Tuesday, June 28, 2016, Moncton, NB
Day 31

A two hour drive put us at the Magnetic Hill Winery in Moncton about 11:30.  We parked the coach between the vineyard and the rhubarb patch as we will be parking for the night with our Harvest Hosts host.  Of course, a wine tasting is first on the agenda.  Fruit wines included a rhubarb wine that was better than expected but not to my palate.  We did buy a couple bottles of  bourbon barrel maple wine and some more maple syrup.  After lunch, we headed to Shediac to see the world’s biggest lobster, weighing in at 50 tons and measuring 35 feet long.  Then back to Moncton for a walk around downtown and a visit to the tidal bore park to wait for the tidal bore to come.  The tidal bore is a foot and a half tidal wave that reverses the flow of the St. John River.  The reversal causes the nearly empty river to fill and rise about 25 feet in about 2 hours.  Then the river slowly falls over the next 10 hours until the next tidal bore.  When you saw it coming from a distance it did not look like much but when it comes near and you can hear it as well, it was pretty neat.  Afterward, dinner at the Tide & Boar Gastropub where I could not resist the wild boar poutine. Sorry you missed it Aaron but this was way better than the Montreal poutine. The fries were crispy and covered with a mound of meat with melting cheese curds.  The gravy was served in a separate small pitcher which prevented any sogginess. My top adjective describing food applies - outrageous!  Washed down with a Flat Black Jesus oatmeal stout. Rosemary had panko parmesan crusted haddock which was also good. I suspect this meal will cost me several Asian meals in the near future.

Monday, June 27, 2016, Fredericton, NB
Day 30

After a very quiet night at the Woodstock Walmart (we have not yet found a 24 hour Walmart in Canada so it gets real quiet when they close at about 11:00), we headed to Fredericton, the capital city of New Brunswick.  After checking into the Walmart we took a walk in the Botanical Gardens which during June is supposed to be full of blooming azaleas and rhododendrons. Well, not a one could be found. Disappointing but we did get a nice walk.  After lunch, we had our own private tour of the Mactaquac Biodiversity Facility, a salmon hatchery and fish collection facility. They raise about 900,000 salmon and release them at various stages of growth. The facility is located just down river from a power station dam and was established to protect the fish whose path was blocked by the dam. As to the facility’s success, since its beginning in the 1960's when 10,000 salmon returned and were collected and transported over the dam to spawn, this year only 600, up from only 200 last year. Folks, we need to stop eating wild Atlantic salmon before they are no more. Next was our own private tour of the Mactaquac Generating Station.  A six turbine facility built from 1963 to 1968. A fascinating tour takes you to see the actually spinning turbine. An interesting part of the tour is a presentation of several options for the dams future as it approaches the end of its useful life.  The dam is suffering from alkali aggregate disease which causes the concrete to crack.  The dam is leaking quite a bit although we were told it is in no danger of collapse.  An eerie sight regardless.  Next was our own private tour of the Government House.  (The tourist season here is July and August so apparently the tours do not fill up in June, thus, private tours for us!) Built in 1826-1828, this is the office and residence of the lieutenant governors as well as a museum of the house and of Fredericton.  Each province in Canada has a lieutenant governor who represents the monarchy, not to be confused with the Governor General who represents the monarchy on behalf of the entire country.  A walk around downtown and a stop at the Picaroon Brewtique to sample its beers and take home a couple brown ales (the first purchase of the day as all the other activities were free).  Rosemary commented we did a lot for a city with nothing in it!

Sunday, June 26, 2016, Woodstock, NB
Day 29

Departed the big cities route and headed for New Brunswick, a province of only about 740,000 people, smaller than each of Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.  First stop is Grand Falls to view the grand falls and gorge. Well, the falls and gorge were underwhelming, definitely not worthy of the name “Grand”.  The info lady said the falls are more impressive in April and May when the snow melt brings more water to the falls. After a few minutes we are back on the road and stop at the Walmart in Woodstock, NB.  No hippies sighted. After dinner, we drove the car to Hartland to see the world’s longest covered bridge dating to around 1901, length 1282 feet. The bridge is one lane and has a pedestrian path as well. We walked the bridge, round trip. Then we drove the bridge.  With lights on, one must wait until no lights coming from the other side in order to proceed.  Then you gun it and hope no one comes in the opposite direction while you are on the bridge.

Saturday, June 25, 2016, Quebec City, QC
Day 28

Morning spent just chilling with Aaron before we take him to the airport for his trip back to San Diego. Three loads of laundry and grocery shopping.  Down time was welcomed.