August

"Mini Vacation"

2009

(31 July - 5 August 2009)

 

 

I decided to write a journal, for 3 reasons:

1st - it's fun!

2nd - Vacations just whiz by and you quickly forget what you did. *s*

3rd - To share with friends and family.

 

Friday Evening, 31 July 2009, 4h01 p.m. - Vacation STARTS!!!:


Gilbert picked me up, at work.  He had kept my car and did an much-needed oil change.  Soooo, at 4h00, he was at my work, waiting for me!  *grin*

 

Got home and he and I cleaned out my car as we'll be using it to go to Rivière-du-Loup (RDL), in the province of Quebec.  We've been talking and talking about going and we finally put our foots down and decided, "That's IT!!"... it's only about 6 hours drive from here!We're going, this time!  *VBG*

 

After the car got a quick clean-over, I tidied up my sewing studio a bit and worked on some birthday siggies that I need to mail out, soon.

 

We had supper - veggie pies with string beans, on the side... DELISH!!!

 

Then, we watched an old(?) movie, with Clint Eastwood and Kevin Costner - "A Perfect World".... It wasn't a comedy nor a chick flick, but I still enjoyed it.

 

Mind you, I traced out some DJ blocks, to work on, ASAP.... seeing as I had received a LOVELY package of Christmas fabrics, today!

 

That's about it.... When I went to bed, the rain was coming down hard!

 

Doesn't look like a good way to start a vacation, eh?

 

It "should" get better, though.  *s*

 

Saturday, 1st of August 2009

 

Well, got up to fog, but that soon turned into GORGEOUS sunshine.  Mind you, around 10 pm, last night it POURED BUCKETS, from the sky!  LOL

 

Around 7 a.m., I went and got 2 coffees, from Tim Horton's and today, we got ready for our big trip, tomorrow.

 

I managed to do 2 loads of laundry, hung them up outside... Gilbert brought them in and I put the clothes away.

I did ALL of the dirty dishes - Gilbert helped, too.

I uploaded our "GeoCaches" into our GPS's and loaded them into our car GPS, too.

I located a few spots that we need... found the addresses and uploaded those addies, into our car GPS, also.

 

I managed to finish the design of my birthday siggies - they're ready to be mailed out.

I finished the House BOM (Block Of the Month), too!

And.... ta da.... I also did a Dear Jane Block, in my Sparkling Christmas print!

Gilbert also did our computer backups - it's the FIRST of the month!!!  *grin*

 

Had supper, took a shower and watched a movie - "The Yes Man", with Jim Carrey!

 

WOW!   What a chockfull of activity day!

 

Gilbert and I have our traveling bag 1/2 ready.   Can't WAIT to be on the road, tomorrow morning. 

 

I have feeling that there's a LOT of adventure, just around the corner!   LOL

 


Sunday, 2 August 2009

 

Well, we got up around 6 a.m. and had "planned" on leaving at 7 a.m. SHARP.

I was busy running downstairs, bringing our "stuff" into the kitchen and Gilbert was outside, packing "stuff" in my car.

 

At one point, he meets me in the kitchen and says, "We're not going."

I replied, "What do you mean - we're NOT going?"

He says, "The car won't start."

 

At this point, I thought he had lost it.

I asked him, "What do you mean - the car WON'T start?!??"

 

Anyhow, it was early morning and the questions went on and on, back an forth....  Apparently, my car battery was dead!  I had never, EVER had a car battery problem, before!!!   Well, Gilbert decided to put HIS car battery in MY car and off we went.  Official time of departure?  7h55 a.m.  (NOTE:  during our trip... chit-chat, chit-chat, we FINALLY realized what had happened. While washing the car dash, Friday evening, I had left the car dome light on!  DUH!!!)

 

We gassed up (small amount) in Grand Bay-Westfield and filled up the car tank in Welsford. I thought it the gas would be cheaper in Welsford, than Grand Bay-Westfield, but it wasn't. In fact, it was a few pennies more. :-(

Planned to do a Geocache, in Oromocto and to grab a Tim Horton's (Timmies) coffee there, but we missed the exit.

 

Stopped in Woodstock, for a Timmies and let Thunder (our dog) out, too.

 

Arrived in Florenceville, around 11h15 a.m.  There was a "cache" there (see: Geocaching.com), which we found. Now, just a background note for those of you that are unaware, but Florenceville is where McCain's (Frozen) Foods began!  They have TONS of potato fields!

