August 2007
CANADA-Digby
Wednesday 1st we set off for
Lockeport. On the way we bought some food containers. We
arrived early in the afternoon and both of us went for a swim in the
camp
pool, very refreshing. Thursday we visited the
village of Lockeport to see the oldest historic street in Nova
Scotia. We then turned east to visit Peggy’s Cove, founded in
1811, and camped on the side of the inlet 2 miles north of Peggy‘s
Cove. Friday we
continued eastwards through Halifax (past our Hotel) and on to the road
to Antigonish, passing Chezzetcook, and ended up at Sherbrooke, beside
a lake. A very hot day but NO SWIMMING POOL.
Saturday 4th we continued north to the limited access road just south of Antigonish where we turned east to cross the Canso Causeway into Cape Breton Island and on to camp at Ben Eoin on the shore of Bras d’Or Lake. Sunday we carried on
eastwards to Sydney where we turned south-east
to camp at Louisbourg. Monday
Mervyn visited the Fortress at Louisbourg, a day of relaxation. Tuesday we departed from
Louisbourg, following a free night’s camping. We travelled back
to Sydney and continued in the same direction to Ingonish on the
north-east coast of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The
house numbers started over 51000 and descended during the day. Wednesday we drove around
the National Park (the only road) and camped at West Mabou, a site with
only 10 places, as there was no room at the camp at Inverness.
Although we were told of Black Bear and Moose, we did not see any of
them. Thursday
our southward journey continued, in very high winds with driving rain
to re-cross the Canso Causeway on route to Tatamagouche, the camp was
full, back to Brule a small camp site on the beach of Tatamagouche
Bay. The house numbers had descended into the 100s. Friday our north-westwards
route continued past Prince Edward Island, $100- to cross into it, and
on to St.-Louis-de-Kent and into Kouchibouguac National Park, the home
of Beaver, Moose and Black Bear, to camp among the trees. A fine,
hot sunny day. We did see a Heron in a river when we stopped for
lunch, but no other wildlife.
Some thoughts on Canada, there are a lot of trees, over 90% of the land is mixed forest, pine and deciduous, with some cultivation, the undergrowth is very thick. Unlike Sweden there is a wide band clear of trees beside the roads, giving us a good view of the sky. There are a large number of lakes and wide rivers. The houses are nearly all of wood mostly one storey and large, they have unusually sloped roofs, the few brick constructions are mostly official buildings.
Saturday 11th the morning was spent looking unsuccessfully for Moose, Black Bear and Beaver. We walked along two nature trails the trees seemed too close together for Moose to be able to pass easily between them. We then continued north along the coast to a Familyland Campsite just south of Miramichi, it has been another fine, sunny day. Sunday we made a late start, leaving about 1000. On another fine day we travelled north through Miramichi and Bathurst to Campbellton where we crossed Chaleur Bay leaving New Brunswick and entered Quebec, where we turned east to camp at a small site in St. Omer. We have now entered another time Zone, GMT minus 4hrs. Monday we continued our travels east along the south coast of the Peninsule de la Gaspésie to Saint-Georges-de-Malbaie, a good camp site on the cliffs over looking The Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Tuesday the journey was northerly through Gaspé to turn east to visit the Parc National de Forillon, no visible wild life. Ah well!!! We then followed the coast northwest to camp at Grande-Vallée early in the afternoon in fine sunny weather. Wednesday, our route now took us southwest along the south shore of the St. Lawrence Seaway. The road is at times dangerous, rocks attacking from the cliffs on our left and large waves attacking from the sea on our right. Not today however. The weather was fine. During the drive we saw our only wildlife, about 8in long with a 6in tail and carrying something white (a fish?) in it’s mouth. While we passed through St. Ulric we spotted a caravan dealer, we entered and with our limited French managed to find a fluent English speaker, probably the boss. We bought several necessary items and arranged to return at 0800 the next day to have the water purifier taken out and reassembled after Howard’s attempt to change the charcoal filter. We turned back to the nearest camp, the other side of St. Ulric. Thursday at 0730 we were back at the dealer’s to remove the woodwork from around the purifier. A member of staff arrived, removed the purifier, reassembled it and with another person holding it he unscrewed the top of the filter compartment, dead easy when you know how. An hour later we continued southwest in sunny spells and heavy rain showers to find the road closed. Following the detour and camping signs through roads in the process of being resurfaced, we returned eventually to our road, and left it immediately to find the camp on the Seaway near Rivière-Ouelle. Friday another fine sunny day, we continued southwest along a narrowing St Lawrence River to finish at Québec, a site with Wi-fi. The Wi-fi from the caravan was unsuccessful we had to go into the office and plug in, OK.
