Saturday August 8 - Bay of Fundy

After a yummy breakfast with a nice coffee we are ready to take on the day.

It is another HOT day.  We are into a long hot stretch.  I think it has been like two weeks with no real rain and in the 30s every day.  It is even hotter down here in the valley.

It is great having the hot weather, but whenever we are wandering outside it does zap the energy levels.

We head East to Windsor and visit Fort Edward.  A small but important fort, or what remains of the fort.  We walk around and learn more about this fort.  

It was a fort set up by the English in this strategic spot to protect possible attacks from the Acadians to the newly acquired Halifax.  It was also an area where some of the Acadians were taken to and then departed from to places around the world.

I also learned that this was a spot where the first Jewish battalion came and was trained.  From that first group the first premier of Israeli came from.

We tried to visit a museum here but because of Covid they are limited to how many can enter and a family had just entered.  We took a seat outside on a bench.  But after 15 minutes we gave up.  Just too hot to sit outside and wait.

We park downtown and check out some of the stores.  A few are open, but most close around 1 pm on Saturdays.  Small town vibe.

After an iced coffee we set off to the Bay of Fundy Interpretive Center.  The Bay of Fundy has the biggest tides in the world.  This site offers an excellent vantage point to actually see the tide rushing in. 

So these pictures are how it looked when we arrived at the center. 

Make sure to check the tide schedule for the appropriate time to visit.

When we arrive you can see the sand bar, and the pylons, and the sides of the banks.  See picture above.

You can see the water rushing in and within a few minutes the sand bar is covered.

Then you see the pylon filling up with water around it.

Soon the whole river is covered and the sides of the bank are rising.  CRAZY.

We pull out our lawn chairs and enjoy the view with some cheese and crackers and fresh strawberries.  Damn life is good.  A small snack to tie us over.

We drive back to Wolfville and search out a place to eat.  

We end up at a Japanese/Chinese/Thai restaurant.  It was okay.  Certainly have had better but it hit the spot.

Back at the airbnb we open up a bottle of wine and relax outside watching the last few golfers on the 9th hole.  We discuss our plans tomorrow and when to head out.

Thanks for following.

Checkout then Touring Around the Bay

Another night of poor sleeping.  I was awake early. Like 5 am.  

Bernie woke around 8 and we enjoyed our coffee, then breakfast.

We showered and started packing up.  Sorry to say goodbye, but also excited to move on.  Would definitely stay here again. 

Not much happening in Harbourville

We were on the road by 1030.  I really wanted to hug the coastline.  First stop was Harbourview, then Hall's Harbour.  Check out the tides! Again the biggest tides are found here.

Twice a day the tides rush in and the harbour fills with water and these boats rise to the top of the wharf, then the tides go out and they sit on the bottom of the bay.

We stop for gas and a sandwich and head out to Blomindon Lookout.  We pull out our chairs and enjoy our lunch.  It is extremely hot, around 32!  

Back on the road we head north to Scot's Harbour.  An area settled by many nationalities.   Most of the French were forced out and replaced by British.

The views are breathless.  We stop at a beach and check out the pathway that moves with the tide.  In fact where we park there are warnings that during high tides the parking lot could be under water. 

Can you see the blue lobster body on the left.  Something attacked it and ate it.  It was huge!

We walk along the beach and I venture into the water.  It is extremely warm.  Bernie spots a lobster claw, it is huge!  Then the body is nearby, and the other claw.  Something attacked it.

 

We stop at a local cemetery and check out the gravestones.  Right beside us is a horse with her colt.  So beautiful.

Time to make our way to the airbnb.  

This one is actually on a golf course.  Bernie loves golf and we knew we wanted a place that was quiet.  

They greet us and we check in.  Here is the link to the Airbnb we stayed at.  Check out the view.

Remember if you haven't registered with Airbnb do it now by clicking on this link.  You will save on your next booking.

I am desperately in need of a nap.

I sleep for an hour and feel refreshed after it and a shower.

Bernie has arranged for a dinner at Le Caveau at the Grand Pre Winery.  Sorry I did not take any pictures at the restaurant as I was wanting to just enjoy the experience.

I am so excited.  A bottle of their wine is the start.  I have a Caesars salad and Bernie has some muscles.  For my entree I have local scallops with mushroom risotto.  Bernie has smoked trout, again local.  Amazing!

