Monacos In Motion 2007 Maritimes

Moose sighting

2007-07-15T21:53:00.000-03:00

Waterfall in Gros Morne

2007-07-15T21:47:00.000-03:00

Gros Morne

2007-07-15T21:45:00.003-03:00

Gros Morne exceeds its reputation for spectacular beauty. Some of us have traveled by boat to view the fiords while others hiked to waterfalls. Attempts at fishing were less than successful.

2007-07-15T21:45:00.001-03:00

Wayne is accused of casting an evil spell on Anna Lee's toad

2007-07-15T21:43:00.000-03:00

Viking Feast

2007-07-15T21:39:00.001-03:00

We attended a Viking “feast” and show. I leave it to Wayne to give the review.

The blog photographer throws a fit

2007-07-15T21:36:00.000-03:00

Viking explains cooking methods

2007-07-15T21:34:00.000-03:00

St. Anthony

2007-07-15T21:31:00.000-03:00

We ventured to the site of the first landing of Europeans on the North American continent. L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Park is at a northern tip of Newfoundland and a place of great archeological discovery. Remains of a 1000 year old Viking settlement rest there. It’s not everyday that you get to visit a place of such antiquity.

Two of our toads have been injured. They have needed transplants and are back on the road.
One lesson learned by all is that the Newfies are very friendly people who go out of their way to help and don’t expect a king’s ransom in return.

Iceberg in Labrador

2007-07-12T13:07:00.000-03:00

July 12, 2007

2007-07-12T13:03:00.000-03:00

After a lovely end-of-caravan dinner, our group split in two to head for a different ports in Newfoundland. A way too early start for the first group ended in two couples involuntarily extending their stay in Nova Scotia. The second group had an easy crossing on the TransCanada Highway. The drivers sat back and left the job to the ferry boatman. There were movies and local entertainment to keep everyone amused. Bonnie even taught card making to the ladies while the men just talked. The short drive to the campground was another day in paradise.

Cod was the word of the day as three intrepid ladies ventured onto to the docks to purchase fish fresh off the boat. No surprise, it was JeanAnne who kissed the cod in preparation for her induction as an honorary Newfie. With the downing of Screech, she got her citizenship papers.
We enjoyed a home cooked moose dinner prepared by the local Lions Club and entertainment by the Lioness who were our hosts/hostesses for the night.

The next day we moved a short distance up the road and then took the ferry across the strait to Labrador, making us among the few who have visited this distant land. We saw icebergs floating and sitting along the shore. The ice showed white and blue and green and lovely. We also visited the tallest lighthouse in Atlantic Canada; the fog horn reminding us of the encroaching fog of our return journey to NF.

We have had several confirmed moose sightings but no pictures.

On Thursday we venture back 1000 years to the time of the Vikings.

Red Bay, Labrador

2007-07-11T14:28:00.000-03:00

We are now is Labrador and ten (the 2 weekers)of the coaches occupents are here while the other 6 coaches are in St. Johns and two coaches are on the ferry to Newfoundland (hopefully)(the 4 week group). They failed to get boarded on Monday morning.
All the 2 weekers are doing great and having fun. We do not have Internet accessability (I am at the town hall here in Red Bay) and we will update the blog with pictures when we have Internet which might be on Friday.

A toast to Maritimes 2007

2007-07-08T20:55:00.000-03:00

Our leaders say farewell

2007-07-08T20:52:00.000-03:00

Sunday July 8,2007

2007-07-08T20:31:00.000-03:00

Sunny and warm today. Missed the good weather for the Cabot Trail and whale watching by one day. Well, this is the official end of the Monacos in Motion Maritimes Province Caravan. It has been a blast! Even with the roads and weather, the trip has been an experience that none of us will forget. Meeting new friends, seeing old (acquaintenances, not in age) ones, seeing the Canadian Provinces, meeting the people of the area, and eating. What would a caravan be without the opportunity to enjoy Janet and her gang's cooking. Bill and JeanAnn did a great job on putting this caravan together. The volunteers also made it possible to enjoy an (almost) trouble free trip. Personnaly, Carole and I are looking forward to the next one.
Today for the group, it was a free day which everybody was looking forward to. Even with that, there was still some sightseeing to do. Happy hour was a little wet but we all enjoyed the champagne supplied by the Paynes. The Millers and the PAynes were all decked out in the kilts and really looked the part. (pictures to follow).
The farewell dinner was held at a local resturant. After a wonderful meal, door prizes were handed out. Lazydays provided a pair of $50 gift certificates. Monaco provided 8 $25 wearable gift certificates. Several other door prizes were given out for appreciation of the effort put out by all of the caravaners. Special gifts were given to the Millers and Paynes for their great effort in putting this caravan together. Each couple received a check from surplus funds of the caravan.
From here, we split into two groups on our adventure to New Foundland and Labrador. The 4 week group is taking the 14 hour ride from Nova Scotia and the two week is on the short 6 hour ride. We reverse that on the return trip. Its been great and the next 4 weeks will be just as great.

