Reversing rapids

Next stop on our September road trip was St. John, New Brunswick, at the mouth of the St. John River.  Where the river empties into the Bay of Fundy are the reversing rapids that the city is known for.  We arrived at low tide when the whirlpools are visible and spent some time just watching the water and the boats that take passengers almost into the whirlpools.

 


                   
                                                  
                                   

The weather was beautiful, and the sound of the water relaxing. We stayed quite a while as other sightseers came and went.



                                   
                                                
                  





We had dinner at a restaurant situated just above the rapids, (of course, where else would it be), then attempted to navigate all the construction going on while looking for our hotel.

                  


                          
                  

High tide was not until after dark, but we went back, parking at a spot above the bridge this time, and watched the water going upriver. A strange sight to say the least.

It's Winds...day

Windy and cold (well, for Florida) here today. Sunny though and our last day this visit, so off we went for a short walk on the beach.



These two were having a great time at the dog beach.  The smaller one in the red collar would bark at his companion if he didn't get the toy until the other one would give it up.  Every time.




There was even a dog in the sky.



                    

I hope I look this good at 91. And can still walk the beach... on a super windy day.





 

Lunch at the covered bridge

Information centres/rest stops in New Brunswick are a bit different than in the states, as they are not necessarily near the highway, nor owned by the province.  This one was a few miles away, we figured out why when we finally found it and drove into town. They have their own little claim to fame, a long one lane covered bridge over the St. John River, complete with picnic tables and souvenir shop.  At any rate, it was a pleasant place to stop for lunch as we continued to follow the river on the way to St. John.




You can walk the bridge too.










Roses still blooming in September.

Some scenes from Quebec

When we drove into Riviere du Loup, a beautiful hilly town on the south side of the St. Lawrence River, it was right at sunset, which I could see out my side window was absolutely fantastic. Unfortunately there was nowhere to stop along the road for a picture, and sunsets being fleeting things, it was gone by the time I could have found a spot to shoot it. We found a small restaurant in downtown, where the waitress, ascertaining that we didn't speak French, apologized for not having a menu in English. I assured her we would manage, which we did, and had a very nice dinner, bad wine notwithstanding. It was still early, so we went to the falls that are right in town, but... no pictures of those either as it was too dark by then.

The next morning, having a short driving day, we took time for another look around before setting out for New Brunswick. We found a walking trail that ran along a little peninsula across from the town, where the geese were on the mud flats, taking advantage of low tide to get their breakfast. The sun was shining, promising a pleasant day for travel.

I think these are Snow geese

Riviere du Loup

A shirt from the other end of the continent...

This year round attraction, Noel au Chateau, apparently inspired by Disney's Cinderella castle, is situated near the walking trail. The whale seems a bit out of place, but perhaps it has something to do with the fact that the town is a good place for whale watching.

At a rest stop near Notre-Dame-du-Lac, we had this beautiful view of Lac Temiscouata, a 45 km long lake that empties into the St. John River via the Madawaska River.

Lac Temiscouata

On to St. John...

Ontario

Ontario between the Soo and Pembroke is beautiful, rocky and mountainous. It's also long, so we probably won't do it again as a drive through, but it was definitely worth seeing. The only pics I have were taken with my phone in a lovely riverfront park in Pembroke. They have a monument there of a replica Cockburn pointer boat, and several pavilions along the walk, all with historical photos and text telling about the area and the lumber and boatbuilding industry there.

The rest of the pics are of a wooden pointer boat built by the local high school students sitting atop a raft made of square logs which is how they floated the logs down the river during the lumbering era.

We originally went to the park looking for a totem pole described in the AAA tourbook. The desk clerk at the hotel gave us directions, although her friend lounging at the counter visiting her thought it was not really worthy of a visit. Needing a walk after a day in the car, we went anyway. As it was at the far end of the park from where we parked, we didn't find it until it was too dark for pictures. The historical displays were a lot more interesting in any case. Maybe I should contact AAA and have them update their book.

A little add on to the previous post. The quality is really bad, but I thought it was cool what the the fountain at Sault Ste. Marie looked like at night.

Road trip - Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Our road trip to Maine started with a late afternoon drive to the Soo, on the Canada side. First time using my passport and I was told that my picture was not acceptable because it was too light, he couldn't tell if it was me. Then he let us in. I guess I didn't look very dangerous, what with the minivan with the business stickers on the back windows.

Since my camera had quit on me a few weeks before and still wasn't back from the repair shop, my daughter very sweetly let me use her camera which of course I forgot to charge before we left. I was only able to get a few shots of the St. Mary's River, the locks, and a freighter which obligingly came though just at the right time, before the battery died. So no pics of the first day driving through Ontario, but believe me, the scenery was gorgeous. Torture for an amateur photographer, but we probably made better time.

Millennium Fountain and freighter

Entering the locks

International Bridge

St. Mary's River