And, this New Brunswick Potato Museum is just new!  Plus, I had surfed on the internet and saw that they had a café and they served french fries, with different toppings!  I had even pre-selected which toppings that I wanted!  *grin*

 

 

Unfortunately, their café is closed on weekends....  Talk about STUPID!!!!   Not all tourists can travel during the week!

*long sigh*

Needless to say, I was rather disappointed.

 

Gilbert said, "Well, we can visit again, on our way back." 

I replied, "No, if they're too stupid not to open on a weekend, then I don't want to even bother!"

Yep!  I had my arms crossed, at the time and I was pouting, BIG TIME!!!!

 

Well, I had ALSO found, on the net, that there was a fairly new chip company, called "The Covered Bridge Chips".  The Potato Museum were selling these chips. I grabbed a couple bags, for Gilbert and I.

 

These are the kind of chips that are thicker -

Gilbert LOVES these kind of chips!

And YES!!!  they were good!!

*VBG*

 

Took this picture, when we finally got home....  But the coolest thing,

was that they use a regular, plastic potato bag,

as their shopping bag!

In other words, they put our 2 bags of

potato chips, in THIS bag!

Great publicity, IMHO!!!!

 

Our next stop from Florenceville was Edmundston.  There was another cache there, which we also found.  Since this spot was so delightful, we decided to pick up some subs and have an impromptu picnic there. *grin*

Gilbert's checking his laptop, to see if he can get internet, from here.

Unfortunately, he can't.

 

Here's a picture of this gazebo / picnic spot!

 

Edmundston was celebrating their yearly festival, called "La Froire Brayonne".  Unbeknown to us, they have a street parade. On our way out of Edmundston, we got caught up in 1 of their streets BEFORE the parade began and we felt like we were Mr. Bean, in 1 of his movies! LOL !!!  

 

LOTS of people were sitting in their lawn chairs and standing on the sidewalk, along this LONG street, watching us drive by. At one point, I started waving to them, like the Queen of England!  LOL

 

We finally crossed the border, into Quebec!  What a difference!  Road signs were now in French, instead of bilingual (English/French)!  *grin*

 

NOTE:  Time difference between Quebec and New Brunswick is 1 hour but all throughout my "Mini Vacation Journal, ALL times will be indicated in NEW BRUNSWICK time... s'easier on my brain, that way!  LOL

 

Anyhow, since we had PLENTY of time before we headed to our (reserved) cabin, we decided to take a few side exits and visit some of these little villages.  SOOOO beautiful and pitoresque!!!   Everyone maintains their homes!!!

 

Drove through:  Dégelis (pop. 3,222) and Notre-Dame-du-Lac (pop. 2,120).  We got out of the car, at some "Community Center". Gilbert wanted to see if he could capture an internet signal.  Didn't work - no free internet.  While he was doing that, I sat down near a patch of grass and started grooming Thunder.  Would you believe that I had brushed him, just BEFORE we left on our trip?!?!?

 

Well, here's a mini video, on Thunder's grooming:

 

Community Center

 

From there, we drove through Cabano (pop. 3,211) and arrived at Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! (pop. 1,409) - in the heart of "Temiscouata... shortened for "Temis" at approx. 4h30 p.m. and checked into our cabin, at "Camping des Huards". We had cabin #4.

 

BTW, our campground was 3 kilometres (approx. 2 miles) INTO the woods!!!  I thought we'd NEVER get there!  LOL

 

Where does this name, come from?  According to the tourism brochure, the name could have come from the explorers that would have exclaimed, in French, "Ah! Ah! Voici le lac!"  Translated - "Oh! Oh! There is the lake!"  Over the years, the "ah" would have become "ha".

 

But, the word, "Ha! Ha!, in Hescuewaska (native Indian) means "something unexpected".  That was soon to become our own little inside "code", when we came across "something unexpected" - Ha! Ha!

 

Okay, once we checked in and unpacked, we sat outside on our deck and relaxed.

 

Here's me, relaxing on the deck.

 

After a good 10 minutes of that, we started counting the minutes till bed time!   OH MY GOD!!!  What a shock!!!!

 

No television, no telephones - Okay, we had our cell phone with us, but nevertheless....  and NO INTERNET!!!!!!!!!!  Not even a bed side radio!!!!!

