Canadian Maritimes: New Brunswick

After locating our campground--not as easy as it sounds!--It was much further from the Fundy Park than I thought.--we went out to dinner in what may have been the only restaurant for miles and miles around. We were the only customers for the first 45 minutes we were there. But their scallops!?! To die for!

The next day we drove east to visit the Bay of Fundy National Park where, after paying for our park pass, we did a little exploring.

There was one site where the Point Wolfe River ran down into the Bay. At one time there had been a dam and a mill here. Now there's just a little covered bridge, the remnants of the dam and a very stony beach. Still, it was a pretty place to stop and get our first close-up of the Bay of Fundy while walking on the stones that would soon be covered as the tide turned.

Looking from the beach to the Bay of Fundy.

Terry standing by one of the many, many rock cairns erected on the beach.

Covered Bridge over the Point Wolfe River.

Site of the mill dam on the Point Wolfe River.

After our brief stop here, we motored further north along the coast to the Hopewell Rocks.

The rocks are the remnants of eroded conglomerate along the coast. They stand tall and proud at low tide but are nearly covered by water at high tide. The Bay's waters can fluctuate by as much as 30-40 feet in a 12 and a half hour cycle! We got there at low tide and got to walk on the beach.

Looking down from atop the cliff. That's the Bay of Fundy and Nova Scotia in the distance.

From the beach, you get the feel for how large the rock formations are.

And the beach isn't flat, either. It's quite steep going down to the water.

Put some people into the frame and you can see how high the cliffs are.

Another view along the beach.

There's a nice, steel and concrete stairway to get down to the beach. With 101 steps!

Another view of the cliff face.

Terry had to go down to the water's edge to touch the Chocolate River, as the Bay of Fundy is called. The huge, rapid change in the tides create quite a current and lots of turbulence grinding away at the sea floor and all the sand and rocks become powder which then get suspended in the ever moving water.

One more view of the undercut rocks along the beach.

They become somewhat mushroom shaped over time. The one on the left looks like it may be submerged during high tide--nothing growing on top.

Occasionally you get a natural bridge like this.

There are several rangers on the beach to answer questions--and keep an eye on the time. They will let you know when the tide is turning and when you must make your way up those 101 steps pronto.

Having had our fill, we moseyed on back to our campsite for the night. The next day we would be heading to Truro, Nova Scotia.