We did it!

This picture of the U.S. map shows  we have filled in every state in the contiguous U.S.! We arrived in Vt. this week and that was the last state, except Alaska. We fudged on Hawaii, as we've been there but not with the trailer, duh. Our rule was we had to take the trailer through/into the state.

After crossing back into the U.S. from Canada, we spent a few days in Maine, restocking and collecting items from storage (stuff we couldn't take into Canada). It felt good getting back to  lower grocery prices and fuel.! Next stop was Shelburne, New Hampshire. We found a very nice campground outside of Gorham and stayed a week. A young couple had recently bought the campground and it was a big, friendly and very comfortable camp. And the area was beautiful. We were outside of the White mountains in northern NH and there were plenty of hiking trails, rivers to play in and beautiful scenic drives. The White mountains are also home to Mt. Washington, known as having the highest wind speed in the world and there is also an auto road you pay to drive up. We had at least 3 days of rain while there and the better days had some pretty strong winds, so we never did drive up to the top. The Mt. Washington hotel was built in the mid 1800's and only recently has been restored and is being used. It's very large and luxurious. Of course, there are plenty of covered bridges in the area. We like the area so much, we might consider workcampering or hosting one summer in the future.

Mt Washington Hotel

Then we moved on to Burlington, VT  on the edge of Lake Champlain, and will be here a week. We drove up to some islands in the middle of the lake. It was a beautiful day and area. We found plenty of goodies at roadside vegetable stands and farmers markets. Even a pie! There is another great looking drive that will take us past the Ben &  Jerry's ice cream factory, more covered bridges, small towns, big barns and one road with a 24% grade! It's beautiful, green and cool (temp) here.

What were they thinking?

Today, Mon. we faced the big bridge connecting PEI to New Brunswick. It's 8 miles long, 2 lanes, concrete barriers on each side but no cables or upper support. Bill has some mental issues with bridges, especially high ones, so this will be a challenge. But, we made it, no problems, just a bit breezy up there. Our destination was planned to be up in northeast NB, but most of the side roads in eastern Canada are in pretty poor condition. It's tough to drive and continue to beat up the truck, house and us. So we changed plans and stopped short, along the coast. Then we can get the trans-Canada highway all the way to Houlton, ME. The trans-Canadas are the freeway and usually very good. We wanted to drive the Acadian cape and will do some our second day in Shediac. 


Most of NB from the northeast to the border is peaty or blueberries. Apparently some good salmon fishing too, but smaller, poorer roads so we will skip those. We liked the provinces we did get to, Nova Scotia was wilder and more wooded, loved riding the tidal bore. PEI is called the gentle isle and is pretty peaceful. NB has the Fundy coast and some spectacular coastline.

Motoring around the lake,

We liked all we saw in Canada. The scenery was beautiful, the weather delightful most of the time. We didn't get any of the heat from the U.S. The people were very friendly and helpful and wanted us to like Canada. We saw some different sides of the Atlantic Canada, Scottish heritage and Acadian (French). At times, it was almost like being in Europe with the immersion possible in the cultures. We learned to speak more Canadian (meter, kilometer, lookoff, eh, from away (not from there), Tronno (Toronto) and ran across some things that should never be, like those pictured below. We made some very nice friends, share the road and blogs now and will meet again some day. We really met nice people all around.

Taste just like ketchup.

Didn't try

We probably won't complain about the price of milk, gas, beef, chicken, eggs and certainly not taxes anymore. 8 even 9% is way better than 15% sales tax!

We will be back in Maine soon and will head for NH and Vermont. Canada was a great summer trip and we would do it again. We have to because we missed NFLD.  Look for more blogs from down the road

Music, driving and EH!

Yesterday was chore day and we investigated the town of Summerside, PEI. Not a big town, but then the entire island has a population of only 141,000. We passed a College of Piping, (bagpipes and other Celtic arts), stopped and found out there was a show, Highland Storm, on that night. We decided to go. Well, it turned out to be a wonderful show of dancing, piping, singing and drumming. These weren't college students, they auditioned and were all very good. Unlike a ceilidh (kaylee), this was a professional show. The ceilidhs have authentic music but are more of informal jam sessions. 




