Finding Supplies

When we arrived here on Sunday, one of the first things we noticed was that we were right beside an Indian Reserve.  "Great!," I thought, "we can finally get D's smokeless tobacco cheap."  Wrong!  After going to 4 stores on the Res, we both were ill, so we gave up and headed over to Sobeys for a few groceries.

The pain in the $$$$ product!

On Tuesday, I had discovered another shop that we had missed.  So after D got off work, we headed across the bridge to Listugui (lis-to-gush).   Finally, he found some.  Yes!!!   Not what he wanted but none the less, somewhat cheaper.

Just to put this in perspective for you guys.  D can go through a can a day.  Up here that would be $119 a week compared to $7 a week back home.  $119 x 4 = INSANE!!  We found this same product of Stoker's on a Res back in NY for $12 and up here it's $42.   Hopefully, this will last him 10+ days!!  Pray for this man to kick this nasty habit.

Television or should I say the lack thereof!

Ever since we crossed the border, TV has been at a minimum due to the lack of over-the-air stations available.  In Ontario, there were seven public channels, three of which were for kids, one was total French and the other three were in English, thankfully.  CBC Gem had a few good shows on it like the Great British Baking Show, Heartland, and the Murdock Mysteries.  The second channel was Create TV out of NY that had cooking, travel, arts & craft shows and the third channel was  CTV, Canada's news channel.  So not great choices but choices none the less.

Once we moved over into Quebec, all English channels went out the window.  There were three stations in total and all were in French.   I tried to make the best of it and learn a little french.  Fat chance on that!  The closed captions were also in French!!  Plus, they spoke so quickly the closed captioning couldn't even keep up.  Without being able to pause and look up the words it was a waste of my time.  Oh... and don't get me started on the French language!  When did we drive out of the supposed bi-lingual country of Canada, Eh?

When we arrived here in New Brunswick, silly me thought things would be different.  Well, they are...there are only TWO channels now.  Both are French, one is just cartoons and the other is just weird stuff.  Hopefully D's cell-router will work at our next stop and we will be able to get back to streaming YouTube TV and Netflix again!!  (I know, I can hear you guys now...TV!?  You are supposed to be out seeing the sites!  Well what can I say...everyone needs a little downtime.)

Hot! 82!

Campbellton, New Brunswick

When you cross over the 58-year-old J.C. Van Horne bridge from Pointe A La Croix, Quebec into Campbellton, New Brunswick, the skyline is dominated on both sides of the Restigouche River by beautiful lush mountains.  We were reminded that these mountains are the Northern end of the very mountains we lived in before this journey started, the Appalachians!

Sugarloaf Mountain

On the New Brunswick's side is Sugarloaf Mountain which is an extinct late Devonian volcano stands out among all the others.  The mountain's north slope is an unnamed ridge of the Appalachian Mountains.  During the winter months, the alpine ski resort offers skiing ranging from beginner to expert as well as other winter activities such as snowshoeing, cross country skiing, ice skating, snowmobiling, and sleigh rides.

 

During the summer months, the resort still operates its ski lift so that park visitors may ride it to the top to take in vistas of the Restigouche River valley.  That is on our bucket list to do before we get out of here.  There are also tons of things to do on the mountain during the summer.  They have several hiking trails, bike trails, a restaurant, and camping.

Campbellton, NB

During salmon season every summer, fishermen seeking Atlantic salmon flock to the scenic Restigouche Valley.  The town hosts a Salmon Festival with tons of events.  Since Canada Day falls during Salmon Festival week, it becomes a huge event.

There's a 10 km Road Race, Horse Hauling Contest, (who knows what that means) a parade, Miss and Little Miss Alamon Pageant, Corn Booths, Loads of Games for Kids, Face Painting, Carnival Rides, Train Rides, Volleyball Tournaments, and of course Fireworks.