The larger boat group

2007-07-08T16:37:00.001-03:00

The Zodiac group

2007-07-08T16:33:00.000-03:00

Saturday July 7, 2007

2007-07-08T10:45:00.000-03:00

Woke up to a rainy and foggy day. Won't be much good for our trip around the Cabot Trail nor whale watching, but we'll manage. The Conrads won't be able to make the trip as Clair has a gas leak problem (his stove). The carpool left the campground in fine fashion and headed out. Soon we were stretched out and pretty much doing and seeing what we wanted. The fog prevented us from seeing a lot of the coast line but when we dropped down to sealevel, the view was quite intriguing. A couple of us stopped at a Woodsmith shop and browsed around. A lot of beautiful pieces but no room in the RV. Neil's Harbour was a little out of the way but well worth the sidetrip. A sleepy little fishing village with, of course, a chowder house. A lobster boat came in with only a dozen small lobsters on it. The end of the season is near.
On up to Pleasant Bay for the whale watching boat ride. Still pretty much a foggy day with small patches of sunshine coming through. By the time we got on the boat, the fog rolled back in. 8 of our caravan went in a Zodiac while the rest of us went on the regular boat. Watching the 8 get dressed in their suits was quite a treat. They could have been ready to walk on the moon. Our tour guide, Jessica, informed us on what we could expect. After about a half hour of wave walloping, we arrived on site and waited. We didn't have to wait long, a pod of pilot whales came by to show their stuff. There were several pods around so it didn't take much to find them. Jessica let out a squeal and pointed out the flute of a humpback going under. The photo is what we saw. Fantastic!! That was our last close up but those in the Zodiac said they were much closer and a got a better show. We could see a humpback off in the distance putting on a show by breaching and slapping its tail but it was too foggy for us to get a good view. The two hour tour was soon over and back to port.
We ate lunch at a local resturant and continued down the Cabot Trail. There were several places to stop and sight see as the fog was starting to lift. On the way back, the Brundiges took the short ferry ride from Elizabethtown. A 5 minute ride on a cable pulled ferry highlighted their trip. By the time we got back to the camp, the sun was out and a wonderful day, what was left of it. Free day tomorrow, can't believe the official caravan is almost over. Where did the time go!

A Whale Of A Tail! - Humpback Wahle

2007-07-08T09:46:00.000-03:00

Conrad's Culperts prepare breakfast

2007-07-06T22:24:00.000-03:00

Early Bell telephone

2007-07-06T22:20:00.000-03:00

The happy hookers in Nova Scotia

2007-07-06T22:16:00.000-03:00

FridayJuly 6, 2007

2007-07-06T20:46:00.000-03:00

Rainy (from yesterday's rig washing) and foggy. Some of the men put a breakfast together that would rival anything Martha Stewart put on while in prison. Lots of pancakes, grilled just the way they wanted to, bacons from a bird and a pig. Juice and coffee, what a way to start the day.
Waves were formed and we hit the road. Fairly good roads up to the KOA near North Sydney. Still raining and foggy but not hampering the drive. Got parked and carpooled up to Baddeck to lunch and the Alexander Graham Bell museum. Good intersting self guided tour. Lots of displays showed just how many different enterprises he was into. His wife did a lot towards promoting Canadian aviation in the early 1900s. His efforts with the deaf, developement of a hydrofoil, airplanes, and many other projects were lesser known that his invention of the telephone, but just as noteworthy. Beautiful country in this area; we'll get to see more of it tomorrow.
Too wet for a formal happy hour so we just hung out at the rigs. Long day tomorrow.

Thursday July 5, 2007

2007-07-06T20:31:00.000-03:00

Sunny but windy and a free day looking at us. With nothing scheduled for the day, the caravaners did their own thing. Several went up to Clace Bay to the Miner's Museum and said it was excellent. A good display and a short tour through an actuall coal mine. Apparently it was had to move around in the mine, they had to bend over and walk through small passages. But even then, it was worth the effort. Others went into Sydney and did some shopping.
With the threat of rain in the air, several thumbed their noses at the oncoming storm and spiffied up their rigs. (Garunteed to raid with that attitude). Some of just hung out and caught our breaths. The Rayners went bike riding and wound up at fisherman's wharf where they were treated to crab and lobster feed. They really enjoyed the food but didn't bring any back for the rest of us.
Happy hour prior to our lobster dinner at a local resturant. Good food, for those that like lobster, there were 2 lobsters on each plate. Chuck Pond connived his way into a four lobster plate and darned if he didn't eat every bit of it.
Later that night we had reservations to the Louisbourg Playhouse where we enjoyed the "Laughter and Lyrics" performance. This was put on by some very talented local muscians. Songs, stepdancing, and comedy for several hours. Good time was had by all. Traveling tomorrow.

