Two Sore Backs

After a perfect day sitting in the silica sand at Basin Head Park we moseyed south down Highway 2 about 20 kilometres to Myriad View Artisan Distillery. We had a nice tasting (small samplings thankfully) of moonshine, gin, brandy, rum and whisky. We left the distillery with a small bottle of rum. So far so good.

Next, we decided on Thai food from a small take out restaurant right in Souris. That meal was fun for a couple of reasons: the server was the cook/owner’s young son and he took his responsibilities seriously! and the liquid menu offerings were limited to soft drinks so coke was the drink of choice. We sat out on the patio (about 10 feet from our car) waiting for our order. The💡went on when we were offered drink cups to go with our soft drinks. We requested a couple of lime wedges and then Pat walked over to the car and made use of the rum we had just purchased. Voila – a nice rum and coke!!! And the food was great.

There was a short stretch of the Eastern Coastal drive between Souris and Fortune Bay that we had not driven. So that was the plan after dinner. Michael Smith from the Food Channel has a well renowned Restaurant and Inn in this location. While we declined to dine there (it would have been a special meal for sure but with a special price tag) we wanted to drive by and check out the surroundings.

Fortune Bay is a lovely drive. There is a small harbour, lovely homes, lovely inns and B&Bs. We found some interesting side roads (red clay dirt) that got us close to lovely beaches.

The folks gathered for dinner at The Inn at Fortune Bay were having a glorious meal in an equally glorious setting. At least it sure looked wonderful from the road.

Meanwhile we drove down red clay roads marvelling at views, cute cottages, fields of potatoes and snow peas (see photo). As we reached the end of Fortune Beach Road we parked as we wanted a better view of the beach. We met a charming couple – Patrick and Natalie – from Quebec City. They were free camping in their converted Sprinter van (Roy and Mel some food for thought). Both work in IT and have been on the road off and on (mostly on) for over a year. Coincidently we were all heading to the Magdalen Islands next (so we have been looking for their ‘blue sprinter’ since we arrived). So far so good.

We had a great chat but we say our goodbyes. We are heading for our car when a white pickup truck comes flying around the corner and I’m praying the driver applies the brakes or there will be carnage. He does. Whew!

Turns out this fellow wants to be Pat’s best friend. They have a quick conversation. He is intoxicated and a little too friendly. Impulsively we leave and our newest friend moves on to talk with Natalie and Patrick. I jot down the licence plate of the white truck as we want to get out of this place but also feel bad for Patrick and Natalie. Pat drives away and I find the RCMP # and call it in.

We are back on the highway and hoping the RCMP will respond. Our hopes are answered when a cruiser tears by us. There are a few calls back and forth with the responding officer (clarifying location, description of suspect, length of time since we saw the guy). It doesn’t help that cell coverage is a little spotty; so calls drop. (Did he hear my answer to ‘describe what he was wearing’?). Around 10pm we give a recorded statement.

Long story short: Patrick and Natalie were okay; the folks at Inn at Fortune Bay had their idyllic evening interrupted by a screaming siren; buddy was apprehended – he heard the siren and was fleeing up the beach. It turned out the truck was stolen (from New Brunswick) and he was extremely drunk. OMG!