October 3/18 (Part 2) – Pocologan, to Nackawic, New Brunswick – New River Beach

New River Beach Provincial Park located on the Bay of Fundy provides the perfect place to camp, picnic, walk on the beach, kayak or just plain relax. We have been here a few times before in varied weather, with and without kids and it is still one of our favourite places in NB. On this day, at low tide, the beauty was a bit different and at times, we found our way impeded bu the rivulets of river water flowing over the sand.

Puddle Jumpers

Gingerly jumping

across rippling rivulets.

New River indeed.

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October 3/18 (Part 1) – Pocologan to Nackawic, New Brunswick – on the Ocean Floor

Floored

Morn came slowly through dark shadows unknown,

lifting grey curtains on views all our own.

Sea life was dining just out our front door,

first we’d eat our breakfast, then we’d explore.

Last crumbs eaten, all tidied up inside,

Outdoors, Fundy, on her way to low tide.

Down on this new beach, a marvelous scene,

whole new worlds lay, where once water had been.

 

 

 

October 2/18 (Part 5) Pictou, Nova Scotia to Pocologan, New Brunswick – Pocologan

Magical

Beside Fundy’s shore

nestles a magical place

Pocologan time.

The name sounds made up, does it not? Well, as we found out, it was not. It is a rural community in Charlotte County, New Brunswick, between Saint John and Saint George. It is situated on the Bay of Fundy and provides views of beautiful Maritime scenery.

This was part 2 of Linda and Lloyd’s anniversary surprise. We pulled up to the front of a nondescript low motel like building. Lloyd checked us in and grabbed the keys and we followed to our room. On opening the door, we were greeted with a beautifully furnished housekeeping room. But the best part was the view from the patio doors. The place was nestled right into the shore line of the Bay of Fundy. Even though it was grey and rainy, the beauty of the view as plain to see.

 

We were treated to beverages, snacks and music as the rainy afternoon settled into a rainy night. Ahhh, well, there was always tomorrow.

 

October 2/18 (Part 4) Pictou, Nova Scotia to Pocologan, New Brunswick – Saint John New Brunswick

There is a lot of history in Saint John. The first settlement was established here in 1604 by Samuel de Champlain, but no major settlement occurred here until 1783. The City was incorporated as the first city in what would become Canada in 1785. The population as of the 2016 census is 67,575. St. John is the third largest seaport in Canada

The City is sited on the Bay of Fundy, which has the highest tides in the world. In Saint John, the tides rise up to 28 1/2 feet. The Saint John River empties into the Bay of Fundy  through a narrow gorge, over  a series of rapids. At low tide, the rapids flow into the bay. At slack tide, the river flow stops. At high tide, the water from the bay is actually 14 1/2 feet higher than the river and water flows back up the river over the rapids creating the phenomenon known as the Reversing Falls.

We were not planning to spend much time in Saint John, but had to drop Linda and Lloyd off to collect their car from the ferry terminal. However, they had planned a special surprise for us and were treating us to lunch at one of their favourite restaurants, Thandi which was located right downtown. We enjoyed our lunch here, before continuing on to pick up the car and proceeding on to the other special surprise they had in store for us.

The feature photo shows a cruise ship docked at the end of the downtown street where we parked our car.

October 2/18 (Part 3) Pictou, Nova Scotia to Pocologan, New Brunswick – Irving stove and heating oil will keep your toes from freezing.

These words are part of the rollicking folksong I’se the B’y, one of the newer versions by Newfoundland’s own music group, Great Big Sea. A very catchy song about East Coast life.

Irving Oil has been a big part of that life since 1924, when it was founded by K.C. Irving. His first station was in Bouctouche, New Brunswick, selling fuels brought in by tank trucks. Some 94 years later, they operate Canada’s largest oil refinery and the only refinery in Ireland (near Cork) as well as a network of some 900 gas stations throughout Eastern Canada, Quebec and Maine and a fleet of oil tankers. It was the first oil company to offer unleaded fuel in Canada and low sulphur fuel in North America and is the only oil company to publicly support the Kyoto Accord. The company is still privately held by K.C.s son Arthur and family.

Their stations are large, modern and clean with excellent washrooms, C-stores and restaurants. Their Big Stop stations also serve the truckers travelling by.

Now, if only Alberta could get their crude to this refinery…………

We stopped at this location, near Westville (not far from Pictou). Some of the stations also support works of art, like the one below.

October 2/18 (Part 2) Pictou, Nova Scotia to Pocologan, New Brunswick – Around Pictou

We had been through Pictou or near it in the past, but never spent time there. After checking out of our B & B, we went exploring for a bit, before we had to drive away to our next stop.

The site of a Mi’kmaq summer coastal community before European settlement, Pictou (Pic Toe) was settled n 1767 and incorporated in 1874. Population as of the 2016 census is shown as 3,168.

There are many brightly painted buildings down by the water, including restaurants and shops. The Hector Heritage Museum is also down on the water, as is a replica of the Hector, a full rigged Fluyt* that was part of the fleet bringing Scottish settlers to the area in 1773.

*A Fluyt is a Dutch type of sailing vessel originally designed by the shipwrights at Hoorn and used to carry cargo.

Lloyd lost his head over this cannon.

The train station below was built in 1904 by the Intercolonial Railway (later CN).

The stairs to the old school house still show the separate Boys and Girls entrances. We obviously know our places.

There are many fine old homes in Pictou…

…a building with a chimney that has a window in it….

…a load of old church steeples…

…and these weird people posing behind wooden cutouts.

Time for play is done. Our chariot Priscilla waits to take us to our next destination.

October 2 (Part 1) – Pictou, Nova Scotia to Pocologan, New Brunswick – Willow House B & B, Pictou

We chose to spend a night in Pictou, so we could visit with some friends. Willow House was our stop for the night. The house was built in 1840 and this three story house has a lot of stairs (we know, because we were on the 3rd floor). The exterior is well kept up and the interior continues to be a work in progress. I am sure that a home this old takes a lot of work to renovate and keep up.

The hosts are wonderful and our rooms were well appointed, comfortable and quiet. Free parking is provided on site and you are only 500 meters away from the waterfront. This place and Pictou have a lot to offer.

The views out of our 3rd floor room.

 

The stairs and hall.

 

The breakfast room.

The exterior and grounds.