The group at Louisbourg Fortress

2007-07-04T21:40:00.000-03:00

Building at Louisbourg Fortress

2007-07-04T21:39:00.000-03:00

Cannon firing at Louisbourg Fortress

2007-07-04T21:37:00.000-03:00

Pre Tattoo dinner

2007-07-04T21:35:00.000-03:00

Pre Tattoo dinner

2007-07-04T21:34:00.001-03:00

Pre Tattoo dinner

2007-07-04T21:34:00.000-03:00

Pre Tattoo dinner

2007-07-04T21:33:00.000-03:00

Wednesday July 4, 2007

2007-07-04T20:56:00.000-03:00

Happy Birthday America! A sunny but cool day awaits us. A breakfast by Janet Payne aand company is always a great way to start the day. The Pond's had to take their rig into Sydney to get the font end realigned (no, not because of the road cominng here). We carpooled to the Fortress and received a guided tour from Andre, a 22 year veteran of the tour staff. The fort was originally built in 1713 by the French to protect their investment in the New World. Squabbles with the British on a couple occasions resulted in the fort changing hands. Eventually, the fort fell to ruin and was abandoned by the Britsh in the mid 1800s. There was a movement to restore the fort as it once was and eventually, through the efforts of private individuals and finally the Canadian government, reconstruction was started. Only 1/5 of the original fort was renovated. It is strictly a tourist attraction nowadays with vintage costumed interpreters explain the workings of the fort. Demonstrations occur thruout the day. Very interesting site.
After happy hour we all congregated at the Fortress View resturant for a lobster dinner. Good time was had by all.

Tuesday July 3, 2007

2007-07-04T20:46:00.000-03:00

Woke up to a sunny and warm day. We are looking at an easy day ahead of us. Got on the road early and headed for Louisbourg, NS. Good roads for the most part but 104 out of Auld's Cove was something else. A teeth rattling, dishes banging, co-pilot cussing road it was. Stopping for fuel proved to be a challenge. Our carefully planned wave traveling got unraveled due to a long delay at the pumps. Wave 4 went right thru Auld's Cove looking for something better. But as always, we survived and put it all behind us. Arrived at the Louisbourg Motorhome and Travel Park. After the caravan got parked, we were on our own till Stan's special dinner. As can be seen from the photo, Stan was having a good time on his birthday. The dinner was excellent and based on the number of compliments Stan got, he can do it again anytime. Tomorrow the Louisbourg Fortress.

Chef Stan's 39+++ birthday

2007-07-03T20:23:00.000-03:00

Peggy's Cove Lighthouse

2007-07-03T16:39:00.001-03:00

The Nova Scotia Tattoo

2007-07-03T16:20:00.000-03:00

Canada Day parade

2007-07-03T16:19:00.000-03:00

Boarding the tall ship Silva

2007-07-03T16:18:00.000-03:00

Our Group at Peggy's Cove, NS

2007-07-03T16:16:00.000-03:00

Monday July 2, 2007

2007-07-02T23:09:00.000-03:00

Sunny at the start, we'll see about the other end. It is a day of travel up to Sherbrooke, NS. The original route has been changed from the coastal of Lighthouse Route to a more inland one. The other would have been much slower and we were told by some locals that the road is really rough. Rain squalls accompanied us all the way but we made it is asfe and sound to the Nimrods Campground. After everone was parked we carpooled to the Sherbrooke Village. This the original Sherbrooke as it was in the earl 1800s. Although it was raining, we made the loop around the whole Village, stopping in several of the shops and buildings. Vintage clad interpreters were there to greet us and talk about the history of their particular building. There was a working blacksmith, candle makers, a tool display, printing shop, photography, telephone (early 1900s), boat building, quilt making, post office, Dr's office, a jail, and houses as they were back then. Some of the group made it down to the wroking sawmill. Of course there was the traditional gift shop.
Back at the park, happy hour and heavy hor d' oeuvres sufficed for the evening meal. Afterwards, there was spectacular entertainment by the talents of Peter Kirn on the guitar, Stan Jones on the clarinet, and Carole Chapin on the Q Chord. Dancing was provided by Fran Rayner, Donna Pond, Iris Simonis, Mary Conrad, Louise Coulton. Clair Conrad acted as lead choirman for the singing(?) of Banana Boat and Bill Miller led us in Goodnight Irene. The rest of us participated by being a very appreciative audience. No cops came nor did the campground owner ask us to shut up or leave. A good time was had by all. Peter the instigator, set up a canoe race between Stan and Joe for tomorrow. Yeah, right!
Off to Louisbourg tomorrow.

