McLobsters - July 22

Every year the Halifax Waterfront area hosts the Tall Ships Festival.  We had planned our trip – both the original and the amended – to make sure we were in the city for this renowned festival.  At the festival you can buy wristbands that allow you access onto the tall ships.  Not to go on a ride but to tour the ships, ask questions and see how impressive these massive ships are.  And impressive they were.  Using thousands of meters of rope and pure muscle to raise and lower the sails, these ships race in the waters every July.  Definitely a sight to see if you are in the area.

The Festival was also host to Taste of Nova Scotia.  A chance to try some local cuisine.  They also featured a culinary stage with their special guest Anna Olson.  We had to stop!  The kids love watching her shows on the FoodNetwork and were so excited to hear her share a recipe and some baking tips.  The autograph session was quite thrilling.  I knew my kids were foodies but Dad was a little weirded out at how interested the kids were in watching a cooking show.

The waterfront area is also home to Pier 21 or the Immigration Museum.  This is where millions of new immigrants entered the country, where thousands of soldiers left to go war, where lives were changed forever.  It was neat to see what a role this area played to so many new immigrants and it was a good conversation starter for the kids to ask Dad about his immigration experience.  While not as scary as some of the experiences discussed in these rooms, it was good for the kids to hear about our personal history as well.

By the time we closed Pier 21 it was already 530 and we had walked the length of the waterfront.  We still had to go back to the ferry terminal so we could head home.  On the way we decided to stop for a famous Sugah confection.  Hand churned ice cream with our favourite mixin' really how can you go wrong?

Then, we figured we may as well try the last delicacy we had heard about in the Maritimes - the McLobster.  This treat is only available in the Maritimes during a short period of time and the kids (especially Navras) really wanted to try it! 

As you can see he was NOT impressed.  After all the amazing lobster dinners we have been having the McLobster was a poor cousin and one that will not be invited back to our table again!

Peggy's Cove and More! - July 21

We left our campsite early in the morning with the intent of getting to Lunenburg, which according to the locals is over 2 hours away.  Our first stop – Peggy’s Cove.  This old lighthouse is an icon for Nova Scotia.  Any photo you see will feature this red topped lighthouse.  We had been warned by MANY people that Peggy’s Cove is always freezing cold and to be sure to bring jackets.  We packed our coats into the truck but when we got to the Cove the weather was AMAZING!  Even I, who is always cold, was OK without a coat on. 

This area is beautiful.  Granite rocks of all shapes and sizes, the ocean waves spraying onto onlookers who get too close and the sunshine.  It was a sight to behold.  I had been warned this was a place to give mothers heart attacks since the kids jump from rock to rock and sure enough that is what happened.  They loved it and I enjoyed sitting and soaking up the rays.  What a great way to spend the morning. 

From here we left and got to see a rare sight – a traffic jam!  There was an incident on the highway so we had to be detoured back onto the scenic highway which we then took to Lunenburg.  Lunenburg is quite famous for the Bluenose.  This is where the famous ship was launched and where the Bluenose II is currently being restored.  It was supposed to be quite close to finished (or already done) but it is not quite done.  We managed to find a little local shop that has photos and painting of the stages of restoration.  And, we managed to find a local distillery that makes local vodka and liqueurs.  With free samples it was hard to say no to the Raspberry Liqueur they were featuring.

Here I gave the kids an option – either have local food here or wait til we got back to Dartmouth and have it at the recommended restaurant near our campground.   They decided on a chips and dip tailgate party for now! 

We ended up stopping at the Micmac restaurant which was fantastic.  The service was great and the waitress managed to give us a couple platters which let us taste a lot of local fare.  Everything from local lobster, fried clams, and pan fried scallops.  YUM.

Medical Procedures on the Waterfront - July 20

It was an exciting day today – it was the day was I was suppose to get my stitches out.  We drove to Halifax and stayed at the campsite for a while to do laundry and check out the Shubie Beach.  The kids liked the chance to play in the water.

Finally, it was time to go to Halifax.  We decided to take the ferry to make it easier to find parking and not worry about taking the toll bridge to Halifax.  The ferry was fun!  We went to the top of the ferry and got our first glimpse of the tall ships in the Halifax harbour.

When we arrived in Halifax, we met Tara and Evan.  They are friends of my sisters who moved here a few years ago.  They suggested we come across to watch a movie on the waterfront.  It was so much fun.  They brought hot chocolate, snacks and blankets!  We watched Pirates of the Caribbean surrounded by tall ships and pirates!

After the movie, we went to a well lit spot and Tara expertly removed my 2 stitches.  Gotta love medical care in such sterile surroundings!  LOL. 

My foot is getting much better.   It still swells if I do too much but it’s much better.  At least I have been able to do everything we have wanted to do – climbing stairs, walking waterfronts – not letting a small thing like a broken foot get in the way of my holiday!  THANKS TARA!

