2004 Maritime Provinces Road Trip
July 9, 2004 - July 30, 2004
This trip was done somewhat under family protest. We had had such a spectacular trip the previous year, seeing some of the best that the desert West has to offer, that we knew it would be a hard act to follow. Rather than try to do a repeat of that trip, I decided to try something totally different—a trip to the Canadian Maritimes. Besides, our U.S. map was filled in and there was this big area just to the Northeast of us crying out to be explored. I ignored the protests of, “It will be too cold,” “There will be too many bugs,” etc. etc., and planned the trip anyway. “Don’t worry,” I told them. “It will be great.”
Well, we all turned out to be right. There were times when the weather was a challenge and the bugs made outdoor activities prohibitive, but we also discovered some truly wonderful places to add to our list of favorites.
Road Trip Highlights and Lowlights
- Jumping into the river and playing Frisbee at Broom Point on Newfoundland, one of our all time favorite beaches
- Traversing the exposed cliffs of the Beehive Trail in Acadia National Park
- Swimming in the warm waters off the red sand beaches of Prince Edward Island
- Camping on the edge of a highland bluff overlooking the Gulf of St. Lawrence at Meat Cove
- Photographing the breathtaking views of the rock cliffs rising from the fjord on Western Brook Pond in Gros Morne National Park
- Feeling like you’re in Europe without ever leaving the continent while touring the beautiful historic city of Quebec.
- Oh yeah, and meeting the nicest, friendliest, and down to earth people on earth — the people of Newfoundland.
So, while it might not have been our best trip (they can’t all be that), it certainly was a great one.
Itinerary
| # | Stop | Date | Miles | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wal-Mart - Augusta | July 9, 2004 | 385 | 7 |
| 2 | Acadia National Park | July 10, 2004 | 150 | 3 |
| 3 | Quoddy Head State Park | July 12, 2004 | 102 | 2.25 |
| 4 | Campobello Island | July 12, 2004 | 8 | 0.25 |
| 5 | Old Sow / Deer Island | July 12, 2004 | 8 | 0.25 |
| 6 | Fundy Trail Parkway / St. Martin Sea Caves | July 13, 2004 | 98 | 2 |
| 7 | Parlee Beach Provincial Park | July 13, 2004 | 107 | 2.5 |
| 8 | Cape Breton Highlands National Park / Cabot Trail | July 14, 2004 | 288 | 6 |
| 9 | Cabot Landing Provincial Park | July 15, 2004 | 50 | 1.25 |
| 10 | Meat Cove | July 15, 2004 | 15 | 0.5 |
| 11 | Ferry to Corner Brook | July 17, 2004 | 160 | 3.75 |
| 12 | Gros Morne National Park (Trout River) | July 18, 2004 | 170 | 4 |
| 13 | Rocky Harbor | July 19, 2004 | 55 | 1.5 |
| 14 | Gros Morne National Park (Shallow Bay) | July 20, 2004 | 41 | 1 |
| 15 | J. T. Cheeseman Provincial Park | July 22, 2004 | 232 | 5 |
| 16 | Whycocomagh Provincial Park | July 23, 2004 | 70 | 1.5 |
| 17 | Cavendish | July 24, 2004 | 175 | 3.5 |
| 18 | Robinsons Island National Park | July 25, 2004 | 20 | 0.5 |
| 19 | Cedar Dunes Provincial Park | July 26, 2004 | 88 | 2 |
| 20 | Kouchibouguac National Park | July 27, 2004 | 170 | 4 |
| 21 | Trois Pistoles | July 28, 2004 | 318 | 6.5 |
| 22 | Quebec City | July 29, 2004 | 166 | 3.5 |
| 23 | Home | July 30, 2004 | 478 | 9 |
All Photos (60)
