Prince Edward Island to Cape Breton Island

Biking PEI

Each of the Atlantic provinces are unique and distinct. People who live here are bilingual, French/English, but locals from New Brunswick tell us the French is hardly recognizable to a Frenchman! My friend, Janet, commented on FB that her husband, Gary’s recollection is that PEI reminded him of Whidbey Island back in the day! And it seems that way, floating through the hillsides and pastoral country vistas. The major sources of income are family farming (everywhere!), fishing (mackerel and cod, less now), tourism (not so much while we were there), and from the appearances of the logging trucks, still logging.

Lobster rolls in Charlottetown, PEI

 

 

Boarding the Ferry at Wood Island, PEI

The ferry crossing the Northumberland Strait

 

 

 

One of my questions on this trip is that while we are meeting so many wonderful people from all over the world, is what am I learning about myself and others while we do this (for us) epic journey?   Most Canadians we’ve encountered are seriously concerned, if not outright scared about the way the US and North Korea are behaving. We try to distance ourselves from the “Trump-talk”, but I can say our neighbors to the north are very concerned.

On a lighter note, we arrived Nova Scotia safely, and disembarked the ferry to wind our way up the coastline to Cheticamp, NS. Just outside the town is the Cape Breton National Park (open until Oct. 9, thankfully), and we booked four nights at this park. More to come about this Acadian portion of Nova Scotia (New Scotland).

Quebec to Prince Edward Island

I just realized my Canadian posts hadn’t been posted, so here’s catch up!

I feel like a redneck these days as we travel from Quebec into New Brunswick, and signs are still in French and English, AND I have to ask “Do you speak English?” For heaven’s sake, these people left the US (before it was the US) because they didn’t want to be parted from mother England! Now can everyone get on the same page and speak enough English to at least order a pizza?!

We drove through the lovely valley of Amqui coming out of Quebec into New Brunswick, following the amazing Matapedia River, and stopped rather late at a lovely campground just north of Campbellton.

Camping joys

The caretaker gave us a map and tried his best to get us to prolong our trip to survey the Gaspe penninsula. From all everyone tells us, it is phenomenal, but we have other fish to fry!

Right now we are eating lobster every chance we get.  So far the best was obtained from a fish market in Shediac (pronounced “Shad-i-ack”).

Lobster dinner

 

 

 

We are now on Prince Edward island, a most beautiful and pastoral setting.  We are surrounded on 3 sides with the Gulf of St. Lawrence and have hiked miles in every direction, only to come back to that great body of water!!

Cisco’s beach, Gulf of St. Lawrence

Arriving, Canada!!

Finally reliable internet!!  Ahhh!!  We are just outside Quebec City, where John tried to kill me by pulling me in the trailer (still hitched) as he meandered to Walmart for supplies.  Thankfully I had cell phone handy and called him to inform him he should take me back to our campsite!

We traveled through the gorgeous (but can I say, mosquito infested) woods of the Great Lakes region of Michigan and Ontario, Canada.  The campgrounds were drop dead wonderful with fishing ponds, trees with squirrels (Cisco!), beaches on Lake Ontario, and friendly campers.  We decided to take a side trip to Niagara, Ontario and visit the falls.

Niagra Falls, Ontario

A bit like Coney Island, I imagine, since I’ve never been there.  Lots of side shows and hawkers.

We wound our way into Ontario, finding more hot, sunny days (in September, no less), and now are chilling in Quebec province.  Of course this province is bilingual and we’re now in Quebec City and it seems French is the only language.  Many Canadians here do not speak any English.  I’m starting to catch on to the lexicon, but by the time we make New Brunswick, I’ll have forgotten it all.

Montreal was amazing!  We spent 3 nights and 3 days exploring the city of almost 4 million (including surrounding areas).

Street Scene, Montreal

Peppers and tomatoes at the farmers market, Montreal

Foodies delight in Montreal

The city accounts for half of the 8 million inhabitants of Quebec province.  The history is so interesting, but I’ll be brief.  Montreal is named for the mountain, Mont Royal, that rises out of the northwest of the downtown area of the city.  It was named by a French (of course) explorer from the 17th century, and thus the city name.  We took a day to hike the Parc Mont Royal, and it was a delight!  The city is inhabited by former Europeans from many countries and has a food fetish!  I’ve never had such decadent bagles and loxs!! The architecture of Montreal really makes you feel as though you are back in France.  Very old and very Catholic.

Basilica Notre Dame in Montreal

More to come from Quebec City and New Brunswick! (Assuming internet, hahaha)

Leaving Iowa

Ledges State Park north of Des Moines

Eclipse in Alliance, NE

Granddaughter Kylee at dance performance

Mural in downtown Bedford

John, Teresa and Joe enjoying outrageous Bloody Marys

Boys on the farm

Welcome, dear readers!  We are picking up and heading out for our adventure beyond the borders of Iowa state!  We had a brief blip on our travel screen as we waited for a repair part for the truck, but all is well, and we enjoyed some good visiting time with Joe, Maiga and grandkids.  If you observe the photo of John, Joe and Cisco here on the lower left side of the page, you’ll have an idea of our digs while we were here.  This is a part of our 6 acre farm, surrounded by soya beans and corn.  It’s very quiet out here, to say the least, and we were mostly cool for this time of year, temps hovering in the mid-70’s.

Truck finally fixed after a couple of false “starts” (very frustrating), we hit the road on Wednesday late afternoon and today worked our way through some harrowing truck traffic between Joliet, IL and Gary, IN.  Finally resting in a wooded, quiet campground on Lake Michigan.  Lots of squirrels for Cisco and quiet time for us.  For us, the adventure finally begins!