Hopewell Rocks - July 19

We left early in the morning so we could ‘do’ magnetic hill in Moncton and get to Bay of Fundy by the high tide.  I have to say I was a little disappointed at Magnetic Hill.  It was a neat spot to see and try but can you say commercial?  They sure have done a great job at marketing the area.   I wish we would have had time to enjoy the water park that is there because after 5 minutes we were ready to hit and road again.

When Dad had come to the Bay of Fundy about 8 years ago there was very little in the area.  Nothing to eat, few places to stay etc.  We decided we should grab some picnic items but in the end it wasn’t necessary.  The Bay of Fundy area is so developed.  They have fantastic walkways, a shuttle service for some of us who can’t get around too easily, and a nice little visitor centre area.  It was amazing.  We got there in time for high tide and got to see how high the water was in the area.  The rocks were covered and there was a group of kayakers taking advantage of the high waters.  By the time we walked to the other side of the park the water had already started to come down.  And, even though it wasn’t safe to go far onto the ocean floor the security chain as opened and we got to step out to the bottom of the Bay of Fundy. 

How amazing, the kids stepped into the water, Arjun started picking rocks and I started snapping photos of the Hopewell Rocks! Even in the ½ hour we were down at the Bay of Fundy the water receded quite considerably. We decided to take an hour, get our picnic lunch and then come back to walk the ocean floor. In just that one hour, the water was gone so far out. We walked almost to the other side of the park on the rocks and the sand of the ocean floor. This is so amazing to see the tidal bore. Both Shanti and Arjun loved playing in the mud and it was so funny to see Navras, the exact opposite, avoiding the mud and washing it off ASAP if he did get any on him! By the time we left again the tide was almost at it’s lowest level. What a fantastic site to visit.

 

On our way home, we decided to stop at a local pizza shop – Zio's Pizza.  WOW!  Yummy pizza, nice people and great cannolli. If you get to Moncton it is worth a stop!

VR Here! - July 17

We decided this morning would be a good day to walk around downtown St. John’s and just check out the local shops, get some tourist shopping in and maybe grab some traditional lunch.  We managed to find parking quickly and start hitting the shops.  The kids like a few things there but I have to say I found a favourite item – the row house mailboxes.  These colourful tall houses are a sight to see in St. John’s.  Originally, they were made so fisherman would look up and see their homes through the fog and the rain.  Now, they are an attraction in the city.  Many local shops feature locally crafted items showcasing the colours.  I couldn’t resist and had to have one of these pricey little souvenirs to take home!

We also decided to stop at a local fish and chip shop – the Celtic House – for an early lunch.  We tried a very Newfoundland dish – the Jig’s dinner.  It was GOOD!  It is basically boiled vegetables and meat and is made in many homes on Sunday evenings.  Now, I need to find a recipe to cook it at my house since the kids loved it.

After lunch, we had to move the trailer into overflow parking in the campsite.  We wanted to leave it plugged in as long as we could since the ferry is quite long.  That’s the sort of thing you have to keep track of when you are with a trailer – parking in certain spots can be harder to find and then making sure you get service.  

We likely would have found parking at our next destination the Geo Centre.  It is a science centre which is built into a bowl shaped creation which they just covered and developed into a science centre.  Some interesting exhibits on the rocks of the area.  Arjun has really gotten into rocks and learning about them so he quite enjoyed the whole thing.  We also got to watch 2 3D movies as part of our admission which were quite neat too.

Once we left the Geo Centre (yes we did close it down as well) we decided to do a stop at Cape Spear.  The Cape is the most easterly point of North America.  As we were driving there the fog started to roll in and we were worried that it would start raining and hamper our visit.  Luckily, it was just fog. But, as we were told by the Parks Canada staff, Cape Spear is always colder and foggier than the city.  We walked the over 200 steps to the old lighthouse and got to hear the new fog horn warning nearby ships about the dangers.  We couldn’t see Signal Hill but knew it was there in the distance!  And, here I think I can safely answer the question RVTHEREYET? with a firm YES!  A few years ago we went to Powell River where the TransCanada literally disappears into the Pacific Ocean.  Here it may not be the official start of the highway but it is the official start of Canada!  We made it to the other side of the country literally!  From here it will the trip home.

I know I have said so many times that I will likely never come back to this part of the country again and that is true.  I will likely never do it in this fashion again.  Not that I wouldn’t do it in a trailer – really it is so much cheaper than getting a hotel room or B & B’s but never again with the kids in tow and Dad driving us around!  I would love to come back again but we will see where life takes us.

Right now, life was taking us to Argentia – to the ferry back to North Sydney and on our way home.

July 18

That was a LONG ferry.  We left the port at midnight and didn’t get off the ferry until after 330.  We didn’t book a cabin since they only come in 4 berths and are quite pricy but it was a long ride.  The other ferry was much more comfortable but this was just so much more convienent.  We drove as far we could with the intent of making it to Moncton by the 19^th and ended up stopping at the Gateway Campground in Amherst.  Unless they do some major upgrades, i would not recommend it.  Still, it was a place to stay and leave the trailer so we could enjoy the Moncton area.

