One of the reasons that we have so much fun in our chosen life is that we avoid all of the normal choices. This morning we were staying in Fundy National Park. A very normal choice for a weekend vacation. But we are here at the end of the season. Our first choice campground was already closed for the season. Nothing special to draw us to the National Park except it was quiet. That is until this morning. I was in the back of the coach when Judy accused me of leaving the door open. Now I was innocent, but still there was this critter in the coach. He was about five inches long and he had a five inch fuzzy question mark for a tail. I rushed in and opened the door but by now our squirrelly friend was bouncing off the walls and headed for the bedroom. I opened the bedroom window wide and after about three circuits of the room including one hop to my chest he escaped out the open window. Whew!
A little later I was outside washing the bugs off the windshield when Judy called for my help again. This time she caught a glimpse of the squirrel as he entered through the steering wheel housing. We shooed him back out quickly, but sometime the critters can get to tame for their own good. Judy plugged up the under dash area with pillows until it was time to leave.
We made our way down the coast about fifty miles to a small town called St. Martin. This is a sleepy little village on the Bay of Fundy. The local restaurant is self-proclaimed for their “World Famous Seafood Chowder.” We had to try it, and it was very good. It had clams, fish and lobster in it, and it was about as thick as mashed potatoes. After lunch we visited a series of sea caves, and they were quite spectacular too. Still it is a small town and rather off the normal tourist route.
Now we were riding Path, the Green Dragon, our faithful tandem bicycle, around town and checking out their covered bridges. After crossing the Irish River on the second bridge we were hailed by a group of local’s at a nearby house. They just couldn’t believe our bicycle and wanted a good look. Before I knew it I had a beer in my hand and we were telling of our trip across Canada, and showing off the bicycle and telling about how we had built it ourselves. Now this group included Neil and Heather, Carol and Uncle Bryan, and Bill. Neil was game to try a ride on Path so Neil and I rode back across the Irish river covered bridge and a block into town and back without crashing once. Then I had a good tour around Uncle Bryan’s shop. His shop is a “Big Daddy” version of my little red trailer. By now we are like long lost friends and Uncle Brian is endorsing and giving Judy an original Jim Walsh Pen and Ink drawing that features himself sitting on a lobster trap rolling a cigarette as the subject. It is called “Smoke Break, The man for all seasons, and haircuts in the village of St Martins.” Jim Walsh is a local artist in St. Martins. The artwork is fantastic and it captures the essence of Uncle Brian’s character and personality.
Path was sure soaking up the attention too. On the return trip to Arcturus, he fairly flew over the first hill and swooped back through town on the way to find the internet access at the local school. Now I sit here composing this. I am looking out the front window over the Bay of Fundy. Those caves we checked out this afternoon are half full of water a kilometer to our left. Across the Bay of Fundy we are looking at Nova Scotia and the Digby Peninsula where we visited nearly two months ago.
You just don’t need lavish hotels and spectacular casinos to have fun. What can opulent cruise ships or fantasy theme parks offer that will match making new friends in a small village in New Brunswick. Life is a Journey; enjoy it one day at a time; where ever you are, what ever you are doing.
Judy and I close with love for all of you. Good bye for now.