Saturday 18th was spent at Quebec, Mervyn visited the town, he was given the wrong information by his bus driver, he arrived early to find the 1630 bus did not return to our camp and had to wait for the 1830 bus. Howard stayed at the camp, wasted an hour trying the Wi-fi, baked a cake and got the accounts up to date. The day was mainly dry, it rained in the evening. Sunday we continued southwest to pass through Montréal and find a nice camp among the trees at Hudson on a fine sunny day. Monday we continued westwards to enter Ontario. Mervyn’s friend Virginia was visiting her mother who lives in Sarsfield, just east of Ottawa. We arrived in time for lunch. The two young girls were delighted to see us and organised games for us to play. Tuesday we went into Ottawa on a shopping spree for the family, and a photo spree for Mervyn. We left on Wednesday morning to drive through Ottawa to Dunrobin to try and find Bruce and Kay, who we met on our India trip in 1975/6,
on making enquiries we found that they
had moved. As our time in Canada was running out (the insurance
we were told only allowed one month out of The States) we headed south
to camp at Carleton Place, in the trees. Thursday our southward
journey continued to cross into the USA at Prescott and drive south-westwards
alongside the St. Lawrence River to camp at Morristown in the Jaques
Cartier State Park, on the bank of the river. Friday, a hot sunny day saw
us heading westerly to Wolcott, to camp in the sun in 37°C.
Saturday 25th we had a day for chores and rest. Sunday, there isn’t really much to say, we continued west to Gasport for an early camp, on site for lunch. Internet is a dial up connection of no use to us. A dry cloudy day. Monday we left early to visit Niagara, We parked on Goat Island and walked alongside the river, the rapids we were told are rated 6 on a scale of 1 to 5. The photos do not do them justice. We returned to take a boat trip to the base of the falls on the Maid of the Mist, fantastic. After lunch, expensive but nothing exceptional, we walked across into Canada, they were a bit formal at the Canadian Border and then we walked upriver where the views of the falls was even better. We went behind the falls, not very interesting, but the view of the horseshoe falls from 30 yards was superb. The return to the USA was very simple. We drove back to the camp worn out. As we were leaving camp on Tuesday morning we spotted two deer beside the camp exit road. We returned back eastwards to Wolcott, not a lot doing, except a major water leak from under the kitchen just as dinner was ready. Wednesday we remained at Wolcott, most of the morning was spent curing the leak, it was the most inaccessible joint in the system. Howard undid three other joints and took out the piping to make the repair, fortunately putting it all back was easy. The afternoon was spent relaxing in 37°C, with the air conn on for the first time. On phoning ahead, Howard’s phone worked for the first time, we found two full camps for the labour day weekend, but number 3 was OK and we booked for five nights. Thursday we drove eastwards visiting Vienna and Verona en route for Rome, then on into the Adirondack Park and the town of Old Forge, where the camp is and we chose a site among Maple trees, with a few other trees mixed in. Along our route we have seen many black squirrels, some red Squirrels, some grey Squirrels, and several Hawks. Friday started with odd jobs and then a restful day, on a very pleasant site.
pool, very refreshing. Thursday we visited the
village of Lockeport to see the oldest historic street in Nova
Scotia. We then turned east to visit Peggy’s Cove, founded in
1811, and camped on the side of the inlet 2 miles north of Peggy‘s
Cove. Friday we
continued eastwards through Halifax (past our Hotel) and on to the road
to Antigonish, passing Chezzetcook, and ended up at Sherbrooke, beside
a lake. A very hot day but NO SWIMMING POOL.Saturday 4th we continued north to the limited access road just south of Antigonish where we turned east to cross the Canso Causeway into Cape Breton Island and on to camp at Ben Eoin on the shore of Bras d’Or Lake. Sunday we carried on
eastwards to Sydney where we turned south-east
to camp at Louisbourg. Monday
Mervyn visited the Fortress at Louisbourg, a day of relaxation. Tuesday we departed from
Louisbourg, following a free night’s camping. We travelled back
to Sydney and continued in the same direction to Ingonish on the
north-east coast of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The
house numbers started over 51000 and descended during the day. Wednesday we drove around
the National Park (the only road) and camped at West Mabou, a site with
only 10 places, as there was no room at the camp at Inverness.
Although we were told of Black Bear and Moose, we did not see any of
them. Thursday
our southward journey continued, in very high winds with driving rain
to re-cross the Canso Causeway on route to Tatamagouche, the camp was
full, back to Brule a small camp site on the beach of Tatamagouche
Bay. The house numbers had descended into the 100s. Friday our north-westwards
route continued past Prince Edward Island, $100- to cross into it, and
on to St.-Louis-de-Kent and into Kouchibouguac National Park, the home
of Beaver, Moose and Black Bear, to camp among the trees. A fine,
hot sunny day. We did see a Heron in a river when we stopped for
lunch, but no other wildlife.Some thoughts on Canada, there are a lot of trees, over 90% of the land is mixed forest, pine and deciduous, with some cultivation, the undergrowth is very thick. Unlike Sweden there is a wide band clear of trees beside the roads, giving us a good view of the sky. There are a large number of lakes and wide rivers. The houses are nearly all of wood mostly one storey and large, they have unusually sloped roofs, the few brick constructions are mostly official buildings.