I Think VR Here - July 16

A friend had told me that if I have questions about what to see in Newfoundland to just ask – most Newfies brag about their local sites and that was certainly the case!  The campsite owner told us to skip Elliston – the road was not great to get to it – but to head to Cape Bonavista instead.  As well, they told us to stop and drive through this little community called Trinity.  They also offered to let us leave the trailer behind since we would have to drive right by their campground on the way back to the highway!  What nice people and what good advice.

You might be wondering why did we want to stop in this little community of Elliston in the first place?  Well, it is one of the few places to see puffins!  This area of Newfoundland is one of the few places in North America to see the cute little birds.  And, it was one of things the kids and I had talked about seeing on this trip.  It was quite coincidental actually Elliston was planning their annual puffin fest later this week so we knew we were on the right track.

Cape Bonavista did not disappoint.  We walked over a few rocks and right up to a chain link fence which overlooked a rock just a few meters away full of puffins.  The birds were flying around, you could see them so close.  Plus, we were right along the ocean and even got to see 2 whales in the water!  What a thrill for all of us. 

And then, as a bonus, we got to see the local lighthouse.  They have the original lighthouse restored to the 1860’s and have many things inside from that time period.  We climbed up the steps and watched how they had to lift the weights to the top of the building and then as they slowly went down the rope the lights of the lighthouse would turn.  We also learned about the different colours and timings of the lights and how those were like early GPS coordinates for ships.   The Cape is also home to a working lighthouse and we met the lightkeeper.  A nice man who had just started his 28 day shift!  He was kind enough to show us some of his photos and paintings which is what he does in his spare time at the lighthouse.

From here we took the road back to the campsite, picked up the trailer and headed off to St John’s.  We made pretty good time getting into the city by 5 and had already reserved a spot in the only campground within city grounds – Pippy Park!  It gave us enough time to go to Signal Hill.  It was breathtaking to see the view and the history that happened on this hilltop.  Hard to believe the first wireless communication took place just over 100 years ago.  As we were on the hill I was receiving texts and it is hard to believe how far we have come from those first few words heard by Marconi.

Standing on the top of the building the winds picked up.  I felt like Arjun would be taken away any minute that’s how strong the winds were blowing.  Apparently, this is not an unusual occurrence.  In fact, they have closed the building in the past because the winds are dangerously strong.  A reminder to anyone who plans to visit the area to bring a jacket and good shoes.  There are beautiful trails that you can walk but that are not really recommended for energetic kids (a nice way to say not very good listeners)!  I don’t know if I would have been up to doing the trails even with 2 good feet but it was definitely out of the question with a boot on.  RV There Yet?  It sure feels like it.  Edge of the world.  All the worries are far away.  A true understanding just how big our country is.....  Priceless feeling.

Driving to St John's - July 15

We left our campsite by 930 and went to the James Cook Historic Site.  It was so quiet on the streets of Corner Brook.  All the stores were closed, no restaurants seemed open, there was only a handful of cars on the road.  So quiet.  So peaceful.  We got to the Historic Site and it was beautiful.  We were quite high on the mountain and could see the whole town.  The mountains reflected in the water made you feel small and insignificant in the world.

The Historic Site itself was quite small but a good little stop.  It talked of the history of Captain James Cook who mapped the area around Newfoundland.  His maps, made with older technology, are so accurate.  Very impressive to see what was done and how.  I have to say I was very glad Dad was driving – the steep hills and pulling a trailer.  It was a little daunting!

We left Corner Brook and headed towards the Elliston area.  This is a little off shoot from Route 1.  All the little communities in Newfoundland are built like that.  One main road from one end of the island to the other, with little roads to get you other areas of the province.  They all have named trails and for most it is one way in and one way out.  We drove through the Terra Nova National park and took the road heading to Cape Bonavista.  Our campsite was great – right along the water.  The people had just purchased it this year and were still getting set up.  They had done a nice job with the campground.  No Wifi again but it was a beautiful site to stop at for the night.

Heading to Nfld - July 14

Boy did it ever rain last night.  We seemed to have a little leak on the one side of the trailer but it wasn’t too bad.  We really haven’t had to deal with rain till now so haven’t had any issues.  I will have to check into that when we get home.  It was great timing though – the rain stopped just in time for us to get everything packed up and ready to go and then started again as we waited in the line for the ferry! 

It cost us over $350 to get on the ferry with our 40 foot load (truck plus trailer) and us five people.  The Marine Atlantic ferry we were on was quite nice.  A newer ferry with lots of amenities on board.  We had brought some snacks on board for the 6 hour voyage but hadn’t planned on much more than that.  Next to us, some more experienced ferry riders had brought a cooler with lots of food and drinks!  We will have to remember that for next time!  We did have lunch on board the ferry – a great meal actually and not that pricey considering where you are.  The snack bar was much worse – 2 slices of bread for $2! 

We finally made it to Port aux Basques around 4 pm Newfoundland time and decided to head to Corner Brook.  Only about 2 hours away but we had been warned MANY times not to drive at night on the Rock.  There a plenty of moose here and they seem to come out at night.  One woman told me of seeing almost 75 moose in one hour on the roads!  Better to be safe.

