July 14, 15, 16, and 17, 2025

 

  July 14th, 2025

 Our border crossing  back to the U. S. went smoothly, taking only a few minutes.  We were asked where we came from in Canada, if we had fresh fruits and vegetables, and why our plates said Ohio, when we were from Florida (newly purchased RV).  He came aboard looking for additional people (trafficking?) and then bid us on our way.  We stayed in Lilly Bay Campground, ME. 

July 15, 2025

After doing laundry in a town along the way, we headed toward Freeport, ME where we spent the night in the LL Bean free RV parking lot.  We were able to arrange a meet-up with Jessica, Leah, Lorraine and Dan, since Jess and Leah had just landed for a week with her parents at their camp in Maine.  

Leah loves climbing just like her dad did when he was that age.

July 16, 2025

  What a treat to visit with our former Dunedin neighbor, Andy Spezzano in South Effingham, NH.  We spent the afternoon reminiscing and telling life stories, and later Andy cooked burgers for us.  We spent the night in the camper in his daughter Nancy's parking area next door.  It was a short, but fun visit and Andy looks great. 

 July 17, 2025

We had a short day of driving to our overnight spot in Fort Dummer State Park Campground, VT.  This park is named for Fort Dummer, a frontier fort that became a permanent European settlement. It was built on the frontier in 1724 and named after William Dummer, the lieutenant governor of Massachusetts. Compared to our other campgrounds, this one was pricy at $38.00 and there is nothing special here (no electricity in any of these northeastern RV sites)

July 12, 2025 and July 13, 2025

  July 12, 2025 (Saturday)

  Today we drove along the south side of the St. Lawrence Seaway through a myriad of towns.  Each one had a silver steepled church.  Because it was Saturday, there were many bicyclists along the route causing traffic to slow.  This area is tourist-oriented with many small bed and breakfasts. 

July 13/2025  Walmart to Walmart  La Poca Tiere to St. Georges de Beauce

We headed southwest, away from the St. Lawrence to the U.S. border town of St. Georges.  Along the way, when we pulled in for fuel, there were several electric vehicles in charging stations.  This couple had the right idea.  If you have to wait, you may as well make yourselves comfortable. 

Tomorrow we cross the border.  We've heard the process takes much longer than it did in the past.  We will see.

July 10 and 11, 2025

   July 10, 2025 

Back on the Acadian trail which we've been following since we entered New Brunswick.  

Here is an example of the signs for the trail.

 We camped at Sugarloaf Ski Resort for the night.  In summer, the slopes are turned into bicycle lifts and trails.  There were lots of healthy looking families with some high-end bikes.  And of course they rented bikes, too.

July 11, 2025

Some pics along the way as we headed for Quebec Gaspésie National (Provincial) Park.

path to the waterfall

water rushing toward the St. Lawrence

Pics below were taken in St. Anne Des Monts

Marina

boulders surrounding the marina

 

St. Anne church

 We found a restaurant, Le Pecheur,  in Grosses-Roches that allows overnight parking if you eat in their restaurant.  It was quite an experience, because the waitress spoke no English, nor did most of the patrons.  One nice lady came over and offered to help with the menu.  She spoke perfect English.  We also used Google translator!  Two more days in Quebec and then we head back to Maine. 

July 9, 2025

 July 9, 2025  Second day at Escuminac Beach

Late afternoon we took our lawn chairs and headed for the beach where we watched families enjoying the water and the sandy beach.  This grandma (Mimi) had the patience of a Saint with her two grandchildren and others who stopped by to play.  

This statue in the nearby town commemorates the 1959 hurricane that started in Tampa Bay and got worse as it headed north.  Thirty-five fishermen on multiple boats were caught off-guard in the 50 foot waves and drowned.  

  

   

July 8, 2025

 July 8, 2025

 Kouchibouguac Campground to Escuminac Beach Campground (New Brunswick)

Ron researched and found this private campground on the beach.  It is a small privately owned campground with several access points to the beach, an office and a laundry facility.  They have 2 washers and 2 dryers in a small attached building and were perfect for our needs.  The office even had ice cream!  We will be here 2 nights.  The weather is perfect!!

   

July 4, 5, 6, and 7, 2025

  July 4th

Lake Ainslie to Chiticamp.

We planned to attend Kitchen Fest at the Doryman, so we arrived in town early.  The Doryman appeared to be very busy, so we arrived for dinner at 6pm even though Kitchen Fest was 8-11.  After getting a table, a group of old and middle-aged drunken golfers arrived.  They were so loud, we had to find a different place to sit.  The stayed until about 8:30 and continued to be loud and obnoxious.  We stayed until 10pm and then headed out to the parking lot where we were given permission for an overnight stay.