Sunday July 1, 2007

2007-07-02T22:22:00.000-03:00

Another sunny and warm day but a chance of thundershowers in the afternoon, but who cares, we're having fun! Today is Canada Day, their 140th anniversary! We started the day by driving in to Halifax to visit the Citadel, an Army post first built in 1749. There was lots of activites going on in the fort so entertainment was abundant. Troops marching, choirs singing, bands playing, guns firing, tour guides chatting, and more. We started out with the changing of the gaurds. I'll tell you, if I could stay that straight faced when explaing to my wife why i was so late, I wouldn't have half the grief I got. Quite a ceremony. One hour tours with just a few steps taken to keep their blood circulating. After a brief and informative tour by a guide, we were on our own to explore the post. The Citadel we were in was actually the fourthone built. The first and second were of wood which rotted away. The third was a modified one of standard design and the fourth was updated to meet the needs in the late 1800s. The british finally turned it over to the Canadians in 1906. The ceremonies are performed in the dress of the period, circa, early 1800s. They still fire a big gun (they can't be called cannons because "cannon" is a French term and this was a British fort) everyday at noon, except on Christmas (a day of peace).
We had a few hours to kill before dinner at four, and as it happened, several of the group had happy hour at a streetside pub. We hd a Red Carpet Dinner at the Convention Center prior to going to the Tattoo Performance. At the dinner, there were several other RV tours along with several bus tours. The Fantasy Tours were in the same RV park back in St. Andrew. Halifax seemed to be a good gathering palce.
We attended the Nova Scotia International Tattoo at the Metro Centre. An outstanding performance of marching bands, drill teams, choirs, singers, dancers, gymnasts, and more. We had great seats and didn't miss a thing. The coordination of getting each act on and off the floor was superb. Several of the groups were from Euorpean countries who came in and practiced for up to two weeks prior to the event. Truely something to behold.
There wer fireworks after the show and then a long drive thru traffic back to the park. Off to Sheerbrooke tomorrow.

Saturday June 30, 2007

2007-07-02T22:01:00.000-03:00

Sunny and warm today. A great day to be in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The day started with a carpool to the ferry terminal for a ride across the bay to Halifax. Once on shore, the group toured the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic which told about the boating and shipping industry in the area. A good display of the various types of ships, a photo display of the Titanic disaster and how the people of Halifax helped the survivors, and many more stories. The tour also included a tour of the Acadia, a research ship stationed in Halifax.
At noon we boarded the Silva, a 3 masted steel hulled sailing ship used in the early 1900 as a cargo ship. Now-adays it is a tourist attraction that sails the harbor with guests on board. There has even been weddings performed on board. We took a 90 minute cruise in the harbor and enjoyed the sights.
Later in the afternoon we visited Pier 21. This was the place where immigrants were first processed when coming into Canada; very similar to Ellis Island in New York. Opening in 1928, it served many an immigrant until the early 70s. It also processed the European wives of military personnel when returning from overseas.
Happy hour and a potluck rounded out a tiring but exciting day.

Friday June 29,2007

2007-07-02T21:37:00.000-03:00

No we didn't run off the ends of the earth. Getting on the web is a little bit of a problem up here, but tonight we are on. Today is a little overcastr but our weatherman says things will get better this afternoon. We are carpooling to Peggy's Cove this morning. Peggy's Cove is a beautiful little fishing village down the coast from Halifax. The lighthouse is typical of what we have seen on the coast in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. This one had a post office in it and was being well used. The rocks ran right to the water and the waves rolling in made it quite pictuesque. We had our group photo taken with lighthouse in the background. (Photos to follow when available.)
From Peggy's Cove we stopped briefly at the memorial erected for the 1998 crash of a Swiss airline of the coast. On to Lunenburg where we ate lunch and toured the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic. This museum depicted the history of the fishing industry in Nova Scotia.
Heading back to the campground, several of the caravaners stopped at Malone Bay and did some sight seeing. This quait fishing village is now a tourist attraction with shops and water adventures. Beautiful setting.
For the author and another couple, a Costco and Wal-Mart sidetrip led to some unwanted and interesting detours, delays, and turnarounds. Another full day tomorrow.

Thursday June 27, 2007

2007-06-28T23:22:00.000-03:00

Rained last night and still a little damp this morning. Of course it is!! We're moving on down the road. How about that sunset last night? What a way to end our stay here at Southport RV Park. Getting lined up and out was a little difficult this morning because of the narrow exit from the park. Eventually, everything worked out and away we went. Found all the right roads and rolled into the Shubie Park Campground in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. This is a city park with lots of activities going on. After parking and a little individual rig cleaning, we commenced with happy hour and, a little later, a pot luck supper. Can't beat the culinary expertise of this crowd!
A long day of sight seeing tomorrow going south along the coast below Halifax.

