New Brunswick & Prince Edward Island
Friday 3rd August
We left the Gaspe peninsula today – it really was a lovely area. As we headed towards New Brunswick the land became forested and the road was further from the coast.
Just before we crossed the bridge from Quebec province to New Brunswick province, we had to pull in to wait for a violent thunderstorm and heavy rain to pass. Initially we continued to follow the coast road but it was poorly surfaced and slow going, so we joined the inland highway to Bathurst – overnight at Walmart there.
Saturday 4th August
After yesterday’s storm, another hot day.
We drove south on the highway until Richibucte, a coastal town which was in fact on an estuary, not the coast. We had hoped to park by the beach and have a lazy, relaxing day as well as a swim in the sea. Unfortunately there was no parking along the coast – everywhere was marked “private”.
Eventually we gave up and headed inland to Dieppe – Walmart overnight.
Sunday 5th August
This morning we went to the Visitor Centre in Moncton to find out the times of the tidal bore and low/high tide at Hopewell Rocks on the Bay of Fundy. While waiting for the tidal bore we went onto Main Street to access the public town centre wi-fi. The tidal bore was not very high but impressive as it raced up the river. We then drove along part of the Bay of Fundy route as far as Hopewell Rocks. The tidal range here is 42 feet. We viewed the tops of the rocks at high tide then waited until it was possible to access the beach – 3hours either side of low tide – an amazing experience.
Overnight back at Walmart, Dieppe.
This morning we went to the Visitor Centre in Moncton to find out the times of the tidal bore and low/high tide at Hopewell Rocks on the Bay of Fundy. While waiting for the tidal bore we went onto Main Street to access the public town centre wi-fi. The tidal bore was not very high but impressive as it raced up the river. We then drove along part of the Bay of Fundy route as far as Hopewell Rocks. The tidal range here is 42 feet. We viewed the tops of the rocks at high tide then waited until it was possible to access the beach – 3hours either side of low tide – an amazing experience.
Overnight back at Walmart, Dieppe.
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Monday 6th August
As it was a local bank holiday everywhere was closed – it became a rest day for us.
We went to Magnetic Hill in Moncton – a weird experience. You drive to the bottom of a hill, put your car in neutral and the car then ran backwards up the hill! We had to turn and do it forwards as we have no rear view – it was all an optical illusion.
We idled away most of the rest of the day watching motorists on the “hill”.
Overnight again at Walmart, Dieppe.
Tuesday 7th August
We drove from Dieppe back towards the coast to pick up the road to Prince Edward Island. We detoured slightly to a beach area where we had a shower.
We crossed over to the island on the 13km long Confederation Bridge across the Northumberland Strait – impressive views. At the end of the bridge we stopped at the Visitor Centre for information about the island.
A short drive took us to the island’s second largest town – Summerside where we overnighted at Walmart.
Wednesday 8th August
Today we drove part of the North Cape Coastal Drive from Summerside to Campbellton. The scenery is very rural with neat small farms and clapperboard houses, usually painted white. The soil is bright red sandstone with low cliffs bordering the coast.
We stopped to view the Bottle Houses, three buildings – tavern, six gabled house and chapel, all made from glass bottles and surrounded by beautiful flower beds.
Overnight on beach parking at Campbellton – lovely sunset.
Today we drove part of the North Cape Coastal Drive from Summerside to Campbellton. The scenery is very rural with neat small farms and clapperboard houses, usually painted white. The soil is bright red sandstone with low cliffs bordering the coast.
We stopped to view the Bottle Houses, three buildings – tavern, six gabled house and chapel, all made from glass bottles and surrounded by beautiful flower beds.
Overnight on beach parking at Campbellton – lovely sunset.
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Thursday 9th August
We continued to follow parts of the North Cape Coastal Drive stopping to see the parsonage at Bideford where author L. M. Montgomery lived and the Yeohouse, a restored Victorian ship builders home.
In the afternoon we returned to Summerside and visited the Canadian College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts where we watched a rather short show of music and dance. We walked round the historical district of Summerside – many fine Victorian era clapperboard houses. Spinnaker’s Wharf, a reconstructed harbour side was too twee. The town of Summerside had a number of murals depicting historical scenes of the town.
Overnight at Summerside Walmart.
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Friday 10th August
This morning we followed the Central Coastal Drive – Green Gables Shore – along the northern coast passing through French River village and harbour.
We stopped to view St. Mary’s Church at Indian River, the largest wooden church on the island. It has a tall octagonal spire with a band of niches at its base containing statues of the twelve apostles.
We visited three sites relating to Lucy Maude Montgomery, the author of “Anne of Green Gables”. The Museum, located in her cousins’ house contained much memorabilia. This house was where Lucy was married. Next we visited the small house where she was born. We then visited the Green Gables National Historic Site – the house is the original site that inspired the book. We also walked “Lover’s Lane”.
Walmart at Charlettetown had “No Overnight Parking” signs so we headed for the coast and found a quiet beach parking area at Rice Point – enchanting!
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Saturday 11th August
We woke up to a dull and damp day. We drove back to Charlottetown but parking, both meters and car parks, was very expensive so we saw the sights from the van! We drove back along the coast along the Red Sands coastal route, to Victoria, a very pretty village of old clapboard houses and with a harbour. The beach parking here had a lovely hot shower which we took advantage of.
Overnight back at Walmart, Summerside – too wet for a beach car park!
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