July 18 & 19 - Quebec City to Fredericton & Bay of Fundy, N.B.

The last few days have been spent travelling from Quebec City to New Brunswick.  The air along the road smells amazing - like a thousand Christmas trees all at once.  They take good care of their roads as well and it was smooth riding all the way.  We arrived in Fredericton and spent the night then headed for the Bay of Fundy Tuesday morning.  Ever since I was a little girl and I saw those pictures of people walking on the ocean floor and then kayaking later on, I have wanted to see that.  Walter and I went to see about kayaking at the Flower Pot rocks but the couple in front of us got the last two spots!!  He missed it by "two minutes" and complained for about 10 minutes until I straightened him out about complaining on holidays.  Walking on the floor of the ocean on the beach was beyond awesome and very, very cool.  It lived up to our expectations in every single way. We took a shot of Walter with the moose because everyone we talk to who has been travelling across the country, no one has seen a moose.  Even all those people who are cycling across and have seen countless animals - no one has seen a moose.  So when we see the "Caution Moose" signs along the highways in all the provinces,we have to chuckle to ourselves!!

Beautiful rolling hills in New Brunswick.

St. John River, New Brunswick

On the road with more fantastic scenery.

Sign says it all!!

On the ocean floor - very, very cool.

Alma Beach while the Bay of Fundy comes back in.

Shells left exposed on the ocean floor at the Bay of Fundy

Low tide and the boats are stranded.

Only moose we have seen along the way!!  LOL!!



The Bay in the distance.



Flower Pot rocks at Hopewell Rocks, New Brunswick

Walter and Noreen at Hopewell Rocks.

Hopewell rocks with high tide.

High tide at the Flowe Pot rocks.



July 17, Quebec City, Quebec

We left home on Saturday morning and headed east.  We stayed at our friend's Helen and Jim's place in Long Sault but only got to see Jim for about 20 minutes before he left for work.  Did not see Helen or her girls.  :(  Sunday morning we headed to Quebec to have breakfast with our friend Donalda.  Walter was a little disappointed that his "cigar smoking" friend was not there to enjoy a big fat Cuban.  Did not see Donalda's kids either.  We headed off to hook up with Walter's sister Gabriele and her husband Regent who are joining us for the remainder of our trip.  The four of us stayed in Quebec City and spend the afternoon and evening walking the streets of Quebec City and admiring the fantastic architecture that is so unique to that area of Canada. 

Walter, Gabriele and Regent outside the Hotel Acadia inside Quebec City.

Walter's big gun!!

Boardwalk at Chateau Frontenac by the river.

Looking up the street from our hotel.

Beautiful architecture.



July 12th - Sault Ste. Marie to Home!!

It was a very long day today.  We travelled a total of 11 hours to make it home with lots and lots and lots of stops along the way.  It was very hot on the bike and driving in Toronto on it was a drag.  After 4779 kilometres, we have made it home safe and sound and actually on our 25th wedding anniversary!!  We were very happy to see our kids and are now at home spending a few days with them.  Look for us at the beginning of next week when we travel to Quebec and beyond to Newfoundland.  We are excited!!

Beautiful river near Sault Ste. Marie.

Lots and lots and lots of rock in Sudbury.

July 11th - Thunder Bay to Sault Ste. Marie

This morning in Thunder Bay we went for a long run along a beautiful path near a small river.  The air was amazing, you could really feel the clean air in your lungs.  Fantastic!!  We stopped just outside of Thunder Bay at the Terry Fox Memorial.  There was just us and one other couple there who did not stay long.  It was a very nice moment.  He still remains an inspiration to so many all these years later.  Then we battled fog along the way for almost the whole day.  It was very unfortunate because I was really looking forward to enjoying the shore of Lake Superior with it's rocky shore line in places.  We came around the corner on the bike just east of Marathon and came across another black bear.   This one was WALKING across the highway and Walter had to come to an almost a complete stop.  It was very cool but only because we had a quick get away!!!  And in Marathon I had put away my camera because I did not want it getting damp from the fog.  Figures.

The view of Lake Superior from Terry Fox Memorial

Terry Fox Memorial just east of Thunder Bay.

Terry Fox Memorial

Me at the Terry Fox Memorial.  A real Canadian HERO.

Lake Superior just outside of Thunder Bay.

This shot is for Din - Din!!

Fog coming across Lake Superior.

Lots of fog on the way to Sault Ste. Marie.  

July 10th, Winnipeg to Thunder Bay Ontario

This morning on the highway near the Manitoba/Ontario border, a black bear ran across the highway.  He was about 200 metres in front of us and he was moving.  Very cool.  Walter and I went to the Canadian Mint while in Winnipeg and saw where our nickels and pennies are made and coins for other countries as well.  Production only runs from Monday to Friday so we did not get to actually see the production but we looked around.  They have a solid gold bar that is heavy and is worth $500,000 so Walter lifted it - it's on a chain - I took the shot and the security guard watched.  When we stopped for coffee in Dryden, ON., we met a Harley couple from Conneticut who had come up through Montreal and were heading for .....Alaska......and then back!!  Some people really know how to ride and go the distance!!  DAMN!!!  Arrived in Thunder Bay safely and will go for a nice run in the morning to stretch our muscles.




Walter lifting a solid gold bar worth half a million dollars at the Winnipeg Canadian Mint.



Me at the Canadian Mint

Winnipeg Canadian Mint

All those flags in front of the Mint represent countries for which we make their coins at this location.

One of the spectacular lakes we passed in northern Ontario.



Sketch motel in Upsala, ON. that we have spoke about to our kids!!  LOL!!





July 9, Moose Jaw to Winnipeg, Manitoba

Today we headed from Saskatchewan to Winnipeg.  It was another beautiful, sunny day again and we seemed to have the road to ourselves.  We noticed that about 90% of the land on the way was occupied by farmers.  That is a lot of food they must contribute.  And because there was not a lot to do, I started counting wheat cars on trains and the most I counted was 151 cars on one train.  We stopped in Brandon, Manitoba and saw all the sandbagging the army he.lped with.  It is pretty serious and everywhere we drove in Regina the Assiniboine River looked high.  Scary.

 

Wheat silo in Saskatchewan

The open road to Regina

Two different colours in the same field - Regina



The Assiniboine River flooding in Brandon, Manitoba



Those sand bags are about 10 feet high

Walter in Winnipeg - 2554 kms into it!!!

That sign speaks for itself.



They have lost the field and the stands



July 8, Calgary to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

Spent some wonderful time with Watler's mom, dad, sister Rosemary, brother Rob, Zoe, Josh, Jessica and Matthew.  On Friday, we headed for Saskatchewan after a nice rest.  It was quite windy on the road so I was not able to take as many photos as I would have liked.  It was hard to keep the camera still in the wind.  The province is spectacular and the wheat fields are beautiful.  You can see the sky go on for ever and ever, it is amazing. I thought some of the flatness would be tedious but it was not.  On towards Winnipeg tomorrow.

Zoe and Jessica enjoying a swing

Josh and Jenn



Walter and Rosemary in Rob's back yard.

Rob and I shooting some Tequila

Beautiful field in Saskatchewan