Fundy NP to Kouchibouguac NP

It was time to move on to another national park. We headed to Moncton where we could do some much needed grocery shopping. The grocery prices here are very high even when taking the exchange rate into consideration — in spite of that we stocked up.

After Moncton we drove to Shediac where Janet wanted to see the world’s largest lobster. She suggested that we take a picture of ourselves with it to use as a Christmas card, but David said , “No.”

From Shediac we headed north but kept close to the coast. Lovely countryside full of farms and vacation cottages with glimpses to the Northumberland Strait between New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. At one point we passed a bay filled with black buoys all in lines. I can only guess, but believe it was a mussel aquaculture operation. Long ropes hang from the buoys to which the mussels attach. (Check out http://jfcmarine.com/product/double-line-rope-mussel-floats/ if interested or here, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mussel#Culture_methods)

We stopped in Bouctouche at the Irving Ecological Park to walk the boardwalk that extends out for 1/2 mile along the dune there — actually more like a barrier island. Along the boardwalk are various signs letting us know how difficult it has been to keep the boardwalk in good condition because of the many storms over the years. By my count it has been replaced or seriously repaired 6 times since it was first built in 1997. It was a great walk in spite of the strong winds.

From Bouctouche it was just a half-hour drive to Kouchibouguac NP — our home for the next week. The South Campground is located in a birch, red spruce, black spruce, alder, and pine forest. Our site is very private, large, and level. We have a fire ring and picnic table. There are flush toilets, showers, and a laundry. Lots of loop hiking trails and even more biking trails.

-- Janet (text) and David (photos)