Weighted Down - July 13

We had big plans for today – heading to the Ferry Harbour.  But, before we could do that we did a little side trip to Parrsboro.  This is a little town with the Fundy Geological Museum.  It was a neat little museum but what was really cool was the fact that when we pulled in the water was higher and just over an hour later it was already noticeably lower.  This area apparently has even higher tides than the Bay of Fundy because of how their bay is shaped but they have not marketed it as well as the Moncton area has.  We went to a local beach where the kids picked up enough rocks to weigh down their pants.  That’s the joy of having a trailer though.  We have plenty of room to bring them all home.  No weight restrictions for the kids for sure!

From here we took the scenic route to get to North Sydney thanks to our GPS!  Took a little longer than expected but it was beautiful.  Right along the oceanfront for much of the trip.  Even the trip up to North Sydney was amazing – going on the opposite side of the water as the Cabot Trail.  The entrance to the Cabot Trail was from this route and while we had debated doing the Trail we decided that it may not be as interesting for the kids.  The Cabot Trail is all about nature, scenery, and different rock formations.  While it would be of interest for a few minutes they would likely be more interested in their game systems for the most part!  In the end, they are still kids.

We stopped at the Arm of Gold Campground.  This is a great little campground just minutes from the ferry.  It really caters to people getting on and off the ferry so their rates were very reasonable but their facilities were clean and the people nice.  You can’t ask for more than that really!

Time for Goodbye to PEI - July 12

Overnight, we stopped early at the Charlottetown campsite so we could get some laundry done.  It’s a fact of life that we need time for that as well. It’s funny because while I knew that and brought the soap with me, I hadn’t actually planned laundry days.  For anyone planning something like this a piece of advice – either bring EVERYTHING that is machine wash and dry or plan a few hours in a campsite so you can get that necessary thing don’t as well.  The kids didn’t mind an early stop though.  The campground had an Olympic sized pool plus a secluded beach – how can you beat that?

We decided to head out early so we could see everything in Charlottetown before crossing over the bridge again!  Our first stop was the Provincial Buildings.  They are the smallest province so it is fitting that they have the smallest provincial buildings.  But, they are also of much significance.  This is where the idea of Canada came into being.  When the Fathers of Confederation met and socialized and discussed the idea of one nation under a federal government.  Canada is such a young country so it was neat to see and hear the stories.  Charlottetown takes a lot of pride in being the place where Canada was born.  They do many re-enactments which are worth taking the time to stop and see.  We loved ‘meeting’ John A MacDonald.

And, then a thrill for the kids.  Remember when we couldn’t make it to Deja Bu?  Well, we made up for it.  We decided to stop at a local place – WaterPrince Corner Shop and guess what?   It had been featured on You Gotta Eat Here on May 9^th!  The kids were so excited.  The food was good but I think it tasted better for them because it had the thumbs up from the FoodNetwork!

Our next stop was the Cows Factory.  We had been waiting to see the Cows Factory for a while.  The kids were excited about getting T-shirts, having another ice cream before heading back over the Bridge.  The shop was nice and big – lots of options.  We got another Anne chocolate, some Raspberry Cordial and our ice cream.  But, the tour?  Not worth it.  It was so short and so pricy – I would rather spend the money on buying more ice cream (or cheese which they also make).  Live and learn.

With our bellies full of ice cream, it was time to head back over the Confederation Bridge and say goodbye to PEI.  The toll bridge was a little too fast for me and before we knew it, we were on our way to Nova Scotia.

I M Anne - July 11

In the morning, we packed up and hit the road again.  Just down the road there is a little attraction called the Bottle House.  We decided to stop there and check it out.   With a trailer being pulled though, we realized we couldn’t pull into their little parking lot so we just pulled over to the side of the road!  You have to love it when you can pull over and just stop with no one getting upset.  It’s a laid back life out here!

The Bottle Houses were so neat.  It is being run by the daughter of the man who many all these houses made with reclaimed bottles.  He made a church, a little house, and a bar area!  The bottles looked like stained glass.  It was a cute little stop for sure!

We went from here to another little community where we had heard they had great lobster dinners.  Despite the fact that Dad doesn’t eat meat he was OK with us stopping here and having a unique PEI dinner.  We had the lobster dinner and some local PEI fare – a meat pie, corn and chicken soup, and pork served with molasses.  It was good but I think the favourite was the lobster for sure!  Sadly, the kids love the expensive foods.

After lunch, it was time to head to Avonlea.  The community has really been built up around the storybook heroine.  They have restored the home of the author – LM Montgomery – and created a little village to bring the stories to life.   I was so excited.  This part of the trip is for me!  Navras and Shanti have read the book but they didn’t fall in love with it like I did.  As soon as we got in the kids spotted a Cows Creamery!  After hearing for weeks about how great the ice cream was here where do you think they wanted to go first?  Yup – time for ice cream but double yup – it was worth it!

