Maritime Roadtrip - Oromocto, New Brunswick to Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec

 Quick breakfast at the Days Inn and then on the road, looking for a Starbucks, as the hotel coffee was yucky.

We were on the Trans Canada

barreling though the New Brunswick countryside of rolling hills and trees, trees, trees.

At the first driving shift change we pulled into Potato World, next to the McCains factory (the billboard had promised tours, a museum and a gift shop, we were intrigued) Unfortunately it was closed.

More hills, lakes, trees. We commented that the trees were further along than when we had driven through a week earlier, much more pale green showing.

Into Quebec and instantly gained an hour in our day.

We stopped at the chutes in Riviere du Loup. Rick and I had walked on the trails below them when we came through a couple of years ago.

As soon as we reached the St Lawrence again we slowed down. Got off the highway and took the roads close to the shore, diving down narrow access points and along roads that served cottage communities.

The tide was out and wading birds were searching in the pools and mudflats left behind.

A dyke had been built along the shoreline, we assume it is to keep the salt water from the farmland

but it also supports a walking/biking path linking the shoreline communities.

Snow still on the ski hills on the North Side. Nicola was thrilled that we could now clearly see the other shore. Something she had missed on our trip out.

We found some beautiful, peaceful spots to sit and contemplate the river and Laurentian Mountains.

Fishing Weir poles. This was a system used by the Metis to trap fish as the tide receded.

Rocks that look like a chocolate marble cake.

This side of the river is shallow and gradual so the shipping channel is on the other, deeper side.

We saw Snow Geese in vast Vees flying overhead and resting like white lumps in farmers fields and then came across a mass in the water

and they got scared up by a float plane flying over.

We checked into our hotel and sat on the deck in the sun with a glass of wine before walking down to the river. Just one sailboat in the water. Tide was very low.

The rest were still on the hard.

Not much open as it is too early in the season but luckily this one, Bistro OK, was.

We were seated with a view of the harbour and river and indulged ourselves by sharing

Bison tartar (from the local Bison farm that we had driven by) and

shrimp then we shared

Baileys creme brulee and

a maple tart.

We had to walk it off.

out to the harbour

where the tide had started to come in,

the current swirling at the entrance.

Then the bells rang, luring us to walk a bit in the village.