For dessert we share a coconut cream tart and some dessert wine from the winery.

Oh how I miss these amazing meals.  Sure we have good food, but fine meals, not so much.  It is  a nice treat.

We return to the Airbnb and take a seat on the deck watching the 9th hole.  We enjoy a bottle of wine and chat.  The sky sings.  Check out the sky.  Bernie is watching the highlights from the Canucks hockey game.

We are both tired.  Tomorrow is another day, and we look forward to exploring the area more.

Day 44 - Bay of Fundy and Wow Check Out Those Tides

Today is a day that Bernie has planned.  When we originally were planning what we wanted to see the Bay of Fundy was on my list.  We had hoped to spend a few days in the area but time has limited us and we are heading there just for the day from Fredericton - a little over an hour away.

The Bay of Fundy is a bay that borders the Provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and a bit of the state of Maine.

It has the highest tidal range in the world. The Guinness Book of World Records (1975) declared that Burntcoat Head, Nova Scotia has the highest tides in the world.

The tides rise and drop anywhere between 55 and 71 feet twice a day.  

So some things are completely underwater and 12 hours later you can walk on the bottom of the bay's floor.  Pretty cool!

We head towards the Bay and stop at small towns along the Bay. Such iconic images - oh and smells too as most are fishing villages.

A quick stop in St. John for coffee.  We visited here four years ago on our Canada New England Cruise twice as we did a back to back.  

that is a toy sailboat in the water 

A NCL cruise ship (the Gem) is coming into harbour.  Should be docking for around 11 am I guess so we don't want to be around when the crowds descend on this small city. 

We are back on the Fundy Bay Trail - a wonderfully marked road that guides you along this stunning scenery.

Every so often we pull over and go for a little stroll.

We stop in a town called Saint Martin.  Love the covered bridges.  You will find a lot of covered bridges here in New Brunswick. 

Today we end up at the Fundy Trail Parkway.  We actually thought we were in the Fundy Provincial Park but they are two different places.  

Oh well - I am a firm believer you end up where you are suppose to be.

We take a map and start exploring. A beautiful park with tons of trails, lookouts, beaches, a nice shop and interpretive center and so much more.

 

But after about two hours here it is now 1 pm and we are getting tired and hungry so we leave and head back towards St. John.

 

You know you are in New Brunswick when every sign you see is in both French and English.  The only officially Bilingual Province in Canada!  

Both of earlier commented "I wonder if the passengers from the cruise ship take tours to the Bay of Fundy Park".  Well guess what, as we start heading back we pass around 8 full passenger buses full of cruise passengers I am guess.  So yes I guess they do tours to here.

A quick stop for lunch in St. John, well really it is lunch/supper as it is now 3:00 pm.  

On the hour drive back to Fredericton I start to question Bernie about the trip and I take notes on the highs and lows and memorable and not so memorable events of the trip.  I am preparing information for a final blog about the voyage.  So stay tuned.

Oh and I spotted a piece of sea glass at the first beach we went to as soon as I walked towards the water. Another sign!!!  I put it in my pocket as a souvenir.

Our scavenger hunt - we crossed off a Newfoundland License Plate today.

• Moose
• Deer
• Hitchhiker
• Eagle/Hawk
• Licence plates from every Province in Canada - but you can not count the province you are in.  So if we see an Alberta plate in BC then it counts, but not if we are in Alberta. British Columbia Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Yukon, and North West Territory
• Skunk - saw a dead one
• Sheep
• Beaver
• Goslings
• Buffalo
• Goat
• Owl
• Bear
• Loon
• Crane
• Prairie Dog
• Fisherman fishing
• Canoe
• Hummingbird
• Antique car on the road
• Old VW Bug
• Car broken down on the side of the road
• Helicopter on the ground
• Airplane on the ground
• Speeding ticket- hopefully not our own
• Ambulance with sirens on
• Dump truck
• Line painting crew at work
• Mail delivery person walking their route
• Cruise Ship 
• Coyote 
• RCMP officer
• Hop on Hop off Bus
• Sea Glass
• Lobster

If you have any items you think we should add to our scavenger hunt list, let us know.

So Today's Stats 
Driving distance today 400 k

Total distance 8838 km