New Brunswick Trip - Day 4, Baie Comeau to Matane

We couldn't catch the ferry to Matane until 5pm so had a day to kill in Baie Comeau. Had a leisurely morning, did a blog post, had coffee and picked up our bag of breakfast at the hotel (we would again eat on it all day). Checked out at about 11 and went to find the ferry terminal and then drove east, along the coast. Steep mountains with very few maples so mostly yellow and pale orange fall foliage with just the occasional dark orange or red. Steep grades, bends and surprise views of the river.

This is where we were heading - Phare de Cape de Monts.

During the summer months you can go inside and there are displays on the lighthouses of the area.

It's at the end of an 11km road off the main highway

with rocky coast off in one direction,

a wooden bridge out to it (with a locked gate today) and

a series of beaches off in the other direction.

The area smelled like the ocean and, on looking it up, I found that the estuary begins at Quebec City and reaches full salinity at Tadoussac (where we saw the belugas) so it is "Ocean" here.

We were both snapping away.

Heading back along the entrance road we stopped at a couple of coves.

I was taking a picture of this Black Backed Gull and didn't realize I had some other water fowl in the picture until I got it on to the computer. No idea what they are....

maybe the same as these (again, no idea, maybe a birder reader can help me out)

Lots of bushes with

bright red berries line the road sides.

Continuing our drive out, Rick and I both realized at the same time that the lump of brown at the side of the road was a Porcupine. (Photo by Rick)

I backed up and as he was on Rick's side he got some good pictures. (Photo by Rick)

By the time I got out of the car (keeping my distance!) all I could get was his tail as he waddled into the ditch

then he turned to peer at me through the grass.

Just before the turn off back into Baie Comeau we stopped at a lookout we had noticed on the way out.

A short walk, up a wooden ramp, through the forest

took us to a look out

with an information board about how the glaciers carved out Fjord de St Pancrace.

Wooden stairs took us higher

and higher.

Looking down at the trees below.

We were in line for the ferry about an hour before it was to depart.

Programmed the address for the next hotel into the GPS and it knew we had to take the ferry.

Here it comes

and here we go, into the lower of the two levels for cars.

We went up on to the upper deck

and found a place, out of the wind,

to watch the sun

go down. Then we went back inside and grabbed supper at the cafeteria. We saw a Gannet fly by, of course no picture but we both saw it and looked it up later.

It was dark as we drove off the ferry at 7:30pm and found our way to our hotel. Really glad that we had eaten on the boat and didn't have to find a restaurant.