Kouchibouguac National Park

Today our aim was to backtrack and go north along the Acadian Trail to the Kouchibouguac National Park, we wove our way along the coastline to Cap-Lumiere and over to Rexton.

Once we arrived at the national park we visited the Visitors center to get loaded up on maps for our drive, this wonderful statue sits at the entrance, it was very well done, down to the blueberries they were sharing.

The main attraction of the park is the beach at Kelly's Plage, the sand was so soft and went on for miles, to get out there we had to walk over the boardwalk to protect the dune.

Our day had started out kinda grey but turned nice while we were visiting the beach.

I think Mom and Dad might be getting tired of all my walks, I know they are sleeping well.

Since that did not take to long we headed back for Bouctouche and the folks were ready for a rest, so Ron and I headed for the convent museum I took a picture of yesterday. It was really good, a young girl playing a convent child answered the door and escorted us about the convent discribing what it was like back in the early 1900's.



After we decided to take a drive through the Irving Arbortoreum, which was the original home of K C Irving of Irving Oil. The property has been planted in as many trees that can grow in the area as possible, and then they also created a flower garden, it was very lovely and free to just go and wander around.

After getting a couple things at the stores we headed on home but stopped out at the entrance of our campsite to take a picture of all the Oyster Beds right across the road.

Caraquet to Bouctouche

Today we moved a whole 235 kms from Caraquet to Bouctouche, the weather was drizzly during the drive but by the time we arrived at our new campground it was 18 degrees and partly sunny. We plan to spend three days here.

Had lunch, tucked Dad in for his nap and took mom down to the Irving Eco Centre which is a very long boardwalk on a 12 km sand dune. There were lots of people out walking and children playing on the beach and in the water.


The boardwalk was 4 km long so we got mom to ride in the wheelchair so we would not play her out.

Because it was an eco center you could not collect sea shells so the beach was covered with all sorts of shells.

We took a drive into Bouctouche where we found the Museum, it used to be a convent and apparently when you go in they greet you in costume and tell you all about how life was. It would be nice to go in , we will have to see if time will allow it in the next couple days.

Shopping in Bathurst

Shopping was the order of the day, so we set off to Bathurst.

Along the way we stopped at Grand-Anse to check out the lighthouse and the port. The day was overcast but at least no rain.

This lighthouse is in just about every New Brunswick tourist book there is.

The little Cantine down by the port had quite a collection of driftwood artwork.

After our shopping and a burger treat for Ron we went up the peninsula to Maisonnette, which is actually right across the bay from Caraquet. All these little villages seem to have parks and boardwalks along the sea shore.

Last day here and tomorrow we will head south along the Acadian Trail.

The Acadian Isle

Today we decided to drive to the very tip of the Acadian Isle, not knowing really what we would find and it was a fun day. At the end of the road and the tip of the Isle you come across the Miscou Lighthouse, it was open to the public but we did not climb the stairs to the light. We did however meet a couple who actually embraced us into their piece of the country, he had worked at the lighthouse for some years going up and down 30 times a day. They retired just down the road and let me tell you it is isolated and I am sure quiet dreary in the winter. They said the storms are not as bad as they used to me, and they wanted us to stay so she could teach me french.

There were a few houses in the area but about 50 percent were boarded up and empty.

There were several boardwalks, in very good condition to walk out and see the beaches, birds and other landscape.


Our friendly couple told us to go to the beach down in Miscou center, they said we should have brought our coach up and parked there, three days for free she says, saving helps.

In Shippagan the big boats sat idle along the shore, docks and in peoples back yards, quite a sight.

Came home so the folks could have a nap and we washed the coach and then it started to rain but tonight it cleared and we had a wonderful sunset. It says it will not be nice for the next few days but we are hopeing they are wrong.

A new province and another time zone

This morning we did our last 60 kms down the coast of Quebec and crossed the bridge into Campbelton New Brunswick. Here we stopped at the tourist information for a new load of maps and magazines.

We arrived in Caraquet where we are staying for the next three nights and after lunch decided to go to the Acadian Village while Dad had a rest.

The Village has its grand opening tomorrow so we got in for half price today and the grounds were quiet. The Acadian characters spoke very good english and told us all about the lifes of the first acadians in the area.


