Miramichi and Kouchibouguac

By the Zipline:

Misadeventure of the week:  This past week was actually quite a challenge.  We camped at Miramichi and it rained 3 of the 5 days that we were there.  That much together time with few places to escape puts some strain on the family for sure.  I had hoped to fly fish for salmon on this river, but with the weather and the cost, it didn't really really work out.

Adventure of the week:  Certainly turned out to be Kouchibouguac National Park.  Our last day in Miramichi was sunny and warm. Although we knew nothing of the park prior to coming, just the name of it makes it worth exploring.  It certainly made our time in Miramichi worth it.  It had a 7 km Sandy beach that I think would rival the beaches in PEI or Shediac, NB.  It has a wonderful network of bike trails (groomed as ski trails in the winter).  It has a wharf with fishermen selling lobster for 4.50/lb.   Just north of the park at pointe sapin, it is apparently quite possible and fun to catch striped bass off of the wharf. The bass fishing has outperformed the salmon fishing this year in fact.   On certain days, you can also join 8 other paddlers in a large voyageur style canoe, and paddle out to some barrier islands to view a colony of 700 grey seals.

We didn't fit it all in at Kouchibouguac, but we sure enjoyed the biking, the beach, and the lobster.  It was a great way to finish off our month in the Maritimes.   It would be a fine holiday destination on its own.  I would love to come back with (my Dad) to try the salmon and bass fishing, to paddle to the seals, and of course, to eat more of that ridiculously cheap lobster.

Tomorrow we take the ferry across the St Lawrence to Tadoussac Quebec in search of whales.

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Wifi in campgrounds can be a bit of challenge, so I couldn't quite complete some of my other would-be posts to the blog.  Here are a few other Maritime Highlights.


We went to Louisbourg a day early so that we would have time to explore the lighthouse trail one afternoon and the Fortress the next morning.

I wanted to take a picture of this typical maritime scene on the way to Louisbourg lighthouse.  But we couldn't stop with the camper, so I biked back later to take the picture.  I chatted with a volunteer fire fighter and park employer who was flying his drone and taking aerial pictures.

Louisbourg harbour at dusk

We bought 5 lobsters for $20 at Loggies' wharf in Kouchibouguac National Park.



The kids played on the 7 km sandy beach at Kouchibouguac National Park.

Cheticamp Cathedral - Who says you have to go to Europe to see cathedrals?  The roof painting here is quite impressive.



Miramichi Catherdral - stained glass

St George Lighthouse at Sunrise.  I went up here early in the morning from Antigonish while the others were asleep.