New Brunswick

For the last week I've been exploring the Southern part of New Brunswick. It's been filled with climbing, hiking, wonderful people, and a bit of cycling too!

On my way from Blackville to Fredericton I stopped in the shade of a Royal Canadian Legion building to eat my lunch. While I was eating the president came by and we chatted. A few minutes later he came back with the treasurer and they gave me (along with a cold pop and pin) a $50 donation to the MS Society! Thanks so much!

Wild blueberries on the way to Fredericton. At the patch I also met one of the founders of the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition!

Self portrait coming through the hills.

Fredericton was quite a friendly city. I had a relaxing day off during which I swam, lazed on the grass, cycled around town, watched a couple live bands, and had some great Mexican food. This went along with lots of planning for the rest of the trip once I finally got a good map of Atlantic Canada (in Quebec you can only get maps of Quebec).

The St. John River and downtown Fredericton.

From Fredericton it was South to Welsford for two days of climbing. I didn't have a partner arranged, but managed to meet up with (an also partnerless) Rebecca from St. Catherines, Ontario for two days of good company and awesome crack / face climbing. It was the friendliest crag I've ever been to, and I had the pleasure of meeting a wonderful group of climbers from St. John and Halifax.

Of the two days I spent in Welsford I took one crappy picture ... leading the second pitch of Weeping Whisker with Rebecca at the belay.

From Welsford I headed South to St. John to stay with Graham, who had contacted me out of the blue and offered me a place to stay. He made a killer cabbage salad and we talked about climbing, hiking, and the great outdoors of New Brunswick with his friend Ross. On the way from Welsford I had my first broken spoke, but it was quickly fixed by the bike shop in St. John.

My next destination was the Fundy Footpath. This is a 48km trail along the Bay of Fundy between St. Martins and Alma. I was originally a little nervous showing up in the rain with running shoes, cycling shoe covers as gaitors, a non waterproof 30L backpack, and no ride back ... but it went off without a hitch! There was a lot of up and down along the Fundy Escarpment, but the scenery was well worth the elevation gain. The Bay of Fundy has the worlds largest tides at 9m!

Cooking on Seely Beach, my first night on the trail.

The famous Bay of Fundy fog.

Wild mushroom on the trail.

Centurion Point at Goose Creek.

My second campsite at Goose Creek. Martin Head in the background.

I had a moose encounter just after crossing Goose Creek. We both looked at each other cautiously as this guy walked within 5 meters of me! About an hour earlier at high tide, this basin was totally filled.

Goose River where the Fundy Footpath finishes ... wait a minute ... it's another 8km to the nearest road? ... dammit!

Afterwards I had to get back from Alma to my bike at the Big Salmon River in St. Martins. This is quite a roundabout route and required 9 separate rides, 8km of walking, and a wonderful park staff who brought my bike the last 10km to me! A big thanks to all those who went sometimes quite far out of their way to get me further down the road.

Throughout the trip I've met a lot of people who are just getting into cycle touring. It's quite a cool feeling to inspire some of them to take the plunge and head out on a trip of their own!

Now I'm off to Moncton, Charlottetown, and Halifax to meet Jenn.