FROM ST. ANDREWS TO ST. MARTINS, NB
Day 14 – Up at 7:30 a.m., it was 43 degrees and raining. This was a good campground, very scenic, and a great time of year to be here, but we move on today because our ultimate goal is to make it to Newfoundland & Labrador, hopefully early enough to see Iceburgs. We departed St. Andrews at 10:35 a.m., still raining with light wind, 44 degrees.
98 miles, (2:05), 38531-38629
St. ANDREWS & ST. JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK.
Day 13 – We went to bed late last night, still not adjusting to the one-hour time change. This morning it was 38 degrees, breezy & sunny. Rob woke me up at 9:30; I could’ve slept all day! We left at 11 a.m. for an errand in St. Andrews, then off to some exploring with a drive to St. John, a much bigger city further from the U.S. border.
St. ANDREWS, NEW BRUNSWICK.
Day 12 – You’d think we flew to Europe or something; one hour’s time change & we’re all confused. We thought we went to bed early but it was really late & now I thought we were up early & it’s not early. When we get to Newfoundland & Labrador, I think the time changes again. It was 37 degrees this morning, whatever time it was when we got up, windy (which made it feel much colder) and sunny. It rained much of the night.
A NICE SEND-OFF!
Day 11 – Rob really enjoyed his time out on the cliff this morning. It was low tide & quite active, as low tide usually is. Sea Gulls were flying over looking for breakfast, One landed across the Harbor. He’d caught an Eel (the Eel got away), but Rob got pictures. Then there was noise from Ravens above, so he swung the camera around hoping to get some good Raven shots. Surprise! They were chasing a Bald Eagle and he had the camera ready & got great pictures. What a nice send-off as we prepare to leave our land for the summer. Grin. It was 41 degrees at 7:15 a.m. this morning, sunny with a few clouds and breezy.
79 miles, (2:30), 38452-38531
LAST DAY IN MAINE FOR A WHILE?
Day 10 – Tomorrow we’re gonna attempt to cross over to Canada, and be there for the summer. Hopefully. We had wanted to do this trip last year but hadn’t researched properly, so we found at the last minute we didn’t plan well for the border crossing requirements. There’s a limit to what can be brought with you into Canada. This year we are more prepared. We have the proper paperwork for the kitties (and the RV is not stocked full of beer & wine, LOL). Still, it is a the whim of whomever you get to check you out when you reach Customs (from what we’ve heard) and you need to be honest in what you claim. They have on occasion searched vehicles to the point of unloading everything (so we’ve been told). We have nothing to hide, but it would be quite disheartening to see the hours of hard work packing the RV & car to the hilt, and then have to do it all over again, especially since many items are packed in the order in which they will be used. Fingers crossed for tomorrow!
Day 9 – 39 degrees and sunny at 7 a.m. this morning. Rob went out to the cliff for his morning meeting with Mother Nature. He saw 4 Buffleheads (cute little ducks), a Loon, a Kingfisher, 2 Canada Geese, and heard an Osprey. We had seen Sea Gulls at low tide yesterday afternoon.
We drove to Lubec, dropped some mail in the mail box at the Post Office and drove over the bridge to Campobello Island in New Brunswick, Canada. We went to the Visitor’s Center but they were closed. The sign indicated they would be open for a few hours on Tuesday. It is off-season still. It was a nice drive anyway and back in Maine, we took advantage of the beautiful, clear, fogless day and drove down to the West Quoddy Head Lighthouse for the views. The State Park was still closed for the season, but Grand Manan Island was in full view across the Gulf of Maine. The view at Bailey’s Mistake was gorgeous, too. We also saw a couple of Grouse scurrying about by the road. No Seals at high tide around Lubec & Campobello Island, though.
Back at our land, we had lunch, finishing off the Riverside Take-Out food with Haddock Sandwiches, and then we sat outside for a little while. The high today was 52 degrees. Once the breeze came up and the sun was hidden by trees, it got too cool so we went inside, joining the cats for a nap. For dinner we made a large batch of Red Pepper Corn Chowder with Scallops, enough for several days.
Day 8 – Foggy this morning, very Maine-coast-like out. 41 degrees at 7:15 a.m. We relaxed a little, Rob had his cliff time in the fog, and then we left to run errands and to take a look around at things we haven’t seen since last November. From appearances, it seems that the winter didn’t do too much damage.
Day 7 – It was 36 degrees again this morning, rising to 42 degrees by 10 a.m. Phew! It’s going to be a hot one! LOL. Rob went out to the cliff this morning; he saw his Loon friend floating by below in the Harbor & heard Canada Geese in the distance.
Common Loon, Cliff Haven, ME
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUZANNE B! CELEBRATE!
Day 6 – It has been very quiet here. The kitties love it; we love it. It was 36 degrees at 6:30 this morning & cloudy over the Harbor. After feeding the cats & doing his exercises, Rob went out to the cliff with his chair, coffee & camera. This was his first morning visit on his trail this year, hopefully one of many mornings to come. He was bundled up; it had rained hard all night but he stayed warm & dry. He saw a Kingfisher flying up & down the Harbor and a Loon floating below.
We spent the day settling in. Rob had brought some heavy equipment with us for his trail work to be done later this year. He unpacked that & stored it away so we wouldn’t have to cart it all around Canada, then repacked the car. I spent a good part of the day doing research on Canada: which route would be best for us to take to Newfoundland & Labrador, when the ferries run & their routes, and when the campgrounds along the route & at the ferry crossings are open for the season. Later he joined in & helped with the phone calls & e-mails to the campgrounds and also did some research on border crossing rules & regulations. It was a full day. We are now awaiting responses from many campgrounds.
The high today was 48 degrees, partly sunny in the afternoon, and only a little breeze. Very pretty out with the tide coming & going. No cars going by on the road; people aren’t here yet but a few may be arriving later in May. In the evening we did some paperwork, then read our books. The girls spent lots of time sleeping, either on their heated pads, on the dashboard, or on our laps.
GOOD LUCK DIANE & TED! WE HOPE YOU GET TO MAINE SOON!
Day 5 – This was our fifth day without problems. We were feeling a bit cocky. That changed, but it all worked out in the end. (Happy face.) We departed Bucksport/Fort Knox KOA at 9:25 a.m. It was 45 degrees & sunny, a beautiful day. We got up at 7 a.m. rarin’ to go, wanting to get to our land to see how it fared through the winter. It was 38 degrees then.
105 miles, (3:15), 38347-38452