Day 4 of 30 on our 2017 Canadian Maritime Caravan with Yankee RV Tour

We departed Rockwood Park for out travel to Alma, Hopewell Rocks and Hopewell Cape. We departed the park so early, even the ducks were still sleeping!

In 2012, Sculptor Hiroyuki Asano created ‘Sunshine and Moonlight Over Saint John.’ A sculpture that is located on a rise near the entrance to Rockwood Park. The sculpture is part of the International Sculpture Trail and Sculpture Saint John. Sculpture Saint John is an initiative that brings sculptors from around the globe to carve New Brunswick granite into works of public art, in a public setting. Granite-dust flies and passers-by learn about the process as the giant stones are transformed in the heart of Uptown. 

Currently 14 finished pieces are available to visit as part of the Sculpture Trail, installed in locations around Saint John. More will be developed in 2016 at Sculpture Saint’s John’s third International Sculpture Symposium. Hiroyuki has participated in 13 previous international stone sculpture symposia. He believes the concept of his sculpture is: “I am continuing the work which expresses time by being made from a stone. The stone was born very much in ancient times. The stone has very long life. I have the thought whose ancient times can be far seen, if the other side is seen. I make a hole in the stone. The vacant hole in the stone is a hole of time. The hole of the time will give us the scene beyond space-time. Moreover, the wind beyond space-time will come from the hole. The sculpture itself will impress for a long time.” For those of you following the blog, we have seen two other sculptures, one on Mt Desert Island in Maine and the other in St Andrews, NewBrunswick.

After we exited the campground, we followed a cloverleaf pattern on the highway and surface streets to get back onto Hwy 1 East. As we got back onto Hwy 1, we could see some of the campsites from Rockwood Park sitting high atop a hill on our left. We took pictures of Saint John from this spot yesterday. The view from this height, was amazing and what we could see in the city was spectacular too!

We passed the Town of Rothesay, which is located in the Kennebecasis Valley. In 1998, the former communities of East Riverside-Kingshurst, Fairvale, Renforth, Rothesay and Wells were amalgamated, to form the town of Rothesay. At the time of amalgamation, Rothesay Council struck a committee with the mandate to create a new Coat of Arms for Rothesay. They chose heraldic symbols that signify the shipbuilding history of the area, the strong rowing history and the important role that our waterways play in not only sustaining but in improving their quality of life in Rothesay. The Coat of Arms preserves the connection to the Duke of Rothesay who first named the area almost 150 years ago. The town motto, "Quinque Iuncta In Uno” or Five United In One, represents the strength and unity of joining together the five founding communities.

Quispamsis, what an unusual name for a town! The original inhabitants of the town of Quispamsis were the Maliseet First Nation, part of the Algonquin Federation. The name, "Quispamsis" was translated from the Maliseet language and means, "little lake in the woods", the lake being present-day Ritchie Lake. Acadians, British pre-Loyalists and Loyalists settled in the area around 1783, with many receiving land grants along the Kennebecasis and Hammond Rivers. Quispamsis combined in 1998 with the nearby communities of Gondola Point and Wells to form the present town. Quispamsis is the fastest growing town in the province of New Brunswick.

Looking off to the right near the Town if Quispamsis, I noticed a large crane. As we got closer, we found that it was being used to make repairs on a covered bridge. It is the Hammond River No. 2 covered bridge. As covered bridges become compromised by age, wear and tear, and carrying loads heavier than they were designed for, repairs will be required on more bridges. The Hammond River No. 2 bridge, which is on Route 860 at the end of French Village Road, was built in 1912. 

Photo Credit: CABC

The bridge has a posted weight limit of 12 tons, but in October 2016, a contractor hired by the Transportation Department to conduct repairs drove a 13-ton excavator loaded with lumber across it. The excavator crashed through and remained suspended between the bridge and embankment below for several days before it could be safely removed. 

Replacing the covered bridge with a steel bridge would have cost about the same, but could have been done faster, taking only about three months. A modern structure would have also been able to support truck traffic and not be subject to weight restrictions. But residents were presented with both options during a public meeting and given one week to complete a feedback form, indicating their preferred option. There was overwhelming support for restoring the covered bridge. There are 58 covered bridges left in the province, which support community access, serve as heritage sites and provide opportunities for tourism. 

The Town of Hampton is nestled in the Kennebecasis River valley between the Pickwauket Hills and Passekeag Ridge. Hampton has a long history reflected in the native names of its natural surroundings. In 1784 the Loyalists discovered Ossekeag and began to build what would become the community of Hampton. Hampton is blessed with beautiful marsh areas, rich farmland and abundant wildlife. In the spring our marshes flood to prepare for it's guests arrival. These help attract the wildlife, which contributes to Hampton being a nature lover’s paradise.  On a summer night, you can watch meteor showers, because the stars at night are almost always bright because fog is a rarity.  