 

Okay, at one point, I suggested that we go for a walk around the park and Gilbert filmed the lake (360 degrees). Once again, it's in French.

 

360 degree mini You Tube video of "Lac Dôle".

 

What does a person do, eh?!??!   Well, I went down to their little restaurant/bar and picked up a bag of "Oignons français" - which is actually "Onion Rings"... We sat on the deck and ate those.  Now, what to do??!??! 

 

Gilbert's video (in French) of us discussing their menu.

 

Frummie (my friend) called me, on our cell phone!  I could have given her a HUGE hug, at that point!  5 or 10 minutes went by, with that phone call and then, another 10 or 20, discussing with Gilbert about what had been discussed.

 

Are you getting my point, here?!?!?   Sooooo, I told Gilbert, "To heck with the gas money and everything else!  Let's go back into civilization before I goes REALLY wacky, here!"

 

So, Gilbert and I repacked up our precious items (camera, laptop, etc, etc.) and headed into "Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!" village.  Now, with a population of 1,409... do you REALLY think there was much to see?!??   Well, Gilbert and I drove throughout the whole village - that took a good 20 minutes (LOL) and then, we stopped at the local grocery/convenience store and took our good ole time, looking and touching everything!  LOL

 

I picked up some beer and told Gilbert, "I'll NEVER sleep tonight!!  I'm gonna have a few beers and see if THAT doesn't help!"

 

Well, we picked up some food items, too.... returned to our cabin, sat down outside.... ate a few snacks and drank a couple beers!

 

All day long, I would tell Gilbert, "Thank GOD it's windy!  Otherwise, the bugs would probably be REAL bad!!!"  Well, while we were eating our snacks on our deck, a freak wind came upon us, along with some rain drops!  We rushed inside and THEN, it started to downpour!

 

We ended up playing solitaire on Gilbert's lap top - we didn't even think to bring playing cards with us!  LOL

 

My Mom called us, just as we got into bed - around 10 p.m.  Once again, I was never so happy to "talk" to someone else!!!   A voice from the outside world!!!  *VBG*

 

One final note about this cabin - I would have strongly recommended it - it was peaceful, with a beautiful lake and the people were REALLY friendly but OH MY GOODNESS!!!!   There must have been something wrong with their water well!  The water STUNK to high heavens!  Smelled like rotten eggs (and worst)!!!    So, we didn't dare take a shower, in the morning.

 

No, we didn't bother saying anything to the owner.... we felt that it wasn't necessary - they probably already knew about this problem, anyhow. *s*

 

Monday, 3 August 2009 ............... HAPPY NEW BRUNSWICK DAY!!!!!!!!!! 

 

Well, we got up at 6 a.m. (approx.) and quickly packed up and left - direction Rivière-du-Loup (RDL) - our destination, for the day.

 

Just before we left, I took a couple pictures.... The sun was starting to shine and there was still a leftover "mist" from last night's rain, over the lake.

 

This is a picture of my car and the main office.

Restaurant/bar is on the left.

 

 

The lake is not "swimmable" but was incredibly beautiful,

at this time of the day!

 

And, as we were leaving, Gilbert stopped the car and took this picture, saying, "Hey!  This would make a great desktop picture!"

 

Sooooo, if you wish, you can click on this picture and you'll get the FULL size.... "save it" and use it as a desktop picture, if you wish...

*grin*

 

 

Okay, leaving Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!, we desperately needed a cup of coffee and we needed to brush our teeth!  No WAAAAY were we going to use that foul smelling water!  LOL

 

By 8h30, we arrived on the outskirts of Rivière-du-Loup (RDL) - population 18,999. Could never understand why they couldn't add just ONE more person and make it an even 19,000!  LOL

 

Anyhow, we stopped at a "Petro Canada", which also had a Tim Hortons. Grabbed 2 coffees and some toast, gave the dog his breakfast and off we went!

 

Since the stores weren't open yet, we decided to do a few caches. We looked for 3 caches and found 2! 

 

Here's one of the caches that we went to. 

The cache container was hidden in one of the knots, in this big tree.

You can see that Gilbert's got his hand in there, pretty deep,

to grab the cache container!

 

Then, stopped at a "Comfort Inn" and Gilbert managed to log onto the internet (free)... FINALLY!!!!    We were able to read our emails. 

