July 11 & 12 - The Trip Home

Day 1

Well, here we are, time to go, even if we don't want to. Goodbye house & camp by the River.


We decided for the trip home that instead of crossing straight over to Quebec,we would go through Northern New Brunswick via Saint Quentin and Edmunston. That part of the Gaspé is beautiful to drive through, with valleys, and river views, but it can be a little slow going, with lower speed limits and more local traffic. So we decided to take the quieter highways through New Brunswick (added bonus - slightly cheaper gas). We had our first need to stop by the side-of-the-road for a pee break—luckily we were on a road with little traffic!

Crossing into Quebec, they were concerned about our safety.
Welcome to Quebec! Watch for Moose. Don't hit the moose. Hey! Moose! Oh, and we gonna blow some stuff up.

It was a good drive, and we had lots of fun taking pictures through the windshield. Brad shot the clouds (this one looks like Slimer from GhostBusters), and I was also able to complete my study of Moose signs! (one of these days I'll add an addendum)

The weather was great for driving, and we had a great picnic where we could actually get out of the car, run around and stretch our legs. We made good time and got to the hotel by around dinner. We stayed in Ste Helen de Bagot (between Drummondville and Montreal) We had time for a little pizza, a walk to a local playground, and an ice cream at McD's (Maggie was ok with going in for that) and we were ready to call it a night. What with packing and a pesky mosquito in the camp, we didn't get a lot of sleep the night before we left, so we were all pretty tired and cranky. OK I admit it, it was Mommy who was the cranky one. (oh, no honey, you weren't)

Day 2

We got up, gassed up (@ $1.424/L) and were on our way. We made excellent time through Montreal, despite the "Mommy can you get me..." Actually being able to see the roads makes such a difference! Also the tunnel is a lot less scary when you are not in a torrential downpour!

Welcome to Ontario! Love that picnic stop near the border. Wish there were more of them along the 401. The Quebec ones are nice.

Good driving times again, with few pit stops for the kids (must be the benadryl! - just kidding!) We stopped at the Big Apple again, this time only for gas, still the cheapest of the whole trip - $1.285/L! and made it home in time for dinner, but we had no groceries so we had to run out and buy something. We were sick of fast food, so it was salad, chicken and store bought sushi, ahhh home.

So here we are at home, dreaming of sea shores, and salt breezes. And reading up on sheep farming.

July 10 - Last Day of Rest

Last day! Tomorrow we leave, so we're soaking it up while we can. We went for another swim in the pool in the morning, then a donair/pizza stop at lunch. Hanging around the house/yard/beach for the rest o the day, but we're gonna have to start packing soon.

Took a closer look at one of Maggie's bites. Think we could spin it for a free iPod?

July 9 - Take me to the River

Black flies and mosquitoes. Who knows which is worse for Maggie, but she may be allergic to both. A bite on her left eyelid swelled up overnight, and she could barely see out of it by morning. Poor girl! But a few cold compresses later, we were ready to start our day. First order of business was a kayak ride for Maggie, and some beach time for Mommy, Daddy and Ian.

Claire packed up Maggie and a few snacks, and canoed over to the far point for a beach stop. The rest of us dipped our toes into the Restigouche.

Claire, Maggie and Mommy went for a walk down to a local farm road side stand to get some strawberries. It was about 3km there and back, so Karen, consider it my first training session for the October 5k! It did start to pour rain about 3/4 of the way home! But the strawberries were yummy so totally worth it!



Lovely dinner, even if we couldn't BBQ because of the downpour (and a little lightning so no one wanted to stand by the BBQ with an umbrella)!

July 8 - Back to N.B.

After five days of play, it's time to say good-bye and drive back north. A few last minutes of running and swinging, and back in the car. At least we know they will be coming up for a visit themselves next month! Right guys?

We didn't fill up at the local stations, passing up $1.47 per litre for the more comically economical $1.38 in Sackville. More moose signs, more snacks, and more rubber off the tires (Have I told you about those New Brunswick roads?). We stopped for lunch just over the Miramichi Bridge (A&W this time, cause Boston Pizza was just too slow), and managed to snag the best posed shot of the two kids so far.

Confession time. Highlight of the day for Mommy and Daddy: stopping for Dixie Lee on the way back to Auntie Claire's. Chicken pieces and deep fried scallops. My heart stops just typing this.

July 7 - More Backyardigans

We hung around the house. (Brad and John went to Amherst) leaving the women to entertain the kiddies. We went for a walk and had an adventure in a neighbouring field.... having a safari hunt for lions... Mommy had to get Ian to sleep, so we ended up going for a bit of a walk on the NS trail (part of the Canada trail) that runs by the house.

Later on, more swimming, more playing in the backyard, then a farewell barbeque. Family photo time, with three cameras blazing. (Photoshopping out of blinks and funny faces TBD).

July 6 - Parents' Day Out

We left the kiddles in the care of John and Nicole for the afternoon, and went on a wee drive up the coast today. When you leave your kids with two great parents who are also paramedics/life guards, what are ya gonna worry about?

First stop was Jöst winery, where we picked up some local flavour. Whites and reds, with some berry flavoured dessert wines and port—all pressed and distilled on site. Also some souvenir gifties and postcards. (Mental note: mail them before we get back to Toronto.)

From there we had lunch in a small seafood restaurant in Tatamagouche. Then a little shopping, and some Church Hunting before we turned our noses back to Oxford for supper. Mmmm. Ribs.