Most of the homes had these outside ovens. The gardens were all planted, cows in the meadows, chickens in the coops and pigs in the pens.

A stop at the blacksmith shop gave him a chance to show us how they would make nails.

The grist mill was very modern for its time, it was quite fascinating inside and still can work today, with only water power.

Once you cross the covered bridge you travel from the 1800's to the 1900's.


The old hotel was the host today for a wedding, people were being driven up to the front in the old cars.

They had the Irving Gas station all set up, it was very well done.

As you can tell we had another wonderful day, going for a drive up the Shippagan tomorrow.

Last day on the Gaspisie

Absolutely amazing, how one day is so rainy and the next you wake up to solid sun shine, but we will take it.
We were only going 200 km today so no need to get in a rush, we had a very lovely ride around the south side of the Gaspe Peninsula.
Let me tell you Newfoundland has to go some to beat the Gaspe for scenery, we have had just an awesome week.
Today we went through many little villages, here is one where a lot of fishing boats were just sitting idle out of the water.

We are camped for the night in the Municipal Park in Carleton sur Mer, and it is right out on the peninsula, it is perfect.

Everyone we have met along the way said to be sure to go up Mout Saint Joseph and so that is what we did and my goodness what a view.

The area looks like a patch work quilt with farms in all directions.

Ron got a little whimpy and would not go out with me out on the platform to look down over the cliff. It certainly was a long way down. We are parked at 35 feet about sea level and we were up at 2000 feet at the mountain top.

A church was built up on top in the 1930's and is still used today.

Back down on the bottom, we went for a walk after dinner, the park is probably over a mile in length and a lighthouse sits on one end. The tide was out so we had a nice beach to walk on, it looks sandy but is more gravel.

With such a beautiful day it is hard to say goodbye to the Gaspe and Quebec, the people have been great and we had a wonderful stay.

Rain Rain Rain

What we had today was rain, rain, rain, it was a very good day to do chores, played hairdresser, did laundry, made bread that kind of thing.

Mom, Ron and I did go downtown and walked through all the little touristy shops, dad had a good rest at home.

After we dropped mom off and headed off for a couple short walks, one up to get a better view of Perce Rock and the walkway to it when the tide is low, in the picture we still have about two hours until low tide.



Mont Joli is the historical part of the town and sits opposite of the rock.

And then a walk out ot the lighthouse below our campsite, by the time we were finished we were drenched but the folks had the coach nice and warm so it was good to get home.


Hard to believe right now but they say tomorrow is going to be sunny again, I would love that as we are heading for Carleton, Quebec.

Forillon National Park

Well I can not believe our luck, we woke up to just an absolutely beautiful day again today, so instead of doing Perce we decided to drive back up the Gaspe and do the Forillon National Park.

Took this picture at 630am so it is a little over exposed looking into the sun but there is the rock, it is 4 million tons of limestone, it used to have two arches but one fell down in 1845.

The Forillon National Park is quite large and is a very good place for hiking and camping.

This shot is close to the entrance and is just opposite the town of Gaspe.


In 1942 when the Germans sank a couple ships off the Gaspe coast, the Canadian government quickly set into position an army base, Fort Ramsey at Gaspe and out on the coast this bunker that could pick off ships coming into the bay.

Just down the road is a fishing pier and we stopped in to see what was going on and lucky enough along came a smaller fishing boat, he had caught lobster, crab and mackeral. Look at the size of this fellow, about 4 pounds they tell me, hmmmm, maybe heaven really lies in the Gaspe.

This area used to be a very active fishing area and here is the old general store, now kept by the park services to show what life used to be like, the inside was set up and staff playing the part. Beside it was a little museum of the cod fishing life of the merchant and fishermen.

Just down the road a fishermans house, again with park staff as characters, they really played up the part. Here is a picture of the kitchen area.

What luck to see a porcupine on the roadside, and a good sized one at that.

Off to the North shore and in the great interperative center was a picture of the park that I thought would give you a good idea of what it looks like

The cliffs were certainly spectacular

Lots of walk ways and look outs to view the cliffs and all the shore birds.

Met a couple that had just come back from the hike, they were from Kelowna and they had run into a bear on the path.

The lighthouse is supposed to be the tallest in North America and is named after all the wild roses that are growing and blooming right now in the park. The lighthouse is also the place of the most shipwrecks in the area.