Family Travel

Campobello is a really interesting place. An international park run by the U.S. and Canada on Campobello Islandd, New Brunswick. FDR’s “cottage” is there with all of its original furnishings. FDR designed and played in a golf course there before he was stricken by polio. Guides were clear to say that he did not contract polio there, although he was in Campolbello when it leveled him. The actual contraction took place in Bear Mountain, N.Y.
Anyway, it is a beautiful place with lots of history. Before leaving we dined at a nice restaurant where the locals go called Family Fisheries.
Leaving Campobello, we crossed to Lubeck, Maine in the good old USA. We could not get a room in Bangor, so drove down to Pittsfield, Maine where we got a old fashioned yet clean room. Norman, the desk clerk was pleasant too. We did not meet his mother.
Next, we head for home.

When we left Charlottetown, it was raining at a pretty good clip. By the time we got to the Confederation Bridge which would take us to New Brunswick, the rain had stopped. But, it was so windy the authorities were stopping trucks, cars with trailers and motorcycles from crossting the 8 mile bridge. Cars, such as ours, were let through and we crossed the bridge with no incident.

Along the way to St. Martens, we stopped at the Hopewell Cape Rocks. The tide was out so we walked down on a long series of steps to the ocean floor. There, we saw massive rock formations worn over the eons by water and wind. After we left, the tide rose 35 feet to cover most of the rocks.

Once at St. Martens we checked into the Quaco Inn and then had a bite to eat at the Caves Restaurant featuring their “World Famous Chowder.” Next, we will head out to St. John’s and St. Andrew. And tomorrow, we are planning to go to Campobello Island where FDR spent some time. It takes

We started the day by being treated to a "how-to" on grilling seafood. It took place in Cavendish Grove. Two young ladies showed us how to grill oysters, mussels, rainbow trout and haddock. And of course there were free samples. Yummy. While in Cavendish we visited the house which was the setting for the Anne of Green Gables novels. Lucy Maud Montgomery, the author, is buried nearby. She wrote some 21 novels about Anne and others in the early 1900's. Today, here novels live on providing a nice economic boost to the area. You can everything from a Anne of Greene Gables diary to a little hat with red pigtails.
Thanks to Mary's planning, we drove out to Malpeque, the oyster center of PEI. Jim had a full dozen of Malpeques at the Oyster Barn, a rustic place on the second floor above a fish market. He is still savoring the taste. Malpegue is in an outlying area over a couple of dirt roads. It was well worth the trip. After that, we drove to Summerside, a touristy area where we got our gift shop fix. We finished the evening watching the Simpsons in Chartlottetown. The movie had its moments but we were disappointed. The animation was excellent. It rained during the night. Wind warnings in effect for 8/9.

In the morning, Jim switched his watch to his right wrist so he could tan on the white band on his left. But, this is not about Jim, or is it? After arriving in Charlottetown, PEI, Mary took Jim to the Claddagh Oyster House on Sidney Street and treated him to a half-dozen Colville Bay Oysters. Thanks Mary! They were terrific. Maybe, we will go back tonight. Before leaving Baddeck, we visited the Alexander Graham Bell museum there. What an interesting person. Besides his many inventions and tinkerings, he devoted his life to helping the deaf communicate. He married one of his deaf students, 10 years his junior. We could not visit his house which was on an island in the bay, now occupied by his descendants - probably awash in dividends from AT&T and variious Ma Bell stocks.
To get to PEI, we drove from Baddeck to Caribou and than took the one-hour ferry to PEI. Next, we will explore PEI, maybe to the East. Then, we will have some more oysters!

We took a beautiful drive to Cheticamp and stayed there. Then, we drove all around Cape Breton National Park on the Cabot Trail. Some of the most beautiful coastal scenery we have seen. We stopped along the way to have some fresh Aspy oysters and a delicious lobster roll. Heavy Scot influence here. We saw a Scotsman playing his pipes, walking along the shore. Later, we saw the same thing depicted on a postcard. Perfect weather and not crowded. And, here, it rains at night! Along the way, we had to take a ferry we did not know about. A short run to get to Baddeck; it held just 12 cars. Today, we hope to see Alexander Graham Bell's house. Then, it is on to Prince Edward Island by way of a 70 minute ferry.