New Brunswick at last

We snuck into New Brunswick on the back roads, and found some nice lakes and recreational areas just across the line.  Of course, we wondered at first where the English was, as this part of northern NB is pretty much French speaking as well.  The sun was shining, so it was a good opportunity to go for a bit of a flight.

We did feel a little more at home here though, or at least a bit less conspicuous, because now our red and white Alberta plates pretty much matched the ones in NB!

We checked the distance and found we had traveled some  5350km since leaving home.  I don’t want to add up the fuel costs as it would be too painful.

In Edmundston, using English Google, a glass repair shop was located and the new ding from Quebec City was repaired before it had a chance to spread across in front of me.  The guys at the shop said that my windshield would never pass inspection with the other cracks in it.  I told them that inspections were not required – in Alberta, unless the vehicle is being imported or perhaps for older vehicles.  No provincial sales tax, either .

It was 31C in Florenceville where we stopped to re-provision a bit before heading on down to Woodstock.  We found a nice, free, spacious, scenic, quiet camp spot near the boat launch in town.  It was still early, so a quick tour of town showed that the only station that sells diesel – closes at 6PM!  Luckily, we had planned to stay, so that was not a problem at all – this time.

Since we were headed for the most south-westerly corner of NB, a bit of a gravel shortcut south of Canterbury looked good.  On the map, at least!  Actually it wasn’t that bad if you don’t mind some rocks and potholes filled with water while it was raining.  Once again, glad to have the truck camper on this expedition, not the 5th wheel.

In southern NB, they must have used the same naming conventions as Quebec, as we noted cruising through St Stephen, St Andrew, St George, while headed for Saint John!  But at least English was back firmly in the majority – on signs and in conversation with the locals.  New Brunswick is however, an officially bilingual province, so French does appear on most government signs.

  In Saint Andrews by-the-sea was the historic Algonquin hotel, built in the 1890’s, and undergoing some renovations.

There was some family to be visited on Deer Island, so it was onto the ferry at very low tide.

On the far shore the ramp was long, steep, and covered in sea-weed, so we spun a bit trying to climb back up to dry land.

While visiting, Hailey got to meet some of her ‘cousins’ …

Emmy was glad to meet Hailey, but not so sure about Nemo, as she gave him a good looking over!

I guess the highlight of the visit was an overnight sailing excursion and races at the St Andrews Yacht Club.

Hailey was on the boat for about 30 hours non-stop and was not heard to complain once.  The same could not be said for me when I saw the rails of the boat underwater during some of the windier tacks!

The ‘captain’,                     and the ‘crew’(?)

Sometimes, it was peaceful and calm …

..and it looks like we are ahead by a boat length!

Other times, the boat was pretty much on edge.

At this point, you don’t know whether to try standing on the bottom of the boat, or the side .

Having safely survived the Bay of Fundy on the boat, there was time for a bit of flying over Deer Island.