Nine week trip around the Gaspe", into NB, and NS
We are back on NC after a super trip to the above-mentioned places. We left NC and drove mostly interstates to get to northern NY. After a few days in Plattsburg (Cumberland Bay SP) we traveled only 131 miles in four hours as we worked our way across the top of VT, spending the night a Brighton SP on Spectacular Pond. We then covered 172 miles through northern VT and NH and crossed into Quebec near St. George. We began our exploration of the Gaspe’ at Camping Municipal de La Pointe de Riviere Du Loup and spent two weeks driving along Route 123 around the peninsular. We had base camps at Gaspe’, Perce’, Bonaventure, and Koughibouque NP (where we waited out Hurricane Arthur).
Moving on to Nova Scotia we revisited the Northumberland shore for a couple of days before heading for the North Mountain area on the western shore. We were interested in visiting the miles of mineral rich coves and beaches between the mountain and the Bay of Fundy. We had base camps at DeLaps Cove and at Joggins Cove that enabled us to explore the entire spine of the mountain, all the way down Digby Neck to Briar Island, with our 4x4 truck.
Our original plan was to cross to the Atlantic side of Nova Scotia and proceed northerly toward North Sidney and the ferry to Newfoundland but we became so fascinated with southern NS that we abandoned the plan. We did cross over to Lunenberg for a week, visiting the sea caves at The Ovens and checking out Peggy’s Cove but we were soon headed west again to the Bay. We spent 10 days at Five Islands, using it as a base to roam up and down the coast from Joggins to Advocate Harbor to Parrsboro to Economy. We used the 4x4 a lot as we followed the local’s directions into beaches and coves. We met wonderful people who were so willing to share their favorite places with us.
Leaving Nova Scotia we stopped at Fundy NP for a few days so that I could paddle my canoe at Hopewell Rocks. A few days in Maine, a visit with family in New Hampshire, and four days at the Shaw Festival at Niagara on the Lake completed our trip. We spent just one night on the road between Buffalo and Unaka.
We were surprised to see so few US tags in the campgrounds and roads of the Atlantic Provinces. We sometimes camped for days without seeing a fellow American. The French Canadian’s were gracious and welcoming although we did encounter some situations where we had to communicate with gestures and drawings (and Spanish!). The Nova Scotia’s? Oh my goodness, what friendly, helpful, wonderful people. We felt right at home. We traveled without reservations and never had any difficulty with finding a place to stay. I give this trip a 10.
Moving on to Nova Scotia we revisited the Northumberland shore for a couple of days before heading for the North Mountain area on the western shore. We were interested in visiting the miles of mineral rich coves and beaches between the mountain and the Bay of Fundy. We had base camps at DeLaps Cove and at Joggins Cove that enabled us to explore the entire spine of the mountain, all the way down Digby Neck to Briar Island, with our 4x4 truck.
Our original plan was to cross to the Atlantic side of Nova Scotia and proceed northerly toward North Sidney and the ferry to Newfoundland but we became so fascinated with southern NS that we abandoned the plan. We did cross over to Lunenberg for a week, visiting the sea caves at The Ovens and checking out Peggy’s Cove but we were soon headed west again to the Bay. We spent 10 days at Five Islands, using it as a base to roam up and down the coast from Joggins to Advocate Harbor to Parrsboro to Economy. We used the 4x4 a lot as we followed the local’s directions into beaches and coves. We met wonderful people who were so willing to share their favorite places with us.
Leaving Nova Scotia we stopped at Fundy NP for a few days so that I could paddle my canoe at Hopewell Rocks. A few days in Maine, a visit with family in New Hampshire, and four days at the Shaw Festival at Niagara on the Lake completed our trip. We spent just one night on the road between Buffalo and Unaka.
We were surprised to see so few US tags in the campgrounds and roads of the Atlantic Provinces. We sometimes camped for days without seeing a fellow American. The French Canadian’s were gracious and welcoming although we did encounter some situations where we had to communicate with gestures and drawings (and Spanish!). The Nova Scotia’s? Oh my goodness, what friendly, helpful, wonderful people. We felt right at home. We traveled without reservations and never had any difficulty with finding a place to stay. I give this trip a 10.