And, when we came outside – who did I see but two girls walking across the street.  Anne and Diana!!!!!  I had to have my photo taken with the girls.  They asked me about my unfortunate incident and compared it to when Anne jumped off the roof of the barn and twisted her ankle.  The actors here are great – keeping in character all the time.  Rachel Lynde told me I should be careful and should have taken my horse instead!  We listened to local music, watched oyster shucking, won a potato sack race, took part in the parade, and had some great photo ops!   It still makes me smile to think about how much fun it was.  A definite must for any Anne of Green Gables fan!

Longest Bridge - July 10

We continued on the Acadian Coastline drive and decided to stop at a local grocery store to get some things to have a picnic on the beach!  I was VERY surprised at the cost of the food.  Just a few necessities and a couple of pre-made sandwiches and we were over $75 already.  A local resident told us that groceries here are more than rent for most people.  It was quite shocking and not something I had expected at all.  Regardless, we found our little oasis so the kids could dip their feet into the Gulf of the St Lawrence and experience a salt water beach.  It was great.  The beach was a little rocky and had many crab shells near the water but the kids loved the little sand path they could take into the Gulf.  Even I dipped my good foot into the water and I have to say it wasn’t as cold as I thought it would be.  That may have been since the weather was so warm! 

I was thinking I might get a chance to use my outdoor utility shower today but by the time we walked back to the trailer it was not necessary.

We continued on our way – heading to the Confederation Bridge.  But, before we could get there we had to do a quick stop at the biggest lobster display in Shediac!  How much fun to be ‘caught’ by the lobster!

And, then suddenly, we were there!  We stopped at a little nature centre just before getting onto the bridge.  Everyone was so helpful.  Despite the fact that it was closing, one woman showed us the way to the little museum featuring information on local birds and a tower.  Four stories up and we got an amazing view of the Confederation Bridge.  What a feat to have made something this impressive over the ocean.  It was beautiful to see the arches.   I can finally say I crossed the Confederation Bridge!

The crossing was beautiful – as PEI came into view I can even put into words how I felt.  PEI – this is something I have read about, dreamt about seeing but I never thought it would happen.  I love the idea of PEI.  One of my favourite books as a child was Anne of Green Gables and now I was seconds away from stepping into the same area where it all happened.

We decided to stay in Summerside overnight.  The red sands area and from what I have heard warmer waters.  And, while the water may have been warmer, the mosquitoes were also larger!  We had to come into the trailer fairly early just to keep from being eaten alive.  But, as we were getting set up, some other newbie campers came over and made friends!   I have to say I was glad I had brought an extension cord.  Our new friends told us the plug-ins don’t work very well so you need to have an extension cord, not just the adapter.  Little things you find out as you become an experienced camper!

Acadian Village - July 9

After driving for about four hours we finally arrived in Caraquet’s Acadian Village.  I have to say I love having access to the kitchen in the trailer as we just hopped inside and grabbed a quick sandwich before heading into the village.  They had said the village was quite accessible (which sadly is of importance now) and while at first it didn’t seem so easy to navigate it was fantastic.  It reminded me of Fort Edmonton – everyone dressed in costume telling the tale of the homes they were tending.  It was quite neat as not only were they dressed up but they were actually using the homes – making tea, bread and stews for the workers in the village to enjoy.  The workers were all very good at explaining the Acadian life.  Acadians were originally from France and came into the New Brunswick area which they thought looked like Arcadia and they were called Acadians as a result!  When the British started to rule the area they asked the Acadians to give up their French culture and Catholic religion.  When they refused, many Acadians were deported to wherever and many others fled.  The current residents are all descendants of those Acadians who fled into the woods.  Caraquet shows some of the original homes once Acadians were allowed to own land again.

After shutting down the Village – that does seem to be a trend for us already – we headed off to find a campsite.  As we drove into the local town, we found a restaurant featured on FoodNetwork – Deja Bu.  Unfortunately, it was closed on Mondays so we didn’t get to experience the lobster grilled cheese which we had heard about!  Still it was neat to drive by and see it....  Mental note - next time, plan to go but check their hours of operation!

We finally got to our KOA campsite.  The kids were so excited.  Not only was there a great playground but a pool and a jumpy pillow!  That is just as much fun as the learning part of the trip.  In fact, it’s nice to see so many campgrounds cater to families to allow the kids to release some energy when we stop!

On the Road Again - July 7 - 8

Today, Papa (my dad) arrived from Grande Prairie.   I know how lucky I am to have a family who will come to my rescue when I do silly things.  Dad left home, drove to Edmonton, caught a flight out to Quebec City and was at the campsite by 4 PM on July 8^th.  How nice to see a familiar face.  He is willing to drive us to where we are headed next so I can continue on my once in a lifetime trip with the kids.  So, while it will be different, it will be!  And, it will be great for all of us to spend some time together.  Too bad Mum couldn’t come as well but someone needed to be home to take care of things there!