Tonight's performers

July 5th

After a stormy night and morning, we headed back to St. Peters, where we planned to attend the last night of Kitchen Fest at McBouch's.  We stopped by early afternoon to get a reservation for the evening, and they were completely booked, so we headed back to the campground and then attended church at 5:30 at St. Peter's.  Nancy and Pierre were there so we decided to head to Lonnie's for dinner.  It was great to have a relaxing evening catching up with them.  (photos:  St. Peter Church and deer in the campground)

July 6th

We drove from St. Peter's to Amhearst Shores Camp Ground.  We had rain all night, so no pics. 

July 7th

Amhearst Shores CG to Kouchibouguac National Park Campground.  Because the new Prime Minister has altered the national park requirements this summer, there was no entry fee and we received 25% off of our campsite, so we paid $16.86 US.  Pics show our lunch stop along the way on the Straights of Northumberland. (photos are not clear due to rain) We had heavy rain all night.

July 3, 2025 Lake Ainslie Fire Hall

  July 3rd, 2025  Lake Ainslie Fire Hall

 We spent the afternoon in a Provincial Park parking lot waiting for the evening event.  It was about 11 km to the venue in Scottsville.  We arrived early because the parking lot was extremely small and we don't fit easily.  This venue  was completely different from the others we've attended.  The time was later 8-11pm and it was very casual.  Other Kitchen Fest events have been full, but the Fire Hall was only half full of mostly locals.  Most of the events require a minimal cost of $15.  Some charge only $10.  Tonight's musicians were among the best we've seen: Shelly Campbell, Allan Dewar, Kenny Stewart and Heather Cameron.  Each venue has a host who starts the evening by introductions in Gaelic and English and then sings a Gaelic song acapella.  This young woman was exceptional.  She performed several songs throughout the evening and then step danced at the end.  One of the differences with tonight's event was the square dancing.  Wow! Hope the video works!

Hoping the video below works.

July 2, 2025

 July 2, 2025

 Pictured:  Step dancer, Trina, from the story yesterday

 We had lots of time today, so we drove out to an Isle Madame south of St. Peters and pulled over for lunch on a small beach. There were lobster shells all over the beach where someone had cracked the shells and apparently had a great meal.

View from our lunch stop

Church atop a hill 

         Another church view

Entertainment at St. Peters included 3 sisters (keyboard, fiddle, guitar/ singer) who couldn't stop laughing.  They apparently had a great relationship with each other.

Myles Davidson also performed.  He was very good.

July 1st, 2025 Canada Day

 July 1st, 2025

There were a number of celebrations going on in St. Peters.  We attended the Lion's Club picnic where there was free entertainment and free food!  Events for the kids were available, too.  We joined Nancy, Pierre and their good friends for part of the afternoon.  Pierre was also working the food stand, so he was busy.  

Nancy on the left and their good friends

Pierre

  The Kitchen Fest entertainers:  guitarists, accordion, percussion and vocals.  Our waitress came out and did a wonderful step dance.  After the evening was over, she shared her story with Ron and me.  Her daughter in her 20s is in the military and began having some brain issues.  She was tested and they found 2 aneurysms. Since she was so young, the doctors suggested that it was most likely hereditary and that all of her family should be tested.  Her mom saw a doctor who immediately ordered an MRI.  The Canadian medical system, unlike ours, made her wait 1 year before the MRI could be done.  She was found to have 4 aneurysms in her brain. Both the mom and daughter have had some surgeries, but the mom, our waitress, continues too have issues.  She told us she'd been step dancing her entire life and was so afraid she could never dance again.  But she's grateful she can still dance and teach others. Tried to upload a photo of the  step dancer, but the file was too large.

beautiful accordion

unique percussion

This performer recently won a big award

Aaron McDonald

June 30th, 2025 Broad Creek Campground to St. Peter

 

June 30, 2025

We got a late start, so we didn't arrive in St. Peter until 3:30pm.  We signed in at the campground, purchased groceries and headed for Bras d Or Lake Inn for Kitchen Fest.  We were joined by another couple who also had agreed to share their table.  Little did we know we had so much in common. By the end of the evening, we were good friends.  

Emil and Elaine Roach live in Sydney and have a 140 year old cabin near St. Peter. Emil was a high school science teacher and later worked at a college (similar to my story). We mentioned that we had friends who live here but spend winter months in Dunedin.  When I said their names (Pierre and Nancy Lacroix), Emil said, I was their children's teacher.  He mentioned that Pierre was in a men's choir, and I told him it was through choir in Dunedin that we met Pierre.  One more similarity:  Emil was a cyclist who did long rides in the Maritimes for many years. We told them that Ron and I met through cycling.  What a small world to find so many similarities.

Typical scenery

Ferry Ride

All signs are English and Gaelic

Great entertainment

Emil and Elaine