We met Anne of Green Gables

2007-06-28T20:45:00.000-03:00

Sunset from our campground at Prince Edward Island

2007-06-28T20:41:00.000-03:00

Step up to a Signature

2007-06-28T20:39:00.000-03:00

The group at the Potato Museum

2007-06-28T20:37:00.000-03:00

Wednesday June 27, 2007

2007-06-28T00:57:00.000-03:00

A warm sunny day. A hang out day for the crowd. Nothing going on until the "Anne of Green Gables" play tonight. The caravaners spent their day doing odd jobs on their rigs; some went sight seeing on the east end of the island; 2 couples got in some golf on the championship course; some of the ladies got their nails done; and others went shopping. The musical at the Confederation Center was pretty entertaining. Lots of songs and dancing. This play is the longest running on PEI.
Our stay here has been quite an experience. There is so much to do and see on this island that it really takes another visit or a longer stay. The scenery is beautiful and the people are more than friendly. Great food and entertainment! Things are a little pricey, but hey, you have to spend it somewhere. Tomorrow we head for Dartmouth in Nova Scotia and another set of adventures.

Tuesday June 26, 2007

2007-06-26T22:55:00.000-03:00

What a wet and rainy day to wake up to! 24 hours really can make a difference. Oh well, we'll get by. After the announcements and weather report, the carpool was formed and loaded. Off to Woodleigh Replicas and Gardens near Burlington, PEI. Along with the host, the mosquitos were waiting for us. But at least the rain stopped. The premise of the grounds is that a WWI veteran, Ernest Johnstone, wanted to bring the some of the fanscinating buildings of England back to his native Prince Edward Island. He found and cleared the land. Finally, after WWII he started to build scaled replicas of various castles and houses of England. Examples of his work are: York Minster Castle, The Tower Of London, Penn Manor House, St Chiles Church, St Paul's Cathedral, and many others. Through research and visits to England, he made the replicas as accurate as possible. Scales ranged from 1:20 on York Minster to 1/3 scale on the Tower of London (big enough to walk around in). It took over fifty years of work to achieve his dream. The grounds were opened to the public in 1958. A gift shop offered many souveiners of the gardens.
As it was close to lunch time, eating versus visiting the next stop was put to vote. The growling stomachs won over the curious. We drove up to North Cape which is the western most tip of PEI. After overwhelming the resturant staff with our masses, we all got seated. After lunch, we spread out and looked over the area. There is an operating lighthouse on the Cape that has been around for well over a hundred years. Also, a working wind generator farm is on the point. The winds coming from three different bodies of water provide more than enough energy to run the farm. The Interpretive Center gave a good accounting of the history of the area and its inhabitants.
Our next stop was the Potato Museum sixty miles down the road in O'Leary. The farmers in the group were kinda salivating over the historical equipment display. The museum had a good presentation on the history of the development of the potato and how it was introduced to the different continents. Unfortuneatly, the display also talked about the various deseases that have plaqued the potato industry. I for one will take a closer look at potato chips in the future.
This ended the activites for the day. Some drove back to the campground while others went shopping at local shops. An on-our-own day is in store for us tomorrow.

Monday June 25, 2007

2007-06-25T23:01:00.000-03:00

What a warm beautiful day to wake up to!! Sunshine, blue sky, blue water, green grass, and a great view of Charlottetown. A busy day it was! Started out at the Gouda Cheese Farm after a series of wrong turns, detours, and changed routes. At the farm we got a short video on the cheese making process and a history of the farm. Of course there was cheese tasting and the opportunity to buy their products, which was done by many.
Back into the autos and off to New Glasgow to the Prince Edward Preserve Company. Here there were several samples of their jams, jellies, salsas, etc. to taste. Could have made a meal out of all the samples but a severe case of the guilties set in and lunch wasn't far away. Lunch was eated at the Preseve's resturant. The owner, as seen below, gave a brief history of how he got started in the business. A very delightful person. (No, no one asked what was under his kilts!) As we were getting ready to leave, a busload of band members from Alonquin University out of Ottawa stopped by the Preserve. Somehow they were talked in to giving a performance so we put off departing until they played several numbers. Eventually, we had to move on to the next stop.
On our way to Anne of Green Gables territory, we took a side trip to North Rustico Harbour, a little fishing village on the north side of the island. Although Wayne did not have room in his car for a lobster pot for Barbara, he did have room for one for Joe and Bonnie (see below). Me thinks Wayne is going to hear about this for quite some time. We wanted to drive the coast out of this village but the toll per car was little steep, so back to the traditional route. We arrived at a farm where Lucy Maud Montgomery spent many a days with her favorite grandfather. Her books contained many references to her stay at this farm. Our time spent here included a buggy ride, a tour of the farm house, tea and cookies, and, of course, a gift shop. From here we went almost across the street to where Lucy officially resided with her other grandfather. A tour of this farm house was also given.
Stomachs could be heard growling so it was time to head to the New Glasgow Lobster Suppers resturaunt at New Glasgow. On the way, a lobster pot was spotted lying next to some trash cans, but do you think Wayne would stop? No way! Our eatery was a very busy place but big enough to handle approximately 400 hungry diners. Mussles were a favorite appetizer and if you could have seen Chuck Pond putting them away, you would think he had stock in the mussle industry. The meals were great, the service was great, and the comraderie was even better as depicted in the photo below. After everyone was full, the desserts came out and it seems that nobody declined. As with all good things, they must come to an end. The vehicles were loaded up and off to camp we went. Another busy day tomorrow.