The first thing we did when Papa arrived was to take Navras to a medi-clinic.  It turns out since I had been a little focused on myself I had let a small tonsil thing turn into a full blown ear infection that needed antibiotics.  After waiting 3 hrs, we were finally seen and received the prescription.  We certainly have used and abused the Quebec health care system haven’t we?  I decided that Quebec City had it in for us and that it was time to head on.

We hadn’t seen the city at all but after all that had happened, I was not in the mood to.  On the morning of July 9^th we left Quebec City and headed to New Brunswick.  We decided to skip the Gaspe Penninsula in the interest of saving a little time.  After all, Papa does have a life to get back to as well!   We drove as far as we could and ended up the Amqui Campground.  Again, campers come through for us – Papa does not have practice backing up the trailer so another person (who was waiting for us to back into our spot so he could get by) offered to do it for us and in less than 2 minutes we were set and ready to have supper.

Despite everything that has happened, I am grateful that I am still able to do as much as I can and enjoy seeing the country with my family.  I am thankful for many things – family, friends and strangers who help and show support along the way.  And, I am hopeful that this trip will be even better than I had planned.  A three generation trip – one which will live in our memories for years to come.

RU Sitting Down - July 5 - 6

Today we left Montreal to head to Quebec City.  We had breakfast with the Soni's first and then went back to the back site to pack up and head out.  On the way, I saw sign for a cheese factory in St. Guillarme.  We turned off the road and went to it.  What a quaint little place!  They were making cheese so we got to see everything happening.  It was a neat to see and of course, we had to buy some freshly made cheese curds as a treat.

We got to our campsite in Quebec city and decided what to do.  I was in a rush to get a few things done so we could get going when the unthinkable happened.  I dropped the stabilizer bar onto my foot.  The kids were scared but they were good.  There was a lot of blood coming from my foot and it hurt like mad.  But, again, campers are amazing people.  Our neighbours came over and helped me out and helped calm the kids down.  Navras got the campground owner who called 911 and I got my first ambulance ride.  They even turned the sirens on for me!  The neighbours kept Shanti and Arjun at home while Navras came with me to the hospital in Levis.  Thank goodness he came because in Quebec City and area very few people speak English so he was a good translator.  Turns out I broke a bone in my foot and the cut was deep enough to need 2 stitches.  Let me tell you it SUCKS.  My once in a lifetime trip has changed drastically. 

I am now in a boot and can put some pressure on my foot but do have crutches as well.  Papa is coming in later today to help us for the next couple of weeks of the trip.  We have been in the campground for the past 2 days - at least there is a great pool and great people here so that is good.  The owner of the campground picked us up from the hospital both days and drove me to get my boot, antibiotics and food for the kids.  We even met a lifeguard (Audrey) who came to hospital as well and she was great - she took the kids to see LMFAO last night (July 6)!  There was no way I would have been able to walk all that far yet so it was good she went.  The kids had a great time.

Driving to Old Montreal - July 4

Today was a busy day.  We left the house and decided to drive to go to the Oratoire St Joseph.  It is on the top of a hill on the island of Montreal.  It was beautiful.  There is a walk outside the Oratoire showing the story of Jesus’ life with amazing statues.  And, at the end, you come to a pool of reflection.  Inside, there are amazing carvings, paintings and stained glass work.  Hard to imagine this was done so long ago without the modern equipment we have today.

From here we went to Schwartz’s Deli.  This is a deli that has been around the city for over 80 years.  Despite the fact that we arrived at 1:30 (well past regular lunch hour) the line up for a seat inside was over 45 minutes long.  We decided to do the take out line (still 10 minutes) and go eat in the car.  The smoked meat here is worth it!  The kids loved the meat, the pickles everything!  I can totally see why people are willing to stand in line for so long for a seat in a little shop on Saint Laurent Street!

From here we decided to go to Old Montreal.  And, let me tell you, as beautiful as the city is it has TERRIBLE signage.  NEVER drive in Montreal no matter what anyone tells you.  We finally found a place to park in Montreal for $17 for the whole day – but because parking is so tight, they take your keys so you have to return at a certain time or your car will be locked in for the night.  We went to this interesting museum called Pointe-de-Callière – the archeology museum of Montreal.  Underneath they have some original findings from the city but like everything else in the city, the route here was not labelled well either!  Upstairs however, they had a great display of the Samurai.  Authentic gear, swords and headdress were all on display.  The kids loved the fact they connected the Samurai to Darth Vader in a way they had never thought of before.  That exhibit was totally worth the price of admission.

We then went to visit IndiPort – the carpet store owned by cousin.  It was huge.  I don’t know what I expected but this was so much more and this is just 1 of 2 stores they have in the city.  Wow.  She insisted we try the McDonald’s poutine which is very close to her store and surprisingly, it was good!  Maybe we should petition McDonald’s to bring that to Alberta!   Just as we were leaving her store, we got caught in a downpour.  The skies opened up and let loose.  It was coming down in sheets so we had to wait it out and missed getting to the science museum with any decent time to see anything.  Still, we went in and looked around at the exhibits and were shooed out by the security guards!