Saturday 11th the morning was spent looking unsuccessfully for Moose, Black Bear and Beaver. We walked along two nature trails the trees seemed too close together for Moose to be able to pass easily between them. We then continued north along the coast to a Familyland Campsite just south of Miramichi, it has been another fine, sunny day. Sunday we made a late start, leaving about 1000. On another fine day we travelled north through Miramichi and Bathurst to Campbellton where we crossed Chaleur Bay leaving New Brunswick and entered Quebec, where we turned east to camp at a small site in St. Omer. We have now entered another time Zone, GMT minus 4hrs. Monday we continued our travels east along the south coast of the Peninsule de la Gaspésie to Saint-Georges-de-Malbaie, a good camp site on the cliffs over looking The Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Tuesday the journey was northerly through Gaspé to turn east to visit the Parc National de Forillon, no visible wild life. Ah well!!! We then followed the coast northwest to camp at Grande-Vallée early in the afternoon in fine sunny weather. Wednesday, our route now took us southwest along the south shore of the St. Lawrence Seaway. The road is at times dangerous, rocks attacking from the cliffs on our left and large waves attacking from the sea on our right. Not today however. The weather was fine. During the drive we saw our only wildlife, about 8in long with a 6in tail and carrying something white (a fish?) in it’s mouth. While we passed through St. Ulric we spotted a caravan dealer, we entered and with our limited French managed to find a fluent English speaker, probably the boss. We bought several necessary items and arranged to return at 0800 the next day to have the water purifier taken out and reassembled after Howard’s attempt to change the charcoal filter. We turned back to the nearest camp, the other side of St. Ulric. Thursday at 0730 we were back at the dealer’s to remove the woodwork from around the purifier. A member of staff arrived, removed the purifier, reassembled it and with another person holding it he unscrewed the top of the filter compartment, dead easy when you know how. An hour later we continued southwest in sunny spells and heavy rain showers to find the road closed. Following the detour and camping signs through roads in the process of being resurfaced, we returned eventually to our road, and left it immediately to find the camp on the Seaway near Rivière-Ouelle. Friday another fine sunny day, we continued southwest along a narrowing St Lawrence River to finish at Québec, a site with Wi-fi. The Wi-fi from the caravan was unsuccessful we had to go into the office and plug in, OK.
Saturday 18th was spent at Quebec, Mervyn visited the town, he was given the wrong information by his bus driver, he arrived early to find the 1630 bus did not return to our camp and had to wait for the 1830 bus. Howard stayed at the camp, wasted an hour trying the Wi-fi, baked a cake and got the accounts up to date. The day was mainly dry, it rained in the evening. Sunday we continued southwest to pass through Montréal and find a nice camp among the trees at Hudson on a fine sunny day. Monday we continued westwards to enter Ontario. Mervyn’s friend Virginia was visiting her mother who lives in Sarsfield, just east of Ottawa. We arrived in time for lunch. The two young girls were delighted to see us and organised games for us to play. Tuesday we went into Ottawa on a shopping spree for the family, and a photo spree for Mervyn. We left on Wednesday morning to drive through Ottawa to Dunrobin to try and find Bruce and Kay, who we met on our India trip in 1975/6,
on making enquiries we found that they
had moved. As our time in Canada was running out (the insurance
we were told only allowed one month out of The States) we headed south
to camp at Carleton Place, in the trees. Thursday our southward
journey continued to cross into the USA at Prescott and drive south-westwards
alongside the St. Lawrence River to camp at Morristown in the Jaques
Cartier State Park, on the bank of the river. Friday, a hot sunny day saw
us heading westerly to Wolcott, to camp in the sun in 37°C.Saturday 25th we had a day for chores and rest. Sunday, there isn’t really much to say, we continued west to Gasport for an early camp, on site for lunch. Internet is a dial up connection of no use to us. A dry cloudy day. Monday we left early to visit Niagara, We parked on Goat Island and walked alongside the river, the rapids we were told are rated 6 on a scale of 1 to 5. The photos do not do them justice. We returned to take a boat trip to the base of the falls on the Maid of the Mist, fantastic. After lunch, expensive but nothing exceptional, we walked across into Canada, they were a bit formal at the Canadian Border and then we walked upriver where the views of the falls was even better. We went behind the falls, not very interesting, but the view of the horseshoe falls from 30 yards was superb. The return to the USA was very simple. We drove back to the camp worn out. As we were leaving camp on Tuesday morning we spotted two deer beside the camp exit road. We returned back eastwards to Wolcott, not a lot doing, except a major water leak from under the kitchen just as dinner was ready. Wednesday we remained at Wolcott, most of the morning was spent curing the leak, it was the most inaccessible joint in the system. Howard undid three other joints and took out the piping to make the repair, fortunately putting it all back was easy. The afternoon was spent relaxing in 37°C, with the air conn on for the first time. On phoning ahead, Howard’s phone worked for the first time, we found two full camps for the labour day weekend, but number 3 was OK and we booked for five nights. Thursday we drove eastwards visiting Vienna and Verona en route for Rome, then on into the Adirondack Park and the town of Old Forge, where the camp is and we chose a site among Maple trees, with a few other trees mixed in. Along our route we have seen many black squirrels, some red Squirrels, some grey Squirrels, and several Hawks. Friday started with odd jobs and then a restful day, on a very pleasant site.
USA-New York State-Old Forge