 

*PHEW*!!!!!   If you're a Puter Junkie, like us, you'll know how we felt!  LOL

 

From there, we went to the Mall.

 

Picked this up at Le Rouet, at an incredible price, IMHO!

 

Beautiful, soft yellow umbrella with pretty flowers!!!

 

Then, we went to the Dollar Store and picked up a whole BUNCH of Quebec souvenirs: maps, pencils and even a bandana for Thunder!

 

I even got this for our bedroom and bathroom - 2 bucks each!!!

 

 

 

From the Dollar Store, we popped into the Co-Op (a grocery store) and picked up a few things that we can't purchase here.

 

Left the shopping mall and since it was dinner time (lunch for some of you out there), we decided to go grab some pizza.  On our way to the pizzaria, Gilbert spotted the RDL tourist booth - there was an inactive train caboose, there!!!  YEP!!!.... another cache was hidden there and YEP!!!  we stopped and we found it!!!  *VBG*

 

See Gilbert?  The cache is hidden behind the big wheel - it was magnetic!

 

Gilbert and I had been to RDL, a few years ago and had eaten at this FANTASTIC pizza spot!  In fact, I think it's the best takeout pizza that I've EVER had!  Of course, we had to go back there!  *VBG*

 

It's just a little pizza joint, called "Pizza LaFontaine".  When we got there, I told the lady that we had been there, 3 years ago and she said, "Oh my! That's been quite a while and we've since purchased this place...." But she quickly reassured me that the pizza was just as good, if not better!  And BOY, she wasn't lying, either!!!!!

 

She even let us have Thunder with us, on their deck -

Thunder was a Happy Camper!!!  LOL

 

From there, we tried to find a "Puzzle Cache"... those are more difficult and as we didn't want to waste too much time on caching and we still had a LOT of places to go visit, we quickly gave up on this one.

 

From there, we went to "Yellow", a shoe store.  I needed a pair of shoes and unfortunately, they didn't have what I was looking for.  Then, we went to "L'Aubainerie".  I picked up a black speghetti strap top, some undies and a shirt for James, my youngest son.

 

Then, we went to IGA - another food store.

 

Afterwards, SAQ (Societé Alcool du Québec) and picked up an appetizer that Gilbert LOVES, but isn't sold in OUR province. I picked up a 4 pack of margaritas. You freeze these little packs for 8 hours. Afterwards, it appears as if you have a slushy margarita. Have no idea - haven't tried it before, but... once again... you can't get this in my province, unfortunately.

 

From there, I was getting pretty pooped. Gilbert wanted to go to "Maxi's"... another grocery store. I told him, "Go ahead... I'll just sit here and watch the car and the dog!"... LOL

 

Gilbert came back from Maxi and we had a few more spots to visit, before returning to New Brunswick.

 

Next stop?  Le "Terroirs d'ici et d'ailleurs". They specialize in Quebec cheese and imported cheeses, too... along with fine herbs, deli meats and other specialty produce. Well, since Gilbert is a vegetarian and LOVES cheeses and I had see on the net that this place had 112 different cheese varieties - we HAD to stop!   Which we did and I bought over for over 30 dollars in cheese!!!  Yoopie!!!

 

LOVED the spot!  and so did Gilbert!!

 

From there, we stopped at another Petro Canada, for lottery tickets and ice, for our cooler - gotta look after that cheese!  *grin*

 

One last spot - "La Bis".  It's a French/European bakery.  We picked up 2 brioches. Now, THAT place smelled heavenly, too!   And if I hadn't gotten a rude awakening when I had tried some clothes on, early in the day... I probably would have bought EVERYTHING in that little shop!  LOL

 

See their mail box?   It's one of those old fashioned...

vintage perhaps?...  metal bread box!!!

 

I thought it was the cutest thing!

 

Well, since we finally had to leave Rivière-du-Loup, we found the exit to the highway and hit the road, again.

 

Stopped in Notre-Dame-du-Lac, at a "Alte Routière"..... it's one of those little spots, along the highway, that the government maintains. I think they're the SMARTEST thing, since sliced bread!!!   Unfortunately, New Brunswick has very few of these, if any.  :-(

 

Got back in the car.... made it over to the New Brunswick side.

 

Saw a tractor-trailer and a car accident, in Rivière-Verte.  That kinda makes you slow down.  Everyone seemed to be okay, but your stomach (and heart) always feels bad, for these people.