We then headed to our final stop in Old Montreal – the NotreDame Basilica.  From Tuesday to Saturday evenings they do a light and sound show showing the history of the Basilica and the important role it played in the city.  We got our tickets and went in.  WOW.  The show was amazing.  They put up curtains to keep you from seeing certain parts of the Basilica until they discuss the history of it in the video.  It took my breath away when they parted the curtains and you saw the beauty of the whole church.  I can’t even describe it.  Let’s just say you have to go!

We left in time to pick up our truck before the parkade closed and got on the road.  We parked again and just wandered around a little.  The kids had seen a place offering Beaver Tails (fried dough smeared with sticky gooey goodness) and wanted to stop.  I figured, why not?  But, we quickly found out that Old Montreal is not a place for kids at night.  Everything is a pub or a wine bar so we found a sushi spot, ate and went home.

Going Buggy - July 3

Montreal.  The first things we decided to go and see was the Olympic Park area.  This is where the Biodome, Insectarium, and Botanical Gardens are as well.  It was amazing.  We purchased a package to see all three things and decided not to take the very expensive elevator to the top of the Olympic Tower.  Navras came here last year with my parents and said while it was a nice view it may not be worth the over $50 it would have cost us.  The other three things were worth it though.  The Biodome is four different environments under one roof. The first was a Tropical Rainforest.  It was amazing – the birds and other animals wandering around and the lush foliage was worth seeing.  Next we went to the Maple Forests and then to the St Lawrence area – both under the water and above.  It was fantastic how they made you feel like you were right there.  Lastly, we went to the Sub Arctic and saw puffins and penguins!  It was amazing.

We then had to walk quite a ways to get to the Insectarium which is where they had much information on a variety of bugs.  From honey bees to butterflies to beetles.  Not being a big fan of bugs, this was not my favourite stop but the kids loved it.  We all (yes, I was brave enough to) held a walking stick bug as well.  Sorry the photo is a little dark.

Just outside the Insectarium area the Botanical Gardens.  It was a beautiful place to wander around.  I would have loved to have brought a picnic and sat and enjoyed in one of the many gardens they had featured.  It reminded me of a smaller version of Butchard Gardens in Victoria.

We had driven to the Olympic Park area thanks to an info sheet given to us at the campsite.  We then had to turn around but instead of going home we decided to visit a cousin of mine who lives in the city.  Rammi and her daughter had invited us for dinner and I thought it would be no problem driving to their house.  Our GPS gave us decent directions, but at the last minute we missed the turn.... and, unlike most other places I have ever driven, you couldn’t just turn around – you had to do a 10 minute circuit to get back to the house.  Such poor signage.  The visit, however, was worth it.  Yummy food made by not me was a welcome change for sure!  I have to remember to plan little stops like this to visit friends and family throughout the trip next time!

Where RV? - July 2

Today, the plan was to get to Montreal at a reasonable hour and have a chance to look around the city.  But, as best laid plans go it didn’t get followed.  Arjun was really hoping to see the Cat Sanctuary at the Parliament Hill.  He had overheard someone talking of it during the tour and wanted desperately to see it.  Really, the joy of having very loose plans is they are flexible.  So, we packed up as much as we could and drove back to downtown.  We couldn’t take the trailer cause of parking restrictions but campgrounds are usually pretty good about things like this.  We drove in, found parking close by (no street closures thank goodness), and walked back to the Hill.  We found the Cat Sanctuary but, alas, there were no cats to be seen.  At least we got here.  Again, how many times will we be back when the kids want to do something like this?  We had no plane to catch, we were on our own schedule so it was fine.  We finally got hitched up and left the campsite around noon and headed to the Science and Technology Museum.  Before we left Edmonton, we got memberships for the Telus World of Science because they have agreements with so many other centres in North America that let you in for free.  It was great getting in for free to the Museum.  It was a fun little place to go and see.  I think one of the neatest exhibits was the Crazy Kitchen – I walked in and because it appears tilted your mind and ears don’t agree so you feel sick to your stomach.  What a bizarre experience.   Outside the Museum were some neat little things in their innovation park – a lighthouse, a windmill, train and a rocket ship!

Finally, we were off to Montreal....  We made it near the city OK but then when it came time to finding the campsite our GPS took us goodness knows where.  We ended up on the far side of the city, nowhere close to where we should have been.  Again, and I may have mentioned this once or twice, the people in campgrounds are usually fantastic and this was no different.  Tom answered our call, not once, not twice but four times to get us to the campground safe and sound.  He directed me in past construction zones and after an hour and half of being lost we arrived!  The first thing the kids did was hop in the pool.  I guess it had been as trying a day for them as it had for me.  May as well relax, it’s not like they are getting to do much of that while we are on the road!

Happy Canada Day!

Finally – CANADA DAY!  We wanted to get an early start to the day so we headed out around 9.  Cameras all charged and room on the hard drives to store all the photos and videos we wanted.  We decided to take the OCTranspo into Ottawa to make things easier.  With so many road closures and little parking as is, I figured it would be easier to do it that way.  We also took with us a pedometer to see how many steps we took and how many kilometers we ended up walking.

