DJ17-west planning meeting

This morning Randy and I set out some thoughts about DJ17 roads to ride in BC when they come west for next year's trip.  After that, a little maintenance on the truck and trailer. Then it was 4pm somewhere so we started celebrating our anniversary! After a delicious spare-rib dinner prepared by our hosts, Danny and Karen joined us for a few aperitifs and laughs. Great day, great evening, great way to celebrate our anniversary.

To Ottawa

Packed up and headed to Ottawa to see our friends, Randy & Vivian  and Danny & Karen.  En-route, we found a sugar shack and picked up some maple syrup before leaving Quebec. Arrived mid afternoon to Randy and Vivians's. Unpacked, set up the camper and had a few beer before a wonderful dinner.

Sugar shack/ ATV clubhouse/ Snowmobile clubhouse

Negotiations 

Cabane Chabot

Plains of Abraham (Quebec City)

Visited the Plain of Abraham, part of our history lesson of Canada. Numerous battles were fought on these grounds for control of the St Lawrence Seaway as the French, English and Americans all saw the importance of trade and commerce from the shores of this majestic river and of the lakes above it.  Battlefield Park, created in 1908 commemorates the clashes for dominance of this strategic area of the river. The government has done a great job of creating this park and bringing back to life, the area history. Could spend 3 days here and not see it all.

Who knew each province had their own Tartan

First penitentiary of Quebec

Martello Tower, English fortification to protect against American invasions

You know who

Having a history lesson

Military Museum being renovated after a huge fire, 10 years ago 

More renovations

And more renovations

Leaving "Paradise" Homeward bound

Got up and let the dog walk the shore one more time, to visit the locals...

Then packed up and down the road to Quebec City. 7 hrs.. Through News Brunswick. Nice drive through New Brunswick. Quebec roads, not so much.  Rough pavement, lots of potholes and even when no potholes, the pavement was placed with  equipment that made  the pavement rough....

Arrived at the same campsite in Levis, on the outskirts of Quebec City, we visited 2 months previous. They remembered us and gave us a nice campsite.

Hopewell Rocks revisited, and St Andrews

Went back to Hopewell Rocks this morning to see "High Tide". Very cool, the difference of low and high tides of the Bay of Fundy.  Note that these pics were neither at low tide or at hide tide, only as close as we were able to take pictures of....

Then down the road to St John, New Brunswick and the "Reversing Falls", not really falls but very fast rapids.... Cool all the same.

Notice the large whirlpools

Reversing falls, rapids flow backwards during the inflow of the tide.

St John, New brunswick in the background, pretty, clean city

St John and the Reversing Falls

Then down the road to St Andrews for the night. We were told to visit St Andrews by Pike who we met in Tobermory, Ontario, 3 months previous.  He said it was a beautiful little town on the Bay of Fundy.  He told us to visit the "Red Herring Pub", where he use to work, and say hi to the owner Kevin.  Turns out that Kevin is in contact with Pike quite regularly. We weren't disappointed!  Beautiful town on the coast of the Bay of Fundy and the river that separates New Brunswick with the state of Maine, USA.  Lots of history here. The town was founded by the french in the early 1700s and many buildings are still standing from the early 1800s.  Over 140 heritage buildings.  Very picturesque and very comfortable.  After dinner at the pub we walked the streets and watched the sun set. Can't get any better than this!  

Kyle "crabbing"

Kids gutting Mackerel

From the "Dock in the bay"

Yours truly

Beach houses and lighthouse

Sun setting over Maine from St. Andrews

Mural

Main Street

Local wildlife, stealing apples

Hopewell Rocks, Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick

Drove to Hopewell Rocks today and walked the sea floor. Nice area when the tide is out. Lots of people doing the same thing.

Cabot Trail

Rode the Cabot Trail today, as suggested counterclockwise. Found the roads to be very good until they weren't. At least 6 bridges were being replaced and detours are needed around all. There were 3 areas of about 20kms each that were being rebuilt and all hard packed gravel. Lots of traffic, especially after waiting in the one way line-ups to get around the road construction. Best road was the little cutoff that goes up to Bay St. Lawrence at the top end of Cape Breton. Had fun after passing cars.

Dead Man's Cove @ Bay St. Lawrence

Continued down the coast to Mabou, home of the Red Shoe Pub, owned by the Rankin Family (Celtic singing group that is very popular). Had dinner there, very good. Then back to our campsite.

Scallops

Salmon

Stayed at Glenview Campsite in Whycocomagh for 2 nights. Very clean and everyone was excellent. Owners were great and helpful. Bathrooms were some of the cleanest and tidiest, yet. The local seasonal residents were warm and welcoming. There was a communal campfire area where all were welcome and they had sing alongs. Mornings, coffee and cookies were set out at the little hall for all campers. Nicest place we have stayed at on our travels, made us feel very welcome and comfortable.

Louisbourg

Visited with everyone over coffee and saw them off.

Unloaded the bike and rode to Louisbourg. The reconstruction of the original fortress was very well done and very informative. Built by the french taken over by the English, twice. After Halifax became the main trading post and area of commerce, the English systematically destroyed the fortress so that it could not be used as a stronghold for any other potential invasions. Very well done, a must see if you come to Nova Scotia.

Guard sentry

Blacksmith shop

Automatic rotisserie

Kitchen

Barracks

Kings Bastion entry gate

Inside the Kings bastion

Entry Gate and draw bridge

Dory building, 101

Sea Entrance

On the way back, had to stop into Cape Breton Brewing. Great brew! Had to buy a few for tasting with Randy...

Arrived back at the motel, packed up our bike and drove to Whycocomagh in preparation to ride the Cabot Trail tomorrow. Drove the back route along the shores of Bras d'Or Lake, crossed a causeway and another ferry...