Love that lobster

2007-06-25T22:30:00.000-03:00

Our Scottish host explains how he got started in the restaurant business. Lunch was great.

2007-06-25T21:16:00.000-03:00

Bonnie, what are you going to do with a lobster trap?

2007-06-25T21:09:00.000-03:00

Sunday June 25, 2007

2007-06-24T22:40:00.000-03:00

Woke up to not really a rain, more like very wet air. Due a scheduled fuel stop in Aulac, departure time for the first wave is 0800 at 30 minute intervals. As expected, the lineup and departures went without a hitch. Stopped for fuel and met up with Don and Joan Johnson. Now we have a full caravan. Off to Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island and Southport RV Park. Big wide open spaces with a great view of the city across the bay. All the rigs were parked by 1:30. Bill has a seal viewing boat trip scheduled for those that wanted to go. Others took a tour of downtown Charlottetown in a doubledecker bus. Someothers just walked the downtown area. Everybody returned for happy hour and dinner on their own. It was reported that altho no seals were spotted, they had a great boat ride viewing the waterfront and several waterfront homes.

Saturday June 23, 2007

2007-06-24T22:03:00.000-03:00

Another rainy day greets us upon waking up. Kinda getting used to it but things are bound to change. Today we visit the center piece of Hopewell Cape, The Flowerpots. This is a section of eroded shoreline that has left some interesting rock formations. Our tour started at the visitor center with an introduction to the area and how it was formed. (rain started again). The beach area at low tide is shown in the photo below. These formations, and many others, show the effect of the tides, wind , and rain. The aveage tide in this area is 36 feet. The highest recorded is 46 feet. When the tide comes in, everyone is kicked off the beach 3 hours before high tide. Most of the caravaners walked on the beach (still raining). Those are not drowned rats in the photo, they are real people; crazy, but real. While walking back up the hill (in the rain) one could only think about the dry change of clothes back at the rig.

Plans were changed from happy hour and dinner at the beach to the campground store. This decision was greeted with cheers from the crowd. Dinner was fried chicken (KFC style) and all the trimmings. After dinner, several of us went back to the beach to view the same area at high tide (still raining). As can be seen in Jerry's photo, it is not the place to be standing when the tide comes in.

High Tide at Hopewell Rocks. We were walking here four hours before the kayakers arrived.

2007-06-24T20:57:00.000-03:00

Hiding from the rain on the ocean bottom

2007-06-24T20:55:00.000-03:00

Walking on the ocean bottom at Hopewell Rocks

2007-06-24T20:53:00.000-03:00

Everyone welcomes Monacos in Motion

2007-06-24T20:51:00.000-03:00

If you wonder what a frogmore stew looks like

2007-06-24T20:50:00.000-03:00

Friday June 22,2007

2007-06-23T16:15:00.001-03:00

Rained most of the night and still a llittle damp in the morning. Janet and Russ put on a wonderful breakfast of SOS. This was not the same as I remember from my military days. Hooking up and getting in line is becoming second nature to us by now. Bill gets them started and Wayne is the last one out. It should be noted that if Russ were the Tail Gunner, he would be a Payne in the rear.
The trip to Hopewell Cape was pretty good for have the way on Route 1 but 114 leaft a lot to be desired. Needs a little bit of work. All in all, it was a pretty drive. Arrival at the Ponderrosa Pines Campground was an experience in itself. The sites are small and wooded but our elite parking crew fit us in like a foot in a sock. A free day, what was left of it, allowed shopping in Alma, a Cosco run to Muncton, mosquito swatting at the campground, a liquor store run, and just hanging out. With the rain off and on most of the day, happy hour was spent under awnings. A Frogmore dinner was served by the Paynes and Millers. Shrimp, corn on the cob, potatoes, onions, and sausage. And of course desserts. Delicious! Good time was had by all. JeanAnn announced that the Johnsons are in Conneticut and heading north. Probably will catch up with us on PEI. Looking forward to the Flower Pot Rocks tomorrow.