Our first stop was Major Hill park – this is a park just southeast of the Hill and there were a lot of activities planned in it.  On our way there, we stopped to watch street performers and just look at some of the vendors who had set up shop along the way.  Once we were in the park area there was SO much to see and do.  From another stage area to crafts and food.  It was neat to see how so much of the city was getting into the spirit of things.  The kids decided to make little sacs to hold their electronics and, after only a minor burn, we were off to see more things.  We hopped on the shuttle to go across to Jacques Cartier park – it is a doable walk across the river but I figured with all the walking we would be doing the rest of the day taking the shuttle might be a good, cranky saving measure.  Across the river, in the Gatineau part of Ottawa, were more activities.  The kids got to try cheerleading, playing with the latest Hot Wheels cars and then skating on this amazing sheet of plastic ice!  We even got to experience what it would be like to be a Paralympic athlete with a big display set up in the area.  Then it was back across the river for another stop at the NGO.  We saw a few exhibits which Navras really wanted to check out plus we saw some winning artwork from local, young artists.

After hitting a few more activities, we decided to huddle down and get a spot for the big fireworks display.  We managed to snag a spot just facing the river with a clear view of the Parliament Buildings and the Museum of Civilization.  If you ever go to Ottawa for Canada Day, this is the BEST spot to sit.  I swear it looked like the fireworks were being shot off just for us they were that close and that spectacular!  Over 1000 fireworks in a span of about 20 minutes.  The crowd was amazed and ended the evening with an impromptu singing of O’Canada.  How moving.   

Oh, a couple of funny things:  Remember the exhibit at the NGO of amazing young artists I mentioned?  We ended up sitting next to one of those artists while watching the fireworks.  Josh Tiessen - just a teen and already a professional artist!  And the second - as we were waiting for the fireworks display to begin a friend of Arjun’s from school walked right up to us and said hello.  They just happened to be in the city as well and just happened to stop to look at the river from the same spot!  It really shows what a small world we live in doesn’t it?

Parliament Views - June 30

For as little as we did yesterday, we sure made up for it on Saturday June 30^th.  We left our campsite at 9 AM to get to Ottawa for the Changing of the Guards ceremony.   We drove along the Ottawa Promenade to get to downtown where we found parking.  Free on the weekends!  We got to the Parliament Hill just before the ceremony was to start and managed to get a spot right up front.  We had to move back to allow the guard to come into the grounds so we were quite close!  The ceremony was long and very traditional.  The kids didn’t enjoy it too much because they didn’t know what was going on.  And, there is a lot of repetition.  But, it is one of those things that you just have to do!  From there we signed up for our tour of the buildings.  It was a good thing Navras told us to go do that right away since the next tour we could sign up for was at 1:50 – almost 3 hours away.  As we were taking pictures of the guard, I realized the battery on my camera was almost dead.  I couldn’t believe it – NOW????   Sometimes technology only works as well as the user. 

We decided that since photos would not be allowed in the National Art Gallery of Ottawa (NGO) we would go see the exhibits.  We figured we would have enough time to get from the Hill to the NGO and back in time for the tour.  When we got the NGO there was quite a line up as the feature exhibit was Van Gogh.  How fantastic?  We lined up and managed to get a spot to get in for the noon entrance.  It was amazing to see the artwork.  The kids loved it all reading almost everything in the exhibit.  It was fantastic to see as they had done some artwork based on Van Gogh a couple of years ago and they recognized the works and the techniques that they had been taught.  We got to write a letter to Van Gogh and even try to paint in his style. 

Unfortunately, the painting Shanti and Arjun drew was only for display at the Gallery.  Still a pretty neat thing to do.  From here we left and headed back to the Hill for our big tour.  We lined up and went through security.  Remember, for next time, it's just like the airport and they will hold anything sharp which meant my Swiss Army knife was taken away for the duration of the tour.  I have to say the tour was amazing.  In the West, we rarely see old, historic buildings but out East there is so much history.  The tour guide told us of the significance of the ceilings in both the House of Commons area and the Senate area.  We were also allowed to go into the Library.  This is the part of the building that is original, surviving a fire due thanks to the iron doors being closed.  Then we had a chance to go up the Peace Tower and see the city from high above.  What a sight. 

Once we left the buildings, we decided to go the Museum of Civilization. There was a special exhibit on the Mayans which Navras really wanted to see since he just finished learning about the civilization in Grade 8.  While it was facinating to read some of it was a bit much for the younger kids.  I decided to take them to the Children's Museum while Navras explored other areas.  That was a great idea.  We had two hours to spend there before it closed and we made sure the doors slammed behind us when we left.  It was quite interesting as much of the Museum was preparing for a big event.  When we asked what it was, I was expecting to hear it was a Gala or a big fundraiser but it as a High School Prom!  Shanti loved seeing all the beautiful dresses outside this odd setting.  After a busy day of walking, we decided just to drive to Rideau Hall and then head home.