Two Sore Backs

We are at Day 45 of our adventure. Here are 12 reflections of our journey.

Canada is amazing. Everywhere we have stopped we have been treated to interesting and diverse scenery and met very interesting fellow Canadians.

Along the way we’ve visited family and friends. Everyone has been so generous to us. Fortunately, we have more family and friends to visit and some repeats as we work our way home. This trip has given us the confidence and motivation to (hopefully) do a similar trip (although not as lengthy) again next year.

We are camping and touring. It is a nice mix. Camping is social. Meeting people is a given. Seeing something new each day is invigorating.

Doesn’t matter how we park our car – nose in or out – people know we are from BC (plates on front and back of car). Many provinces only require plates on the back. Typical conversation starters are ‘you are going Coast to Coast’ or you are far from home or ‘you drove (?), how long did it take?’ We’ll say how much we are enjoying our trip and wherever we happen to be and the response is almost always ‘but you have the mountains’. You can have lovely without mountains.

The summers in the Maritimes are lovely. The winds and breezes are warm; the sea is surprisingly warm too.

The beaches are amazing. The wave action creates long dunes and beaches with fine sand. Shoes optional.

There are mosquitos – not always – and sometimes they are ferocious (like last night). Thankfully Pat bought a clam shelter and thermacell for this trip.

Same theme – did I just get bitten or is that a phantom bite?

Who knew 4 pairs of Val’s shoes fit nicely under the passenger car seat. Putting stuff in the same place helps keep your sanity.

Having a big lawn is a big deal in Eastern Canada. You have to have a ride on mower!

There are foodies everywhere. Eating is one of our activities. And we haven’t been disappointed. We have been eating our share of seafood, barbecue, burgers, salads…. Val had pickled mustard seeds recently – yum!

Speaking of foodies, Pat is an awesome camp cook. Excellent coffee. Fish tacos are a fave. Val insisted on bringing the immersion blender so Pat has been making caesar salad.