ST. JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA -- 7/3 to 7/5
We’re finally in Canada! Entered through St. Stephens, New Brunswick with no problems or questions, even about our cat, Romeo.
Going through customs
Our first night was spent in St. John where the
weather was cool and overcast with rain during the night. The next day we walked
around the "Uptown" area of St. John and visited the Reversing Falls at low
tide, returning the next day at high tide to see the water in the river/bay flow
upstream.
This phenomenon is caused by the unusually high
tides in the Bay of Fundy. Here in St. John, the bay tides rise 28 1/2 feet.
When the tide is low, the St. John River empties into the bay. As the tides
begins to rise, they slow the course of the river finally stopping the river
flow completely. This short period of calm is called slack tide. It is only at
this time that boats are able to navigate the falls. Shortly after this slack
tide, the bay tides become higher than the river level and slowly the river
begins to flow upstream. The reverse flow gradually increases and rapids form,
reaching their peak at high tide. At this point the tidal waters are actually 14
1/2 feet higher than the river. The effect of this reversal is felt more than 80
miles inland. As the tides fall, the upstream flow of the river gradually lowers
until the bay tides fall to the level of the river, resulting in another slack
tide.
The next day we woke to thick fog, but went
inland for a ferry ride to visit one of many covered bridges.
FUNDY NATIONAL PARK, NB, CANADA
What a beautiful, place! Everywhere you see
another view of the Bay of Fundy. Cliffs covered with lush trees, especially
conifers, drop steeply into the sea. It is cool and sunny, perfect for hiking
and sight-seeing.
On the 6th we hiked to Dickson Falls then visited
the Hopewell Rocks at high tide in the late afternoon.
At high tide, you can see
only the tree covered tops of these huge rocks and we returned the next day at
low tide.
At low tide you can walk out onto the rocky beach and around
The beach is rocky and muddy and the park thoughtfully provided
Took several more hikes and saw more covered
bridges during the rest of the week. During one drive we came upon an old
cemetery called "Ha Ha Cemetery" which we were told was the call of the loon.
On Sunday Bob went swimming in an outdoor heated
pool overlooking the Bay of Fundy. It is uses salt water pool from the Bay,
("heated" to 76 degrees, from the original 50 degrees in the bay. Brr!). Martha
watched and chatted with the lifeguard who was bundled up against the cold wind.
That night we dined out on lobster to celebrate
our 16th anniversary. Delicious!
and under the rocks. Amazing to be able to walk so far out! 
a foot washing station for those of us who got our feet dirty. 
