Fundy

Sep 15-17, 2017
AC8934 YYZ-YQM, AC8937 YQM-YYZ, AC7715 YYZ-IAH

After our trip to Australia, I went right to San Francisco for a conference, and from there right back to Toronto and on to New Brunswick.  This was always as planned, but did extend by time away from Houston, still recovering from hurricane flooding.  It had been a number of years since I had spent any time in the Bay of Fundy, and my parents had a great idea of renting cottages and having a long weekend of hiking and family time.  As well as the family time, including a visit with my sister’s new dog, we also benefited by having the guide of long-time family friends that lived near the park, who actually had a previous family home inside the park grounds that pre-dated the national park.  With a support vehicle and guide, we were able to do an extended one-way hike and fully enjoyed the park and time together.

Sep 15

After our morning flight in, we checked into the hotel, and had time for a nice 7.4km hike to Third Vault Falls to build up an appetite before dinner. It was a nice cool temperature for a hike and long enough to unwind from the journey.

Stairs made the climb a little easier

Third Vault Falls - the payoff for our hike

The beginning of some fall colours

Validation that we’d made it

Smaller waterfall in incredible lush valley

We made it to the end

Canada 150 park chairs Fundy style

Sep 16

After a nice dinner and some games with my family the night before, and a hearty breakfast, we were ready for a full day of hiking along the coastal trail. We started at the beach and hiked along the coast, with some decent elevation changes. We were met with our lunch half way through, and finally made it to our car at the end of the trail.

Lookng up the coast from Cannontown Beach to the town in Alma with some low cloud

Makeshift Unukshuk

Quick rest on the Canada 150 chairs before we start our hike

The rugged coastline at high trail

Friendly signs keeping us on the trail

Well camouflaged frog along the trail

Some elevation over the beach

Down at the beach, lots of moss

Closeup on lady bug

Although the day was grey, we didn’t really get any significant rain

Looking serious along the way

Cannot say we weren’t warned, but everyone did really well for the challenging terrain

The wet weather created some colourful growths

More mushrooms

Continuing the theme

Point Wolfe Covered Bridge was the final reward for our hike

The 29m long bridge was actually built in 1992 to replace the original bridge

Although we’d finished earlier, I went back to do the last portion with my mother, sister and our friend Donna from the area

Sep 17

Not quite tired out from yesterday’s hike, we had enough time for a quick hike in the morning and for Tom to capture some pictures of Quinn, the newest addition to my sister’s family. After a morning of hiking, we grabbed a quick seafood lunch before heading to Moncton for our flights home.

Quinn pausing long enough for a photo

Puppy energy

Resting for a bit

Keeping Cathy on her toes

Hiding in the grass

Deeper in the weeds

DIckson Falls trail, guided by Donna, a descendant of Dickson whose childhood house was next to the falls before the park was created

Similar lush terrain

Dickson Falls, the payoff for the short hike

Stream feeding the falls

Squirrel watching suspiciously

Back at Point Wolfe exploring the nearby coast

Looking back at the bridge

Beyond the bridge opens up to the Bay of Fundy

More interesting mushrooms

Narrow inlet

Tom looking back at myself and my parents

Fishing boats in Alma at relatively high tide

Last look at the boats before we grab some fish for lunch