Along with the town hosting this big event, they also have several others throughout the year.  They have a New Brunswick Day Celebration in August, a Bluegrass and Harvest Festival in mid-September,  and a Christmas Magic event in mid-December.

There are free music events held all along the riverfront several times during the week during the months of July and August.  Luckily for us, this is within walking distance for us. We'll see you there on Wednesday!

Riverside Park

Just a quick stroll out of our park is a path that leads under the bridge to this awesome park that runs all along the river.  It is a major hangout in the evening with folks walking about and fishing in the river.  This is also where they have music on Wednesday and Sundays.

Sunny 78

Traveling along the Restigouche River

New Brunswick here at last!

As we said farewell to our stay in Riviere-du-Loup, we took the scenic drive on Route 132.  This took us back through some of the small towns we had traveled the day before when we went hiking in Parc national du Bic.  We passed some farm fields that were just breathtaking.

Mustard field near Rimouski

Field near Saint-Fabien

In Sayabec, Quebec, we picked up the beautiful Matapedia River.  This took us along an hour and a half drive through some of the most scenic mountain views I have ever seen.  I keep hoping to spot a moose at the edge of the river but no such luck. However, there were tons of signs warning us to be careful.

Glen Emma Riviere

Routhierville Covered Bridge

As we got closer to the town of Matapedia, we began to see folk out on the water in canoes enjoying the warm day. Then further down the river, we saw people fishing for Salmon in these cool wooden boats.

When we crossed over into New Brunswick at Chaleur Bay, the river became the Restigouche River. The views do not disappoint as we left Quebec behind and traveled into New Brunswick.

Our park here in Campbellton NB is located right on the river at just as you cross over the J.C Van Horne Bridge.  Not only do we have a great view of the river and bridge but also gorgeous mountains as far as the eyes can see.  

Notes from Dennis
Not only do we have great river and mountain views, but just to the rear of our RV Park is a train yard!   Ooooh!  Awesome sauce!  Each evening, a crazy long train comes in, passes the yard and then starts backing the cars into the side tracks.  It runs forward and backward, forward and backward, as the switches are manipulated to guide the cars into their own little sidetrack.  In the end, about a mile's worth of cars was stored for the night off of the main track!  What an awesome, slow ballet to watch.

And of course, this morning, I got to watch the double engines grow its line of cars before taking off down the track.

Sunny 78

Parc national du Bic

Hiking in One of Quebec's beautiful National Parks

Roadside Attractions

Saturday morning I packed us a lunch and we headed east for a one hour drive to Bic Park.  The park is located on the base of the Saint Lawrence River near the town of Rimouski.  We traveled through several smaller towns where we came across some interesting roadside attractions and also some beautiful churches.  We only hit some holiday traffic in one of the small towns, which one, I can't remember, but it appeared to be a popular summer spot to vacation.

Of course, we couldn't stop at the bagel shop without going in.  It turned out Saint Simon Bagels provides organic bagels to local specialty shops and grocery stores.  The next morning, while having my cinnamon raisin bagel, I was so wishing I had bought more.  They were awesome.

Notre Dames

Here are a few of the churches that we passed along the way on route 132.  I would have loved to have gone in the one in Trois Pistoles but unfortunately, it wasn't open.  That church was built over a five year period from 1882-1887.  This impressive church was built in the typical style of nineteenth-century.  Reservations are required for a guided tour during the off-season.

It seems most of the steepled domes throughout Quebec are made back in the day from a galvanized tin.  I read it was a way of fireproofing the churches in case of an attack.  Now they all seem to be painted in the same silver grey.  Regardless, they do catch your eye!

Parc national du Bic

This park is located in the tidal area of the St Lawrence river, where the ocean tide meets the stream of the river.  Parc national du Bic is known for its capes, bays, coves, islands, mountains and breathtaking sunset.  The sunsets are considered to be some of the world's finest.  You can often spot seals basking in the sun near the shore.  It's truly beautiful, peaceful, and relaxing...

Sunny 77