Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me; I want people to know why I look this way. I've traveled a long way, and some of the roads weren't paved. 

Will Rogers b1879 d1935

Both Nancy and I can say 

"We've travelled down some roads that were not paved"

on this somewhat weird and wonderful road trip we are on!

We HAVE travelled on some (real) unpaved roads!

And in the metaphorical sense - "we have definitely travelled down some unpaved roads".

For two "homebodies" to jump into an 80sq ft van (of living space) and travel across Canada and soon - I hope - the USA - is a BIG trip down an "unpaved road".

What have we learned?

We have become a little more tolerant of our individual foibles!

live in the moment!  And Stay in the Moment!

Small can be beautiful! We feel REALLY at home in our little "home".

Grocery and Beer shopping everyday is part of the travel ritual!

don't sweat the small things (we know it's trite but it's true).

A good yelling match is therapeutic!  

Hallway sex is simply not possible!

Meals from M&M Meats are great!

Where are we Right Now?

Sitting in a wonderful Campground in Moncton NB waiting out Hurricane Fiona whose trajectory on Friday the 23rd and Saturday the 24th is expected to pound PEI and parts of NS and NB.

The campground we are in is filling up with refugee  RV's, Campers and trailers who are fleeing the potential impacts Fiona. 

   

Tomorrow we will drive to Fredericton NB to visit a friend and distance ourselves from Fiona.  And then, after the storm, we will return to NS to finish our touring and then eventually head to the USA and home, if the impacts of Fiona are not to large!

Here is a view of our trip so far. 

Hurricane Fiona will set the agenda for us in the next few days.  

If The East coast of NS is hit hard, we will decide where  and what we will do next.  

Will keep you posted!

Brian and Fancy

Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused. - Anonymous

We have left our fears

and our intrepidations 

behind!

The East Coast calls!

We have been on the road for 7 days (including today, Monday Sept. 19th) having left Fenelon Falls on Sept. 13th.

We had our  First a beer  of the day at THE REDNECK BISTRO in Calabogie ON

Stayed at The  Rideau River Provincial Park

South of Ottawa

Raining cats and Dogs

wind blowing a hun'

 after a very late start the next day we eventually drove from south of Montreal along Highway 135 beside the St. Lawerence River

This was an incredible drive leisurely taken through rural Quebec, rich farms and quaint villages that reminded me so much of France.

  

 

We stopped along the way at a maritime Museum to visit The 1939 built icebreaker The Ernest LaPoint.

We went into Quebec City driving through Old Town and over to a Marche.  Never have I seen such a fine selection of GOOD craft beer.

Stayed in a couple of great National and Provincial Parks like this one!

In Rimouska I toured the Onandaga Submarine.  

HMCS Onondaga (S73) is an Oberon-class submarine that served in the Royal Canadian Navy and later the Canadian Forces. Built in the mid-1960s, Onondaga operated primarily with the Maritime Forces Atlantic until her decommissioning in 2000 as the last Canadian Oberon.

I hae no idea how the men on that ship were able to stand the cramped quarters.  There must have been a height restriction to under  5'10".  

Stayed at Le Mechins Camping Pignon Vert to wash some cloths!

Spectacular Sunset.  Loved the Name for some reason.

Submarine.

After a drive through some of the most scenic country I have ever been in, we arrived at Canadian National Park Forillon on the Gaspe Peninsula.

  Absolutely lovely weather all the way through.

And Swam in Perce with the world renowned Perce Rock in the background. 

Perce Rock Is a UNSECO World Hereitage Geo Site.

Percé Rock (French: Rocher Percé, meaning "pierced rock") is a huge sheer rock formation in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence on the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula in Québec, Canada, off Percé Bay. Percé Rock appears from a distance like a ship under sail.[1] It is one of the world's largest natural arches located in water and is considered a geologically and historically rich natural icon of Quebec. It is a major attraction in the Gaspésie region.[

The Percé Rock, described as "the monstrous giant; pierced through by an immense eye, now green, now gray, now blue or violet, according to the moods of the sea", is linked in legend to a young man of a noble French family.

the last 7 days have been absolutely spectacular .  The scenery along the St. Lawrence Seaway and up through the Gaspe Bay really stunning.  We are in love with the villages, the little towns and the people. 

Brian and Fancy. 

Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one. Albert Einstein

Well, now we are down to the short strokes - we are really on our way.  No more long stops with relatives, friends or shopping plazas.  Today we actually take off for the rest of our journey to the East Coast, Down to and across America and back home!

We are in your hands now Shirley!

Travel/Viaggiate - by Gio Evan

Try to travel, otherwise
you may become racist,
and you may end up believing
that your skin is the only one
to be right,
that your language
is the most romantic
and that you were the first
to be the first.

Travel,
because if you don't travel then
your thoughts won’t be strengthened,
won’t get filled with ideas.
Your dreams will be born with fragile legs and then you end up believing in tv-shows, and in those who invent enemies
that fit perfectly with your nightmares
to make you live in terror.

Travel,
because travel teaches
to say good morning to everyone
regardless of which sun we come from.

Travel,
because travel teaches
to say goodnight to everyone
regardless of the darkness
that we carry inside.

Travel,
because traveling teaches to resist,
not to depend,
to accept others, not just for who they are
but also for what they can never be.
To know what we are capable of,
to feel part of a family
beyond borders,
beyond traditions and culture.

Traveling teaches us to be beyond.

Travel,
otherwise you end up believing
that you are made only for a panorama
and instead inside you
there are wonderful landscapes
still to visit.

 

Shirley, where you going tonight?

Shirley, Shirley I love you so 

I'm never gonna let you go 

Shirley where you going tonight? 

Shirley, Shirley will you be my girl? 

I'll take you all around the world 

Shirley, where you going tonight?

I know you have been all been worried!  Where is Shirley?  Well, Shirley and the crew have been languishing for the last two weeks or so - Huntsville, Penn Lake, Toronto, Niagara On The Lake, Orillia, (for the BIG wedding - and Grand it was), Jacksons Point Lake Simcoe and Fenelon Falls. Hope you enjoy the photo montage -

Huntsville Penn Lake with Nancy's sister and brother in law for 6 days

Toronto with old friends Herb and Ildiko 

Downtown TO

Orillia and The Wedding

Family at The Wedding

Good Friends in Niagara on The Lake Clyde and Stephanie and at Lake Simcoe, Jeff and Marianne

And long time friends and work mates Ruth and Bruce in Fenelon Falls

To all of our friends ad relatives - thanks for such a warm and wonderful visit and welcome.  We enjoyed seeing and spending time with you and enjoyed your warm hospitality.  See y0u again soon I hope!

Now onto points east - Ottawa,, Montreal, Quebec City (where we will probably not spend a great deal of time as we have been there) and Gaspe Bay, Moncton and on.....

Look for the next update coming sooner than this one!