Halifax, Nova Scotia to Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick – 26 September 2023
I was really looking forward to seeing the Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park as we had missed it when we had first driven through New Brunswick on our way to Newfoundland. Also, even though we had seen glimpses of the Bay of Fundy when we were in Digby, I felt there was so much more to see on the New Brunswick side.
Our campground was great. There were very few people being the end of the season and we had a tremendous view of the Bay of Fundy. Lots of bugs but we made sure we were adequately covered with bug spray. There were signs that Moose were in the area so I was cautiously optimistic that perhaps I might catch a glimpse of them on the salt marshes at Dusk. Besides the bay we also had a river running alongside the campsite and access to several forest and coastal trails.
The following day we drove through the town and while Derek and Jax went to fill up with gas, I explored the Albert County Museum. This museum consisted of a collection of buildings from the 1800s which had been restored – a Library, Courthouse, Gaol, Community Centre, Exhibition Hall, Carriage shed, Tax Office and a Records Office. Was fascinating walking around and looking at all the old artifacts. At the entrance to the Museum were 2 large guns that were captured from the Germans in WW1. One of the guns was won by Albert County as part of a competition to raise funds in 1919. The other was gifted to Albert County as they had the most men per capita to enlist in the army then anywhere else in Canada. Also interesting was that Prime Minister RB Bennett who served during the great depression 1930 to 1935 was from this town. There were a couple of statues to honour him.
After the Museum I went across the road to a lovely gift store that was filled with items from local artists. I bought a small fisherman knot rope trivet and an art card of St John NL which I might at some stage frame. It was of all the brightly coloured houses in the St John harbour.
Hopewell Rocks was only about 10 minutes away so we arrived nicely in time to see the lowest tide. There were several walks from the visitor’s centre most of which led to wooden look out points but we did find a staircase down and were able to walk on the ocean floor. The sea stacks (flower pots) were quite amazing. So many different variations. After the muddy walk I had a quick look inside the Visitor’s centre which had a small interpretive center with information about the Bay of Fundy and the plants and animals in the area. I found the Bay quite beautiful. Funny as it is just mud at low tide but the mud had a pink tinge and that together with several other darker brown colours, the blue sky and distant grey water was quite stunning.
