August 16, 1999
This day began different from the rest... the sun was shining, okay the air was a bit cool and brisk but finally we had a day where looking out the RV window was going to be more than just a rerun of fog and rain. And this was the big day, our first glimpse of the ocean (Bay of Fundy), and an introduction to driving on narrow roads and ... ahem... hills. The view out over the bay was real pretty even if we missed the sun rise.
It's hard to tell, but the RV is silhouetted on the right. Watching the new excitement in them build, I knew from that moment the trip was going to be worth all the effort. The kids were truly impressed. But then, so was Michelle and I.
As we motored on, we quickly rolled down, (it was a steep hill) into Alma New Brunswick, (I'm sure it is a kind of 'tired of tourists' type of town, no one was in a hurry). Here we had a chance to see a fishing harbour with the tide out.
You can see Matt with a red jacket on, standing just to the right and below the Canadian flag.
With the boats resting on the flat, Matt walked out onto the dock and climbed down the ladder, and latter stood right beside the stern of the white boat. A neat way to start the day.
Well we cleaned up the shoes, (worse than dog poop that stuff) and then it was on to Hopewell Rocks, or as some call them, the Flower Pots.
This is the fairly standard view from the top of the stairs down. which is the only location you can go up or down.
Of course we needed to get at least one photo of the family together on this trip. But this time instead, we got my butt.
The water was already rising and you can just make out Niki (Our Mud Queen) just finding this out too. When the water starts coming back it moves fairly quickly. High tide, we were told, would normally come to about half way up the cliffs in the picture. It was still very impressive.
Here Niki is trying, without much luck, to get the mud from her legs. Matt came to laugh at her, but then he was suddenly attached by a wild and crazy seagull. I suspect it might have been one of my long lost relatives lost at sea saying hello.
When we hit the road after lunch, the tide was already full force inbound. The rivers we passed and crossed all were red and full of silt.
Again trying to make better time, (I know, it supposed to be a vacation) we took a shortcut and went across a 'bridge' at Riverview, New Brunswick. As we were just about to cross after waiting in the long line for the bridge, I noticed a sign which stated: "NO Trucks, NO Trailers". Well, in Transport Canada terms, we were neither, at least that's what I was hoping as we suddenly became the next one in line and now committed to crossing the steel, two lane link to the other side.
Anyway, with oncoming traffic in the other lane and about an inch to spare between the mirror and steel on the passenger side, all I heard were the screams from within the RV. Matt, who was in the co-pilot seat not only screamed but had his eyes covered (some help he was). Then I noticed, how everyone (including Michelle), all had their eyes closed to avoid watching how close we were I guessed.
Not a problem, we emerged out the other end safe and scratch free. Some of the wide eyed drivers in the oncoming lane though looked like they had seen a ghost and were ready to panic. Looking at the line up coming the other way, we laughed and then shook our heads at the Class C, coming at us, about to cross. We all wondered, '...you silly guy, didn't he see the signs? He'll never make it...'
Just around the corner at Dieppe, New Brunswick was a large electronic billboard giving the time to the next Tidal Bore, only minutes away. Why not, we thought, we pulled over and waited,... and waited,... and eventually it arrived.
Unfortunately this was the best of all our shots. Since it was only a couple of inches high and not quite up to expectations, some were calling it the 'Total Bore'. So after it passed, we moved on looking now for our camp site just over the provincial border in Nova Scotia.
We found a great place at Elm River Park, near Truro, full service with phone.
We pulled in and after putting up a few clothes lines, I got around to connecting my computer, logging on and checking my email. Always looking for work, and it gave us a chance to let Don and Cathy know we were still doing great.
This campground, in Michelle's words, was 'Beautiful'. Clean laundry and bathrooms. Even though they were built six years ago, they still looked new. And the office had a great supply of RV parts and supplies. So we got a few more fuses and lamp lenses. If you ever get a chance, spend the night.