New Brunswick Trip - Day 14, Minister's Island and Covenhoven

 

7km perimeter, plus across the causeway and back, plus around the house. (over 15,000 steps today)

We didn't complete the hike around Minister's Island 2 days ago, so returned today to hike the section we missed. We walked in the opposite direction and started at the bottom of the hill, below the barn.

Most of this perimeter trail is through forest and shrubby undergrowth.

Some areas are lined by the vestiges of a dry stone wall

and evidence of more formal entrances to the carriage ways.

A strange looking fungus. I saw many mushrooms today, warm, moist conditions, bringing them out. I later read that foraging for mushrooms was one of the interests of the Van Horne ladies.

We sat for a while at this little cove, knowing we had 3hours before we had to leave, so, not pressured for time.

The live seaweed on the rocks was pale yellow/green while the washed up, drying variety was burgundy to black.

We sat on the sandstone rock and it flaked off under our hands. Hard to understand how you can build with it.

Looking across at Chamcook Mountain I realized that the trees next to the shore have all lost their leaves. We are over the foliage colour peak. We were so lucky to hit it in Quebec and then a week later here.

A little further along we came upon a ruined log house. Shaped in a cross with a central fireplace, it had been quite substantial. We later learned it had been built by William Van Horne's grandson "Billy" as his family cottage.

A substantial burl on one of the Spruce trees.

Soft footing, years of pine needles. Gravel replaced this where it had washed out.

We sat on a couple of wooden chairs, admiring the view and eating our picnic; left over pizza.

When we reached the house we still had over an hour before the tide dictated we leave, so we looked around inside.

We were free to wander in the house and there were people scattered through it who could answer questions. (Close up of the fireplace pillars)

The kitchen oven was huge, made in Montreal

A couple of the upstairs rooms were devoted to Sir William Cornelius Van Horne's many accomplishments. He over saw the building of the CP railroad, 6 years ahead of time and under budget, was CEO of CP, invented things like the cow catcher and systems to divert avalanches from the rails, was actively involved in the architectural design of CPs train stations and hotels, started the process of developing CPs fleet of ocean liners, the Empress line.( We came to Canada on CPs The Empress of England.). He played the violin, taught himself to paint (one of the rooms had some of his oil paintings hung), bred cattle and horses, promoted Western Canada for agriculture developing an experimental farm there and, although American, was knighted by the Queen.

One of the many additions to the house was a wing that was to house a nursery for his grandson, Billy. The nursery has numerous reminders of the families Dutch heritage.

The frieze is peeling and in bad repair

but a reproduction hangs in front of it.

And always that view!

Deer by the hiking path

as we hurried down to the causeway. The staff drove off right behind us.

In town I picked up a frame and mat, to leave the painting as part of my thank you gift. We also bought some groceries for lunches in the car. Tomorrow is our last day here - cleaning, packing and hopefully another hike.