N. Sydney, NS >> Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park, NB >> Saint Martins, NB
470 miles ridden/11 hours
Disembarked the ferry in North Sydney at 10.30am today, then took my time cruising through Nova Scotia to Hopewell Rocks Park in New Brunswick. At one point I saw a bald eagle soaring overhead… thing was enormous! Got to the Visitor Centre and discovered I’d missed low tide, so I’ll be sticking around for another day.
Luckily, the house across the street from the campground entrance resembled a classic car museum, the front and backyards were so filled with vintage autos. The next morning I ambled over to take some photos and the owner came out; we got to talking and he walked me through his collection. Even though some of the cars had clearly seen better days, it was an impressive display and his passion for these emblems of a bygone era was evident.
At low tide I went to see the Flowerpot Rocks, which resemble massively oversized, ornate bonsai; although really, the best we can aim for is to mirror Mother Nature’s handiwork, not vice versa. Scurrying around on the ocean floor reminded me of the “The Five Chinese Brothers” fable I read as a child; one brother’s gift was the ability to swallow the entire ocean. While the Bay of Fundy’s tide receding 40’ might be a somewhat less stupendous feat, it nonetheless is a fascinating natural phenomenon that enables people to explore the otherwise inaccessible seabed for a few hours each day. Unfortunately, I didn’t find any treasure.
The next day I visited Fundy National Park to ride the curvy, 12-mile Fundy Trail Parkway, hike and explore its beaches. Afterward, I returned to Saint Martins – making a quick stop at the sea caves – to settle in for my final night in Canada.