Thursday August 10, 2017

CNC Beaubears Island

We are not in a big rush today and sleep in a little later than normal. This has us downstairs for breakfast at 0830. Today we are offered. eggs, bacon, blueberry muffins, and coffee. We start out with a granola and fruit parfait. We are being spoiled with the Bed and breakfast thing. We had pretty much packed the car before breakfast so when we are done, we are on the road in no time. It is a grueling 10 minute drive to Beaubers Island. Well it is not quite the island itself, but the visitor center for it. We pay a fee for the boat ride to the island, a guided tour and admittance to the small museum. It is a beautiful morning and our guide Tyler tells us about the history of the island as we walk around the former settlement. In the 1750’s the Acadians were expelled from Nova Scotia by the British. Charles des Champs de Bolshebert led a group of refugees here where they set up an encampment in 1755.The British Navy destroyed the settlement in 1760. In the 18th century the island became an important lumber and shipbuilding center.

Tomb of John Russell’s Children

We also found a tie to the Mormons as one of the owners Joseph Russell converted to Mormonism in 1840. Seven of his children died and were entombed on the island. Mr. Russell moved to Utah in 1752. After our tour we decide to walk the trail around the island. It turns out to be a little over 3 miles. We are happy to get our exercise in and get a bonus of spotting a small snake along the way. It is a nice walk and when we are done, we call them up and the boat comes over to get us.

Hiking Beaubears Island

The rest of our day entails a 4 hour drive to Edmundston. We drive along a very lightly traveled road through the hills and mountains of the area. It is thickly wooded and as we are driving we spot something in the road ahead of us. Our first moose is spotted. I slow and try to get closer as we are still roughly ¾ of a mile from it. Then a calf comes onto the road with mom and they walk along the road away from us. As we get closer, they disappear into the thick brush. We try to spot them but we cannot see them. Still we are excited as we expected to see lots of moose but it just hasn’t been in the cards. We arrive in Edmundston and we are staying at the Happy Motel. The Sad Motel just didn’t seem to be the right fit for us so here we are. Carol gets to do laundry which somehow makes her happy and I write. Before we did either, we went to a Chinese restaurant for dinner. Not the best, not the worst but then this town had very little options. We are also just across the border from Madawaska, Maine. We have been traveling for almost 3 weeks since we left Maine and apparently haven’t gone far. Tomorrow we enter another province so guess which one it is. Good night.

Expenses                                                                                                                             Beaubear Island 30 CAD                                                                                                            Gas 36 CAD                                                                                                                                  Queens Buffet dinner 42.33 CAD                                                                                       Happy Motel 103.50