2011, Day 62 of our Cross Canada (and back) Trip. As we woke up at Peter and Maia's place the smell lingering into our bedroom from the kitchen was simply irresistible. A breakfast for royalties.... Baked apple pancakes with maple syrup, orange juice and freshly brewed coffee... Wow! So good.



View Tantallon, Kejimkujik National Park, Mahone Bay and Peggys Cove in a larger map

Kejimkujik National Park and Historic Site of Canada

The plan for the day was to back track a bit and go to Kejimkujik National Park and Historic Site of Canada.  This park is different from the Kejimkujik Seaside National Park. See our previous blog.

Kejimkujik National Park

After about an hours drive we arrived at Kejimkujik. The in-land park is 381 square kilometers compared to the 22 square kilometers Seaside park. The parks are both equally impressive in their own way. See our website for all 42 National Parks of Canada.

Mi'kmaw dancer in traditional costume

Mi'kmaw dancer in traditional costume

The inland park is old Mi'kmaq territory. It has a lot of history dating back thousands of years. There are even some petroglyphs in the park. These areas are restricted, and can only be viewed with a Mi'kmaq guide. We were lucky enough to be able to have a quick look at these.

Liz at the Mi'kmaq monument

Kejimkujik National Park lies right in the centre of the old traditional canoe and portage routes between the Bay of Fundy and the Atlantic Coast. The earliest known inhabitants of Kejimkujik National Park were the Maritime Archaic Indians. They were here from about 4,500 years ago.



The Woodland Indians, a nomadic tribe, were next to inhabit the Kejimkujik. They had seasonal campsites along rivers and the lake shores, which they used during fishing and hunting excursions. The Mi'kmaq people are descendants of the Woodland Indians. They have called this area home for the last 2,000 years or so. The petroglyphs in the park are one remaining trace of the Mi'kmaq peoples life in the Park, very interesting. 

A wonderful place for canoeing and kayaking

Restricted area

The park is great for hiking, biking, canoeing, camping and more. There are places where you can rent canoes etc. When we were at Kejimkujik there was a big celebration going on: "The Centenial Celebration" (Parks Canada being 100 years old), and also to celebrate the release of 100 Blanding Turtles.

Petroglyphs

Petroglyphs

Petroglyphs

The park is home to 3 species of turtles, The Blanding Turtle, The Easter Painted Turtle and The Snapping Turtle. Wildlife is plentiful in the park.

Liz at the river

Anders memorizing.

We were fortunate to be able to go with a guide and see some of the petroglyphs. Very interesting and informative. We of course had to go for a hike along one of the rivers. A river really is full of life and energy. Very soothing for the soul.

Mahone Bay

After the park, our next stop was Mahone Bay. The picturesqueness of this small historic town can not be described in words (but we will try) and should really be experienced.


Mahone Bay dates back to 1754. It was first settled by people from Lunenburg of German, Swiss and Montbéliardais (some small Kingdom in France) decedents. The main focus here was to get some Protestant religion into a mainly Catholic area.


The bay is well protected and offers great boating amongst the 365 islands in the area. Mahone Bay is a pro-active little community, a lot of artists call this area home. Further it is home to some of the most photographed churches in the world.


We stopped here for supper at a wonderful restaurant called  "The inlet cafe". The inlet cafe is great: amazing food, great service, and a wonderful setting. The place to eat in Mahone Bay.


Meanwhile back in Tantallon Peter and Maia were busy with a film crew shooting a TV show in their house. Once we got the call that the coast was clear to come back and all the filming was done, we headed back. Flamed bananas in brown sugar, butter and rum was served as we walked in.... Life is good (two more hikes needed to work this off)!

Peggys Cove

Next day, Day 63 of our trip, the 17th of July 2011, we spent the morning doing a bit of  business, banking, email etc.  Later we hopped in the truck and headed for Peggys Cove also known as Peggy's Cove.


Peggys Cove is an awe-inspiring little fishing village, it is one of the busiest tourist attractions in Nova Scotia. The story about Peggys Cove according to Wikipedia is as follows:


The first recorded name of the cove was Eastern Point Harbour or Peggs Harbour in 1766. The village may have been named after the wife of an early settler or taken its name from St. Margaret's Bay as it marks the eastern beginning of the Bay and Peggy is a nickname for Margaret. Two versions of the popular legend claim that the name came from the sole survivor of a shipwreck at Halibut Rock near the cove. 


Artist and resident William deGarthe said she was a young woman while others claim she was a little girl too young to remember her name and the family who adopted her called her Peggy. In both versions, the young shipwreck survivor married a resident of the cove and became known as "Peggy of the Cove" attracting visitors from around the bay who eventually named the village, Peggy's Cove, after her nickname.


We made a visit to Peggys Point Lighthouse which marks the entrance to Margaret's Bay. The rocks are just wonderful to jump around on, but it can be dangerous. Every year, someone will fall or get swiped in to the ocean. Be careful please.

Swiss Air Flight 111

Most of you probably remember the tragic event of Swiss Air Flight 111. On the 2nd of September 1998 Flight 111 crashed in the Atlantic ocean just 8 km off the coast of Peggys Cove, with no survivors. 


A memorial is now on the shores of Peggys Cove. We went there to pay our respects. There were at least 30-40 people at the memorial when we got there. We could tell without a doubt,  that some of these people had family or friends on the doomed flight. Their body language, expressions and them comforting of each other spoke loudly. Life is unpredictable.


We stopped for lunch at a roadside Kiosk in West Dover called the Fisherman's Corner. Awesome lobster rolls and scrumptious fish and chips, don't miss it. "Mama" does the cooking.


We went back mid afternoon to Tantallon to do some more email and blogging. Maia and Peter graciously hosted a dinner party that evening. We made some new friends, we were introduced to Anna-Lisa and René, two warm and wonderful people.


Anna-Lisa is from Sweden and René is from Switzerland, just the opposite from Liz and myself. A most enjoyable evening with terrific company and gourmet food. 


For more pictures of this part of our trip click on the Picasa Web album below or go direct to the slide show here.

Kejimkujik Nat.Park, Mahone Bay and Peggys Cove

Cheers,


Liz and Anders

Here are some shortcuts to all the blogs from our Cross Canada Trip. Just hover over the number to see where it will take you

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