Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Canada, N.B., Kouchibouguac National Park, 7/31/12

Canada, N.B., Kouchibouguac National Park, 7/31/12: On the Road Again Tuesday July 31.


To Kouchibouguac National Park which is famous for its beaches. Lots of families here at noon. It was 89 degrees. The beach is the warmest north of Virginia. The water is Kouchibouguac Bay and that adjoins the Gulf of St. Lawrence.


This is the boardwalk built over the lagoon and sand dunes. The walk to the beach is 1.8 km.


Kids are on the hunt.


They excitedly chatted in French.


The main thing I wanted to see in Kouchibouguac National Park was the BOG.


The forest is slowly being eaten up by the bog which was formed in a depression after the glaciers subsided.


The larch and black spruce slowly die off because of the water logged soil. They decompose and the bog gets bigger and bigger. 100 years old black spruce might only be knee high because of the harsh growing conditions.


Sphagnum moss.


Peat started to form at the time the Great Pyramids were being built.



Mosquitoes are the most abundant animals in the bog. They are eaten by frogs and bug eating birds.


We are staying at Caraquet Campground on Nepisguit Bay. A very clean campground, very clean showers and bathrooms. Phil made sure we got 30 amp electricity so we could use the microwave.


After doing dishes I noticed the red sunset so have to post another sunset photo.


AND it's a full moon!
Location:Kouchibouguac National Park and Caraquet, N.B.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Canada, N.B., Hopewell Cape, 7/30/12

Canada, N.B., Hopewell Cape, 7/30/12: On the Road Again Monday July 30. We have been reading the high and low tide tables.


We went to Hopewell Rocks. This is at high tide. The rock formations are called flowerpots.


Kayaker went under the archway of the flowerpots.


Looking the other direction as we go back up the stairs. We went back to our RV. Had lunch, rested and talked with other RV'ers and returned to see the flowerpots.


And look what we saw.


People lounging on the beach. (this was the opposite side from the flowerpots.)


We walked on the ocean floor!!!! Walked under the arches. The tide could be up to 53 feet. Today's was 43 ft.


It was incredible to think this had been covered with over 40 feet of water at 10 am. Now at 1:30 pm the water has receded.


The ocean floor had stones, pebbles and chocolate mud.


The silt was flowing in and out with the current.


It was amazing to walk the ocean floor. Excuse me, am I repeating myself.


But it was amazing.


Some went out in the chocolate mud.


Again the travelers.


We WALKED on the ocean floor.


Not our feet. They had washing stations to allow the adventurous ones to clean up.


The Petitcodiac River...low tide

We are staying at Walmart in Moncton. What an unbelievable day!!!!

Location:Hopewell Cape and Moncton, N. B.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Canada, N. B., Fundy National Park, 7/29/12

Canada, N. B., Fundy National Park, 7/29/12: On the Road Again Sunday July 29 after stopping at Tim Horton's for coffee and using their Wi Fi.


Flower outside Fundy National Park's Visitor Center.


We crossed the covered bridge (restricted to vehicle less than 24 feet).


The inlet of water we crossed going through the covered bridge.





To Pointe Beach


We hiked along the beach and saw another traveler...Always warms my heart.


Amazingly clear water gives a reflection of the majestic spruce. It smells so good.


Fog has 10 times the acid of RAIN. Manufacturing causes acid in the air and can some day it is projected to lead to killing of the native trees.


Onto Herring Cove.


This area harvested LOTS of herring starting in the 1850's. But the logging business created water diversions and killed off the herring industry.


Boats waiting for high tide.


In the town of Alma.


Onto Cape Enrage. The first lighthouse here was built in 1840.


The lighthouse is high above Chignecto Bay which leads into the Bay of Fundy. Tides can rise 53 feet. Highest in the world.


We walked down 99 steps to the rock covered beach.


Some of the rocks are covered with bladderwrack.


There were gals repelling down the walls. Before leaving we chatted with a couple from Colorado. They plan to be on the road for a least a year. They are seeing the US and Canada. Neat couple.


The beautiful view out our back doors at our campsite at Ponderosa Pines Campground, Hopewell Cape. Very nice, clean place, Bathroom facilities are very limited AND the showers are a little trickle. Visited with our camping neighbors and shared lots of traveling stories. They are from near Minneapolis. Have also talked to many from Canada; Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario.

Excited to walk on the ocean floor tomorrow, but guess we did do it already today.
Location:Fundy National Park and Cape Enrage