Getting with the culture here, we had highway driving for about 90 KM today. But it afforded some spectacular scenery! As the highway winds through the wide open spaces of New Brunswick, the lush green landscape surrounding the town of Sussex, dotted with historic homes, will awaken nostalgic memories. Sussex is the covered bridge capital of Atlantic Canada.

Originally settled by United Empire Loyalists moving up the St. John River Valley. Historically a farming community, Sussex has capitalized on its excellent geography to become a leading transportation, manufacturing, distribution and service center in Atlantic Canada. 

The Town was named in honor of the Duke Of Sussex, son of King George III. The area was settled by a few families before the arrival of the United Empire Loyalists in 1784 from New Jersey. As the settlement of the Loyalists developed, the Parish Of Sussex was established in 1786. Growth continued in the Parish with the development of the agricultural and forestry industry and the opening of the European and American railway line in 1860, thus leading to the incorporation of the Town Of Sussex in 1904. In addition, from 1939 through the 60's, Sussex was the location of Camp Sussex. During the war years, Camp Sussex was home to 10,000 troops, thus providing a natural tie with the Canadian Armed Forces.

We got off Highway 1 onto Route 114. Our road log indicates that we descend 1,200 feet, to the Bay of Fundy, on this road. Along Route 114, we pass through a portion of the Bay of Fundy National Park.

It encompasses 10 miles of dramatic shoreline along the Bay of Fundy, famous for having the world’s highest tides. Twice a day, up to 8 feet of water or more rush in and out, roughly equivalent to the height of a four-floor building. This means exceptional views and a unique chance to explore the sea floor at low tide.

We saw our first Moose Crossing sign, but I guess the moose did not know they were supposed to cross there, because we did not see any!

There are crystal clear lakes and even beaver ponds in Fundy National Park of Canada.

The first views of the Bay of Fundy are breathtaking! The road looks like it was going to dip right into the bay!

We arrived at the pulse of the Bay of Fundy, in Alma. We secured the large parking area a couple blocks from the Lobster and Bake Shop. Now, we wait for the rest of the caravan to arrive! This dawn patrol stuff is tough work!

The local people rely on our lobster and scallop fishing, and tourism. Alma is in a unique scenic location where you can witness the constant changes of the tides. 

You know me, I had to put my foot in the Bay of Fundy!

The village of Alma provides two large lobster retail outlets, 2 motels, one hotel, a service station, a church, camping facilities, liquor retail and a grocery store, and several restaurants with menus that reflect the Bay of Fundy. The village is famous for baked goods, a very eclectic book store and gift shops. Some of Alma's constant summer guests are the hummingbirds - the bay is the most traveled migration route for so many bird species. Our wagon master told us "We go to Alma for the lobster and sticky buns." 

Kelly’s Bake Shop draws in tourists and locals with its sticky, over sized sweet buns. Tourists from all over the world have sampled these famous cinnamon sticky buns – some actually work it into their itinerary. On a busy day, Kelly’s can go through nearly 3,000 sticky buns. The bakery also sells many other products, including date squares, breads, pies, cakes, tarts, doughnuts – and cookies. On the counter sit several large glass cookie jars, each filled generously with fresh cookies, and during a high traffic day, those jars can be re-filled as many as 15 times. Mixes are taboo at Kelly’s Bake Shop – everything is made from scratch, even fillings, and these homespun recipes have been refined for uniformity. With its red gingham curtains, well-scrubbed whitewash, friendly service and old-style baking, Kelly’s Bake Shop is a must visit location! 

Eat lobster the way it was meant to be. We enjoyed freshly cooked lobsters on the shore of the Bay of Fundy. Collin’s Lobster offers freshly cooked lobster. There is a unique taste to freshwater lobster. 

The tub of live lobsters had some huge ones! One was 17 pounds!

You can buy and eat the lobster at the shop, at their picnic tables or take it home. The lobster was cooked and other caravaneers will help you crack the lobster if you are a novice at it. They have scallops, salmon and shrimp for sale also. 

After, we enjoyed the lobster and sticky buns we got back on the road and drove past the campground, Ponderosa Pines. 

Our destination before the campground is the Hopewell Rocks. Here you can experience the monumental power of the world’s highest tides with unique access to the ocean floor. Out private tour guide, Allie told us that in other parts of the world, the average tidal range is three feet or less, but at Hopewell Rocks the tides can reach a height of fourteen feet, twice a day. The tides travel between four and eight vertical feet per hour, depending on the lunar phases. Each tidal flow contains approximately 100 billion tons of water. These dramatic highs and lows have worked for thousands of years to sculpt the Hopewell Rocks. It’s like a piece of fine art, created by nature!

Some of the rocks have quirky nicknames like Lovers Arch, ET Rock, the Bear, and Mother in Law.

Here you can enjoy the Rocks from above and below. There is so much more I can say ... but I will let the pictures do the talking!

 

We headed back to the campground to get set up and enjoy an optional dinner at The Log Cabin.

Dinner was great, but the Road Log Review with Apple Pie Ala-mode, good laughs and a roaring fire was the perfect end to a day filled with awesomeness!