July 5 - Beach Day

We drove over to Pugwash Beach, on a beautiful sunny day! Slightly chilly water, but swimmable! Maggie didn't last too long in the though - too cold for her pool-spoiled sensibilities, but she did swim in the ocean! (with water wings) The kids all had fun, getting buried in the sand, building sandcastles, and digging a big hole in the sand. I got my ocean swim in as well, so I definitely feel like I've done my duty. We had a great time, although we are all a little "crispy" from being in the sun all day! Maggie has managed to keep her Canada tattoo on. (she makes us wash around it!) so I'm curious to see if she will have a big white patch on her "sun-kissed" face!

We also made a quick stop at the Seagull Pewter store in Pugwash. I love that store, nice stuff, Canadian company, some made here but I also saw a few "made in Malaysia" labels!


The stars were out in force at night, so Brad got some more nighttime photography practice. Long exposures to sky and mosquitoes both, but the pictures were worth the effort!

July 4 – Play time

All of the cousins are getting along fantastically well. It is quite a vibrant house with 4 kids aged 5 and under!

On Friday we took a walk down to the local Blueberry/Maple centre, and we saw all about how Oxford blueberries are sent all over the world, and they also have a display of live bees. The local maple syrup industry is quite big as well.



We went swimming in a local lake (fed by a sulfur spring (surprisingly only slightly odiferous) and Maggie got to try out some water wings courtesy of her Aunt Nicole, she was so "es-kited" that she could actually swim! Dog paddling with puffed cheeks; we are all very proud of her!

July 3 - Travel Day #3

We met up with Auntie Nicole and the boys just outside Dalhousie, and 2-car convoyed our way down to Nova Scotia. We filled our time with more Barenaked Ladies Snacktime!, snacks, and Diane's ongoing quest for the perfect Moose sign.

Yada-yada. 400 kms later, we crossed the border into the best province in the Maritimes.

We are staying with John, Nicole & family in Oxford. It's the blueberry capital of Canada (they claim it's the blueberry capital of the world, but what governing body decides these things?)

They have a fantastically huge back yard (certainly by TO standards) with a really nice swing set/playset. Maggie loves it, she could swing for hours.

Northern N.S. has been having a nice stretch of beautiful weather, with little rain and temps in the mid-twenties. No smog, no fog. This should be good.

July 2 - Beach day!

Another sunny warm day, so we better take advantage! No telling what it will be like next week!
So today was a beach day! The water was a little chilly for swimming, but we could walk in the water to cool off our feet when the sand felt hot. We collected rocks, shells, and sea glass, and made sand castles and buried Maggie in the sand. (Ian watered her toes.)

I know, kinda boring from a blog standpoint.... but really a perfect day from a vacation standpoint!

Tomorrow we leave for Nova Scotia.....

July 1 - Happy Canada Day!

It was a beautiful day! Everyone says the kids brought the sun with them! (Sure, let them take the credit!) Too bad it couldn't have come with us on the drive!


Today, we went to the Canada Day festivities in Campbellton (all part of the local Salmon Festival festivities)
Ahhh small towns! They had a giant "birthday" cake (free!), popcorn (free!), Canada flag "temporary tattoos" (free!) (good thing 'cause Mommy forgot ours in TO!) and best of all pony rides ($3.00)! Maggie got to ride a pony called "Meadow."



We also went to check out Restigouche Sam, He's the big steel salmon water fountain, along the waterfront. (I think Rae saw him) The kids loved it, and Ian kept trying to jump in. That boy is a menace. Yesterday he turned off the fridge and messed with the satellite dish. We are waiting for him to disassemble the tv and create an inter-planetary communication device.



Anyway...Back to Auntie Claire's for a playdate with the cousins. We all went down to the rocky beach, and had some playtime near & in the water.







And most of us were asleep by the time the fireworks started at 11:15 (!), but luckily Daddy stayed up to take some pics for us.... oooh.....! aaaah......! zzzzzzz......

Monday June 30 - The Vacation Really Begins!

Note: I know I haven't posted in a few days, but I just can't do daily updates! so I will be posting a few "chunks" or days at a time.


We will be spending a few days here at Auntie Claire's, she lives right near where the Restigouche River meets the Bay of Chaleur. the name is anglicized from the original French: Baie des Chaleurs or the Bay of "warm waters" - whatever explorer named the area, seemed to think the water was warm! - maybe compared to the Atlantic! Here is one of her views, that's Quebec across the river.

Got to sleep in today! (woo! hoo!) A sure sign that the vacation is underway! (and also a sign that the kids went to bed late!)

We got to have a bit of a relaxing morning and after lunch we went to meet the new cousins at a big pool in Dalhousie.
Now I know some of the Ontarian's might be wondering why we would drive all this way to the East Coast, just to go swimming in a pool.... Well, it is cold and rainy today and being the north shore of New Brunswick, it's kinda chilly here! todays high was less than 20°! I don't even want to think of what the water temp is...brrrr!
Anyway, the swimming was fun and the cousins were very nice and it was cool to finally meet them! We all had a great time.

When we came out of the Rec centre, it actually wasn't raining! so we took all the kids to the park across the way for some more familial bonding.

The evening was even better than the day. Fantastic fish 'n' chips from a shack by the beach, then back to Auntie Claire's where Maggie and Brad got to go for a little kayak, (that's Auntie Claire in the boat with Maggie) and we topped the night off with a campfire and some marshmallows. Maggie found a little friend, a little caterpillar she called "penguin" Can you see why? I couldn't see it at first, you have to look really closely...