The weather has been beautiful after all the rain that followed us here.  We drove 2 of the well marked scenic roads of PEI. The Central Coastal Road takes you along the north coast, through Cavendish which is the home of the book Anne of Green Gables. We've never read those books so we're not caught up in all the "history" or museum things. Maybe it is more of a Canadian thing too. But the coast and small towns are very pretty. Red dirt and cliffs, large very green farms and small harbors. The North Cape Route takes you to the tip of the west end. The big draw there is the wind farm and research center, and the red sandstone cliffs. Basically, these provinces are starting to look pretty much the same. PEI has more farm land than the other eastern provinces and grows a third of all the potatoes for Canada, small round ones. It's very peaceful, and all the bays are lovely and serene.  The photos don't really do the scenery justice.  The beauty is all around you  and with the camera all you get is just the small picture.  To go over a rise in the road and see the vista all around you is just breathtaking.

North Cape, the end.

Our last night on PEI, we treated ourselves to a dinner show at the local theater. The food was excellent and the show, EH!, was very Canadian and funny. There were some jokes we didn't get, but we learned some things too. All and all, our stay on PEI has been very enjoyable. Now we start heading back and tackle the big bridge!  

To PEI or not to PEI

We were up early, like before 7am, and on the road a little after 8. We had a ferry to catch from Pictou, NS to PEI (Prince Edward Island). This ferry required no reservations, as with the one to NFLD, was free, we think, and we were trying for the 11:15 crossing. We had about 100 miles from our camp at Port Hood to the ferry. Around 9:30a we were going through the largest town so far, Antigonish, just starting up from a red light, and suddenly Bill says some unprintable words.  (Actually, I think I said "Holy crap, the tires are smokin')  We look in the mirror and there is smoke coming out of the trailer tire area on the drivers side. Just ahead is a large dirt turn off the highway. We pull in, see the smoke, smell the burnt rubber, but no signs of a flat tire, my first thought. Bill gets underneath and discovers one of the leaf springs on the trailer is broken. This has caused the 2 tires to be touching, and instead of turning freely are skidding along the pavement as we tow them. Guess we aren't going to make our ferry.  

GOOD

BAD

 See Bill patiently waiting

Fortunately, we were right across the street from a shopping center with a large grocery store (Atlantic Superstore), gas station and even a Wal-Mart. At the Superstore, we found 2 very helpful young ladies, a phone book and advice to call a local diesel service business.  Within a couple of hours a repairman was at our trailer with the right equipment to take the old spring off.  He did so and even managed to find a replacement.  We were up and running again by 5:00pm but way too late to get any ferry.  Found a  campground in Antigonish and the day wasn't a total loss. We were prepared to spend the night roughing in/dry camping in the turn out. I really can't get over how friendly and helpful the people are here.  It seems that they still understand the concept of "customer service"

Waiting

On Wednesday morning we got up and were on our way again with plenty of time to get to the PEI Ferry. In fact we were there by 10:15 and were first in the RV line. There were a lot of cars and semi trucks  parked in their lines and not everyone made it on.  Oh well, it is what it is. It was a double decker ferry with cars going on the top and the taller vehicles on the lower level.  You can't stay in your vehicle so we went to the top level, found a good table in the cafeteria and enjoyed a cup of coffee while we read for the 75 minute crossing.


As we were approaching the island, we saw a large rain squall in the distance.  It turns out we ended up driving right through it on our way to the campground.  The rain had actually spent quite a bit of time at the campground and the whole place was practically a lake when we got there.   After some finagling we found a site that was suitable for a 5 day stay, right on the bay.

Port Hood and the Ceilidh trail

Private home on cape

We are quite taken with the  small, very cute town on the west coast of Nova Scotia, called Port Hood. Our campground is on the beach front with views of an island across the bay. This small fishing/lobster town has neat, trim houses and gardens, most of which sit on hillsides with great views of the bay. Across on the island, we can see a grouping of houses and it looks idyllic. We learned the only way over there is by a hired boat and most of the homes are summer homes owned by Americans or people from Montreal.  Most of the building materials were trucked over to the island in the winter when they can construct an ice road.  I estimate that it would be between 1/4 and 1/2 mile across the water.  One impatient resident couldn't wait for winter so he had his construction materials helicoptered over.  Apparently money is not an issue.  We've walked on the beach, waded in the warmest water yet and watched beautiful sunsets. This is our last stay before heading over to Prince Edward Island (PEI).


North of Port Hood are the towns of Inverness, Margaree Forks and Glenora, home of the Glenora Distillery. Not having ever been to a distillery, we took a tour, short but interesting. Single malt whiskey is made there and after the sample I don't think we will be sipping too much whiskey, maybe a mixed drink. As with all alcohol here, it is also pretty expensive. We enjoyed some local Scottish music at the pub, with lunch. We also visited the Gaelic college and attended a Ceilidh (Kaylee), basically a celtic jam session with the instructors and some students. Fun, foot tapping music. Today, we visited another Celtic interpretive center, learned more about the Scottish roots and music and were serenaded at lunch with fiddle and piano. A passing visitor joined in and someone got up to step dance.

