Day 29 - Sunday, June 29 - McCain French Fries, New Brunswick

So as of today we have now travelled 6080 km since leaving home!  That's a long ways from our home.  But we are not yet homesick.  

This morning we are going to take the scenic valley route through to the Grand Falls.  As we drive along Hwy 2 (TransCanada) - I realize that each Province has it's own number designation for the Trans Canada - we call it Hwy 1, Quebec calls it 20 and now New Brunswick calls it 2.  New Brunswick is very scenic - in fact if you compare the most western province of BC with the most eastern province of New Brunswick - there are many similarities in the landscape, the farming activities, the crops and the forests.  Hmm. One might say that the two ends (much like a sandwich) are similar and the middle varies, ha!

Grand Falls - like Edmundston is an Acadian town.  We did not know about the Acadian plight until we talked to a girl at the info centre.  We saw red, blue and white with a yellow star on a large number of the houses and businesses.  I just thought it was the New Brunswick flag, but no it is the Acadian Flag.  The Acadians were being deported back in the 1700's by the British so they hid in various places, some being the coast of New Brunswick and some went down to Maine.  They suffered much hardship and are a very proud people.  Every 5 years the Acadians celebrate their freedom with a celebration, this year it is in Edmundston. 

This is the Grand Falls.

This is just a picture of what I thought presented a good overall picture of New Brunswick.  

This is Florenceville where the first McCain Potato factory came to life.  Mr. McCain grew up here and started the business here.  It is still in operation today next door to the Potato Museum.  We went into the museum - it was very interesting and disappointing as well.  We read that you could get fresh fries there and you can, but not today!

This is one of the antique tractors on display run by kerosene and max 16 hp!

So off we went on our travels and we stopped in Hartland where the longest covered bridge in the world is still in operation. 

Our next stop was the Covered Bridge Potato Chip Factory.  We went on a tour of how they make the potato chips and the beginnings were with a local potato farm family.  It was very interesting - they give you a sample bag as well.  On our way out we bought two bags of their chips for our happy hours - one was Lobster flavour and the other Montreal Steak Spice.  

So driving has come to an end for the day - Fredericton we have arrived.  Now to set up and get ready for Canada Day celebrations.  By the way did I tell it's a scorcher today?  31 degrees and I am feeling the heat.  Easy dinner tonight - tacos.  

Our camp for the next 3 days.

This is the sunset on the Saint John River.

 

Peaceful scene!