Thursday June 21,2007

2007-06-21T23:32:00.000-03:00

A full day is ahead for the crew. Bill Miller arranged for a bus tour of the city of Saint John. Staring out we drove thru a residential section where the Irving family has their abode. Irving is the big name in oil and many other enterprises. We drove by many stately manors built in the 1800's. A stop was made at the Reversing Falls during low tide. This is an area where the Saint John river runs into Saint John Harbor over some rapids. As the tide comes in, the ocean water level goes above the river water level and creates rapids in the opposite direction. 180 miles upstream, the force of the rising tide raises the river level about 1 foot. We also stopped at an old fortification built by the British during the War of 1812. Its purpose was to defend against any ground invasion that might occur. None did. A concrete structure was added during WWII to coordinate defenses against any German incursion. None did. We continued thru a section of vintage houses that belonged to ship builders on up to an old section of Saint John. A stop at City Market for souviners, food, trinkets, or whatever and then back to the RVs.
The afternoon was free time for sightseeing, shopping, or hanging out. Several of the group took the jet boat ride at the Reversing Falls. The idea was to see the Falls from water level and to get a little wet. John Boulton wasn't going to be fooled so he donned his brand new yellow raingear and waited for the drenching. Unfortuneately, when he took his raingear off, it disintegrated and the remains clung to his clothes like a new set of underwear. Some of the local sites visted included the Angelican Church, the old courthouse, and the NB Museum.
When the tide came in, several of the group went back to the Falls to see the reverse. Not as impressive as the outward flow but still quite a sight. Happy hour and and another great dinner created by Janet Payne and her army of helpers. For those of us taking the 4 week New Foundland extended trip are trying to figure out how to kidnap Janet without Russ getting wise. Off to Hopewell Cape tomorrow.
The Johnson's were south of Washington DC and trying to catch up.

Another grog for the road

2007-06-21T21:31:00.000-03:00

Off to see Saint John

2007-06-21T21:30:00.000-03:00

Reversing Falls in Saint John, NB

2007-06-21T21:29:00.000-03:00

Wednesday, June 21, 2007

2007-06-20T23:29:00.000-03:00

Well, we have to leave this beautiful park and move up the road to another adventure. The waves left in a timely manner and in good order. The weather is a little overcast and a little cool. All the waves, except Wave #3, made it without incident. Our leader decided to explore new territory when making the u-turn at exit 129. Then, in looking for a turn-around to get us back on the right track, he got into a driveway where he couldn't get out of and had to unhook to turn around. Meanwhile, the other 3 sheep, were helped out by a passing New Brunswickian whom recognized our plight and set us out on the correct road. Finally, we ALL got settled into our new trappings.
After getting set up, it was time to see the sights. Janet and JeanAnn set off on a 200 mile trek to acquire some grub for Janet's fabulous meals. Peter Kirn had to find some transmission fluid to replace what was lost (or not put in) at his last oil change. Most everybody else wound up at the Market Square or the City Market. Good food and lots of shopping. Carole and I had to run down a fax machine to get our new RV insurance taken care of.
After another successful happy hour, a large part of the group wound up at Billy's Seafood Market for dinner. Great food at great prices. Its raining now so time for lights out. Big day tomorrow.

Crossing the border into Canada

2007-06-19T19:49:00.000-03:00

They grow them big in Canada

2007-06-19T19:48:00.000-03:00

JeanAnn checks out the tidepool

2007-06-19T19:47:00.000-03:00

Our first stop in St. Andrews

2007-06-19T19:46:00.000-03:00

Extra guest in St. Andrews campground

2007-06-19T19:45:00.000-03:00

First day of travel

2007-06-19T16:43:00.000-03:00

Due to internet connection problems, this posting is one day late.
Thanx to Bill Miller's excellent planning, getting lined up at the park in Bar Harbor was a cinch. The waves were all in order, the route was planned and AWAY WE WENT. The trip up to the border crossing was uneventful except for a somewhat lumpy road.

The border crossing went quite well for 16 of the 17 coaches, and as with any large group, there had to be a sacrificial lamb. Guess who it was. We got the white slip and had the coach inspected inside and out. Nothing serious, they were just doing their job. However, When the Simonis' came thru, Bob didn't feel obligated to stop on the white line. Talk about loud sirens and scurrying border gaurds. Well, nobody went to jail and on to the campground.

As far as ratings go, the Kiwanis Oeanfront Camping park is top of the line. Beautiful ocean view (the tide was in); wideopen sites; and sunny weather. By the time everybody arrived, Bill and his parking crew had the sites lined up and we slipped right in. Happy hour commenced. The potluck dinner was at the pavillion and talk about good food! With full bellies, we all waddled back to the rigs to enjoy the rest of the day. At 9:30 it was still light out so we are getting the full benefits of long days.