Nice day for the beach.

Huh?

In the driving around the last few days we've come across some camera worth shots that I'll leave you with. Funny things in life are all around us.

All things Canadian

Miscellaneous rambling. Gail screwed up and posted a blog after this so this info is out of order. Oh well, you'll get the idea.


Bills got the computer first this morning so he gets to start this.  Yesterday, (last Friday), we had a 39 mile day from N. Sydney, NS to Baddeck, NS.  We were here by noon.  Got settled into our new campground, where we'll be for a week.  Got the Primo spot here.  Right next to the office.  Sitting outside I feel like Walter the Wal-Mart greeter.  "Hi, How are ya?"  Wave to the newest neighbor just coming in.  Life doesn't get any better than this.  We were invited to go for a kayak paddle this morning but with the outside temp at 60, it wasn't hard to pass.  Remember, our kayaks are "sit-a-tops" and we get our keesters wet.  A scenic drive will be much better.  We're obviously not "hardy and hale" like these Canadians.   BRRRRRR  OK, actually we were invited by a couple from Arizona but their kayak is dry.  


It's a holiday weekend up here so the park is going to be completely full.  We noticed the most popular camping trailer is the pop up, especially for families. There aren't a lot of 5th wheels or motor homes. Most of those are the Americans. Several caravans have been at the camps too. These are groups of 10 or more rvs, signed up to go to the Atlantic provinces, Alaska, Mexico, etc with a guide and program. There were quite a few waiting to board the ferry to NL. We'd rather be on our own.

Hmmm

Let's go shopping. It's been kind of sticker shock for grocery shopping.
Beer $12.00 a 6 pack. We share and sip now.


Wine, I pay $5-6 for name brands at Walmart or grocery stores, here at least $12.00. I'm out of stuff I bought in Maine so I guess I'll wait till we get back in Maine


Drank all of the tequila, bottle cost $15.00 at home, $35.00 here! No more margaritas till Maine


Chicken, $8.00/kg (about $4.00/lb whole), breast $5.00, thighs $6.00, legs even more.
Beef is high, hamburger over $5.00/kg


There are some nice grocery stores, and we find bargains but we don't fill the shopping cart at a time. Oh and milk, $3-4/gal at home, $6.35 in mainland NS and out on the island, $7.50!  Bill sips it too now.


Gas runs around $1.09/liter, diesel around $1.00. That makes it over $4.00/gal. Unfortunately, the truck doesn't sip it.

Popular eating place!

And so it goes with most food items. We think maybe the reason everything is so high is all information is in English and French. Double sided writing on packages, signs, road info, on and on. It's a mystery.


Then add 15% HST (Harmonized sales tax)!


Well, that does it for now, better publish this before it's too out of date.

Cabot Trail

Baddeck lighthouse & Amoeba

We're spending a week in mid Cape Breton, near the town of Baddeck. This was the summer home of Alexander Graham Bell and is the largest town around.  We took a drive all around the Bras d'Or lake on Sat. The day was nice and sunny, the lake sparkled and the small towns along the lake were neat and tidy. The Acadian influence is sprinkled around, along with the Scottish. There is no major development on the waterfront, plenty of large lots and properties, quiet and peaceful. There isn't any overcrowding on the lake either. That weekend though there were plenty of events going on. Being a holiday on Mon, there was a bike fest ( mostly Harleys) up at Sydney, a week long regatta on the lake at Baddeck, and lots of vacationeers.

Yesterday, Mon., we drove the "world famous Cabot trail". This is a 195 mile drive around the top end of the island, part of the Highlands Natl park, and a must see and do. The east coast was rugged, wild and quite scenic. A lot like the west coast of the U.S. too. At the top is a small village, pretty isolated, and they make their living on lobstering. Along the road to the top is a small picnic park. This is the site of explorer John Cabot's landing. There are questions as to the exact spot or exact date and the signs claim him to be the first to land on North America continent. It was a very nice beach park, scenic coast and great spot for lunch.

Town of Bay St. Lawrence

West coast of Cape Breton

The west side of the Cape is the more popular side but different. Most of the trail drive is very wooded and suddenly we were in a town that was practically bare of trees. This was an Acadian village and I guess they cleared all the trees and vegetation away, built their town and didn't replant any trees in town or around houses. It was rather stark looking. Neat and trim but bare and stark. The drive through the Natl park seemed very wild. Hiking was available and camping in the wilderness. We paused for the overlooks and the highlight of the drive was seeing 3 moose, one just off the side of the road.