Hopewell Rocks - Bay of Fundy - New Brunswick
While out on our east coast adventure in September 2014 we decided to make the most of it and head inland to see Prince Edward Island, along the way we stopped off at Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park to see the home of the worlds highest tides (ranging from 47.5 to 53.5 feet) The park is made up of a number of short trails to viewpoints and beaches and we wasted no time in setting off down the well maintained pathway to the first location.
It's nice to be out together in great conditions again seeing something new. The image below (captured by Sarah) shows the area that is a beach for a few hours each day when the tide turns, unfortunately the scene of more than a few fatalities when people have been cut off and drowned by the incoming tides.
We followed a series of steps down to the beach where all but the last few remaining metres of sand were already covered by the incoming tide, Sarah pulled another one of her 'David Bailey' moments with this sunburst when we were down there.
The area is a haven for kayakers looking to explore the sea caves around the steep cliffs, most of the caves are roped off with express warnings not to enter...which is why the kayakers go there I guess, that little bit of added excitement.
Having walked down from the car park above we had a coffee and a bite to eat at a cafe close to the top of the stairs where we saw a small 'bus' that took people back up to the top for $2.....best $2 we've spent in a long time!
After our sneaky return to the top we set out again down a much longer trail to a beach on the western side of the park where some sand still remained.
After our sneaky return to the top we set out again down a much longer trail to a beach on the western side of the park where some sand still remained.
We found we had the place all to ourselves and sat down on a nicely placed log to remove our boots for some more cool water paddling. As we were doing this a ranger came down and stopped to chat, turns out he was from Surrey UK but had been living in New Brunswick for 6 years. He tells us that the lump in the distance is a mountain...we say err, yeah, ok and leave it at that!
We get to our paddling and walk the shoreline the way British folks do on every shoreline they go to. Not sure why we all do it, but we all do...we are a nation of paddlers.
As we return to our log to dry our feet and replace the boots for the walk back (no bus from here) we see a kayaker bringing a splash of colour to the chocolate brown waters of the Bay of Fundy
Back at the top of the hill just before the car park is a strategically located cafe selling blueberry ale, well as I needed something to wash down my hotdog I thought I'd give it a go. It was ok but didn't taste much like blueberries...not that we cared after walking a few km's in the sunshine on the Bay of Fundy coast.
We returned to our hotel in Moncton ready to continue our trip on to Prince Edward Island the next day. On the route back to Moncton we passed by some beautiful trees which were right in the middle of changing to their autumnal colours and stopped a couple of times to shoot them.