Day 28 - Saturday, June 28 - leaving Friendly Quebec

Well up early so we can get on the road.  It's going to be 29 degrees today, both in Quebec City and Edmundston, NB.  We are hoping to be in Edmunsdston tonight but that depends on the number of stops we make on our way there.  We were very foolish in thinking that we could still travel without planning for stops as this is now the long weekend!  So I called last night to an RV site in Edmundston and he said that there is no problem without reservation, it would take a miracle if they filled up before we got there.  So I guess we might be safe in some of the smaller places - we will really have to start thinking a bit more ahead.  

This morning on the way out we passed some falls raging over the banks with the mist plummeting into the sky - a beautiful sight.   Quebec City was named by the aboriginals and is pronounced Kaybek - this means narrow waters as Quebec City is located at the narrowest part of the St. Lawrence River.  

One sad thing we saw was a beautiful old Catholic Church up for sale and looking like it needed some major TLC - apparently the congregation does not have the funds to continue to pay the operating expenses.  The tour guide told us this is happening more and more in Quebec City.  

Yesterday we strolled along the streets listening to the music - a man and wife singing in front of a cafe, another woman singing in the square and yet another playing a violin.  We did not get the same sort of romantic feelings for the city that we had in Montreal.  In fact our choice to return to would be Montreal.  Quebec City is full of historic sights, lots of hustle and bustle, but the people and the atmosphere was not at all what we felt in Montreal.  In fact we think Montreal was more relaxed and friendlier.  

As we drive along the landscape reverts back to farming.  There are some huge farms here, lots of lush green hay fields, rows upon rows of haylage ready for winter feed, the smells of silage, manure and fresh cut grass over powered by the smell of pigs waft through the Moho.  Lots of pig farms out here.    Dan calls this the smell of money and he feels at home (without the pigs of course)! 

As we near Riviere-du-Loup the hills rise out of the lush green fields and we see a ski hill.  We have been driving alongside the St. Lawrence but now the land widens and the River disappears.  Ahead of us a mountain range comes into view - the land is becoming a bit more rugged. 

The fields are long and narrow running towards the highway with defined ditches as dividers.  Do they flood irrigate or are the ditches for erosion or some other purpose - hope to find out. 

The province of Quebec is very welcoming to campers.  There are many campsites within short distances, unlike some of the other provinces.  In fact most of the campgrounds range from 120 to 200 sites.  We also noticed that there are many RV sales and service businesses with huge inventories, ranging from tent trailers to Class A's and a lot of them Dutch Stars.  Dan was talking to a fellow about this and he said that most here in Quebec camp within the Province.  This accounts for the large numbers of RV related businesses I guess.  

We are on Highway 185 heading south from Rivière-du-Loup and the nearer we get to the border of New Brunswick the more the terrain looks like that of Vancouver Island. Low hills, groves of small trees, lush green grass and older houses scattered here and there.  

An old Royal Canadian Airforce plane.

Welcome to New Brunswick!  

Did you know that New Bruswick was an official bilingual province?  I didn't - the province is approximately 30% French.  Hmmm.  We arrive early in the day we think, but not really as we lost an hour coming into the info centre. So now really it is late afternoon - we arrive at our campsite, set up and jump in the Geo to explore the area.  

We went to the Botanical Gardens and started our tour.  A buffalo greets us at the entrance - cute!  The Butterfly room is very humid and filled with foliage, trees, plates with orange slices.  The butterflies are all over the oranges drinking in the nectar.  Can you see the butterfly on the trunk? 

It looks lie they have an eye when the wings are closed but when they are open the inside is a beautiful blue color.  

The area is just starting bloom but the peace and tranquility is still there.  Many benches are available throughout for sitting and taking in the aromas of the lushness.  It was a very nice stroll through.  There is a carver there as well located in a little gazebo by the stream.  He carved up a little man figurine for a small boy when we there - he had his works on display - he is very talented.  

We went for a drive around the area and then returned to camp for dinner - grilled pork chops and new potatoes, yum.  Gidget is getting pretty scruffy looking - so bath time after her evening walk.  Quite a performance, I used the outside shower with a dishpan set on a small coffee table for her.  She wasn't too sure about this, but we did it.  Then in the other side of the Moho we set up the little table again and plugged in the blow dryer and she became all clean and fluffy once again.  She was quite happy once the performance was all done.  

Decisions - we need to figure out what we are doing for Canada Day.  We look at the info I got when we got here and we decide that Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick is where we are going to celebrate - those lucky people get to celebrate with BC'ers!  So tomorrow that will be our destination for the next 3 days.   

Good night,