Janet feeds us really well

2007-06-19T13:49:00.000-03:00

Gearing up for the big day

2007-06-18T00:30:00.000-03:00

Sunday, June 17, 2007

The eve of the big trip is upon us. The caravaners were busy stocking up, last minute sight seeing, golfing, and just hanging out. Some of the group took in the Lumberjack Show in the local area. Quite a show, with all the activities (albeit on a smaller scale) one would see at a national show. During happy hour, last minute instructions were given out by Bill Miller on what will be taking place tomorrow when we leave the park and head for Canada. Everybody is fitted with a family talk-about for communications in conjunction with CBs while traveling.

Lobster, ready to eat

2007-06-17T22:10:00.000-03:00

Quoddy Lighthouse - Easternmost Location in USA

2007-06-16T00:22:00.000-03:00

Free Day for Exploring and Fun

2007-06-16T00:13:00.000-03:00

Today was a free day for the group since the oficial start of the caravan is tomorrow. The Paynes and Millers headed up to Campobello Island to visit the Roosevelt summer home and also to Quoddy Point and lighthouse - the eastern most location in the USA. The Jones and McCray carload explored Arcadia National Park as did others in the group and most gathered for another camp fire after some more consuming of a few more Maine lobsters! We remain 10 coaches in the campground until the others arrive tomorrow. The Johnsons are still in Wildwood awaiting some brake calipers. A phone call late this afternoon was encouraging in that the parts just might be on their way for a Monday installation.

A Line of Motorhomes

2007-06-16T00:10:00.000-03:00

A Campfire to Stay Warm

2007-06-14T21:51:00.000-03:00

Sunset at Bar Harbor

2007-06-14T21:45:00.000-03:00

Safely in Bar Harbor

2007-06-14T17:15:00.000-03:00

The trip from Camden, Maine to Bar Harbor was a pretty ride on US #1 through some pretty towns with nice water views and we arrived in Bar Harbor shortly after noon. The local lobster crusine was enjoyed for lunch by a number of us.

In the campground ahead of us were the Kirns,the Champins and Brundiges. Bill Larsen arrived shortly afterwards.

We are now 10 and the number is growing!

Ready with credit cards in Freeport, Maine

2007-06-14T17:12:00.000-03:00

Wednesday's belated post

2007-06-14T16:59:00.000-03:00

Wednesday saw the group help out the local economy in Freeport, Maine and had the Grisillos joining back up with the group while the Boultons depart to spend a few days with friends before rejoining us in Bar Harbor on Saturday.

We departed around noon for the trip to Camden, Maine and arrived there safely with no difficulties. The search was on for some seafood and some local sightseeing as well as visiting with family. Carl Moyer and Ann Young arrived at the campground and will stay in Camden, Maine to visit relatives until Saturday.

Riddle of The Day

2007-06-12T15:11:00.000-03:00

How many 60 foot long motorhome rigs can make an illegal U turn in Kittery, Maine and not get a traffic ticket?
Answer - 6! Wonder if this would work next week when we have all 18.

Janet and Russ hunting room for food in other coaches

2007-06-11T22:02:00.000-03:00

First Belt Replaced

2007-06-11T13:17:00.000-03:00

Last night was spent at Wal-Mart in Chambersburg, PA - convenient, level, and hospitable. Our plan to stay in Martinsburg was changed due to the security force telling us that they would be relining the parking lot during the night and that no overnight parking was allowed. Having Wayne along is wonderful - the first belt replacement was needed - and to his rig!

2007-06-11T13:15:00.000-03:00

2007-06-11T13:13:00.000-03:00

Wal-Mart in Bristol, Virginia

2007-06-10T10:37:00.000-03:00

Last night six of our rigs camped out at the garden center at the Wal-Mart in Bristol, Virginia. Seems like everyone is now heading for Bar Harbor except for the Johnsons who are waiting for some parts to correst a brake problem. Say a prayer for them and keep your fingers crossed their parts arrive on Monday and are the correct ones!

2007-06-10T10:23:00.000-03:00

They are on their way!

2007-06-04T17:56:00.000-03:00

It is fun to learn the wheels are starting to turn and we have coaches on their way. The closest to Bar Harbor is now in Lake George, NY!

Getting Ready

2007-05-16T20:08:00.000-03:00

It won't be long now before the 2007 Monacos-In-Motion Maritimes Adventure 2007 starts its trip in Bar Harbor, Maine on June 16, 2007 at the Mt. Desert Narrows Campground. The motor homes are now getting their last safety check-ups and the loading and in some cases, the traveling has started!