 

Arrived in Saint-Leonard and stopped at Tim Hortons, where we had a nice coffee and ate our "brioche" from the bakery. OH MY GOD, but it was good!!!!

 

Now, at this point... I must have been tired - I didn't note the time that we arrived at our motel... Probably around 7 or 8 p.m.

 

Reserved motel was in Saint-Leonard Parent.  Small but clean room, with a small shower but HEY!!!  the water didn't "stink"!!!!!  LOL

 

We both took a shower, when we settled in and I think we each lost 5 pounds!  LOL

 

Now, in THIS spot, we had TV!!!!   Okay, no cable TV, but at least 3 or 4 channels!!!   WOW!!!   another luxury!!!   LOL

 

This is a picture from our motel, in the evening.

WHAT A GORGEOUS EVENING!!

Not too cold, nor too hot and not too many bugs!

*grin*

 

 

And another picture, looking AT our motel door - # 5, that is!

We were REALLY lucky!

No one else was in the other rooms, while we were there!

*grin*

 

Well, all in all, I think we both fell asleep around 10 p.m. - we were BOTH exhausted from our full day, in RDL!!!

 

Tuesday, 4 August 2009

 

Got up early, again - 5h20 a.m.  Got ready, slowly and packed the car, I managed to grab coffees, from the Administration Office.

 

Went BACK to Saint-Leonard and grabbed 2 Timmies coffees, along with 2 toasted buns - same idea as toasts!  We left there around 8 a.m.

 

We then headed for Aroostock. There was a Geocache there, with an incredible 300 year old tree!  And YES, deep in the woods, we found it!  Gilbert even took the time to video tape it and it's now on You Tube!

 

Picture of Gilbert, video taping!

 

Gilbert suggested that we go to the base of the tree

and take a picture, looking UPWARDS.

 

Cool, eh?  *grin*

From there, we stopped at a corner store, in Perth Andover...

 

Stopped at Woodstock and tried to find a quilt store, that I had seen on the internet.  Once again, I was a bit disappointed. Apparently, this gal has a business called "HemLines"....  and she was in the process of moving to a new location. Anyhow, that was a complete waste of time....

 

We tried to find the exit to the Mataquac Electrical dam. I wanted to show it to Gilbert, but the province was doing major highway renovations/construction and we were unable to find the proper exit.

 

Ended up eating in Fredericton, at Harvey's, around 1 p.m.

 

This is Gilbert's FAVORITE spot, for veggie burgers. We opted for a salad and bottled water, instead of the usual fries and pop. We've made a resolution to try and cut back... as much as possible.

 

Gassed up in Fredericton and then, headed for home!  Arrived here around 3 p.m.... unpacked the car, admired all our purchases and chuckled over the fact that we now have our computers, WITH INTERNET, and no stinky water!  LOL

 

Gilbert plugged up MY car battery, to his battery charging thingy.... in hopes that he can bring it back to life.  *s*

 

I left around 5 p.m., to go to the grocery store to pick up some grapes, tomatoes and a baguette.

 

Supper was around 7 p.m. .... YES, I KNOW we said that we'd try to cut back and we did, somewhat.

 

But, I ask you.... when you have a spread like this,

in front of you.....

 

HOW CAN YOU CUT BACK!??!?

 

*VBG*

 

Look at this GORGEOUS cheese !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Well, after supper, we watched some TV and I tried to read, reply, forward and/or delete a whole bunch of emails.

 

What a MARVELLOUS TRIP!!!

 

Wednesday, 5 August 2009

 

Got up around 6h30 and picked up a couple "Timmies".... one of our last little vacation treats. *s*

 

Did a load of laundry and hung most of it, in the house as it was foggy!

 

Worked on this "Journal", most of the day.

 

We had tomato bagels, for dinner (lunch for some of you) and it's been foggy, all day!  I think we either were EXTREMELY lucky as we had EXCELLENT day time weather or Saint John, with it's almost perpetual cloak of fog, is true to form... :-(

 

Around 6 p.m., I sat down - FINALLY - to do some sewing. I managed to make FOUR Dear Jane (DJ) blocks, with my sparkly, Christmas fabric!

 

Off to bed - 11h10 p.m.

 

Next vacation?  Probably first 2 weeks of September!

 

Rosa