We crossed the Restigouche River from Quebec to Campbellton, New Brunswick.
Campbellton, New Brunswick
Our campsite at Campbellton RV Camping in New Brunswick is fairly new, 50 amp service, good water pressure, and a pull through looking at the bay. Wifi was free, good enough to surf, but not stream Netflix. The site was not very level but on a nice crushed rock pad. It took an additional 6 inches of blocks to level the front. There was hardly anyone at the park. So we took the opportunity to give the Jeep and the RV a bath! We went to a seafood market and indulged in a few pounds of lobster.
A restaurant on site just opened a couple of weeks earlier. The food (scallops and salmon) and service were amazing with views of the water and bridge.
Miguasha National Park
We went back into Quebec to visit the Miguasha Natural History Museum. It has over 9,000 specimens of fossil fish and plants. The park is considered the world’s most representative paleontological site of the Devonian Period, called the “age of fishes”. The site is of significance because it contains the greatest number and best preserved fossil specimens of the lobe-finned fishes that gave rise to the Tetrapods, the first terrestrial vertebrates.
An impressive fossil of Elpistostege was discovered at this site. It was a fish because it has two pairs of fins, not legs. Significantly, the pectoral fins each have a humerus that articulates with two parallel bones, a radius and an ulna, and the pelvic fins have a femur that articulates with a tibia and a fibula. The early beginnings of arms and legs. Amazing!
The fossil site was discovered in 1842 by Abraham Gesner along the cliffs by the ocean. He handed over samples to the British Museum and the Royal Scottish Museum. Interest in the site escalated over the years. It was rumored that a private group wanted to purchase the land, so, in 1985 Quebec made it a National Park. The peripheral area is owned by a group of approximately 100 people who limit the development to protect the location. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999.
Petite Rocher
They were having their second annual Blues and Music Festival. Numerous bands were playing around the city at different times and locations. Seemed like the whole city attended.
Petite Rocher is where my father’s mother was raised. Her father was a carpenter and shipbuilder. They left Petite Rocher when she was young to live in northern Michigan. They learned English and stopped speaking French. My dad’s parents met while she was a waitress and he was a miner in Michigan. His mom did not eat lobster, because they were scavengers. Sandy and I have no issues with what lobsters eat and love the way they taste, especially with butter!
There was a small car show. We had Jeep service done in Campbellton. Our service advisor was there with his restored Rambler.
Grand Anse
This is another small and cute coastal town in New Brunswick. It has a beautiful protected beach.
Caraquet
It is situated on the shore of Chaleur Bay in the Acadian Peninsula. Its economy is primarily marine based.
We camped at Colibri Sur Mer next to the water. Wifi, when working, was great and we could stream Netflix. The water pressure was good. Power was 30 amp. We camped next to people with the same RV as ours and who were at the last campground. They had their Newmar Dutch Star for 5 years and were a great resource.
Really enjoy these teardrop campers. Tent camping is great, but these take it to the next level. Queen size beds, cabinets, heaters, outdoor kitchens, lights, and water.
The lobster industry is huge here. There were lobster traps stacked everywhere. The season is about to open in 2 weeks. The locals consider it a celebration with lobster cookouts and music.
Caraquet was a great base location to explore Miscou and Lameque Islands.
Winters must be severe based on the size of the firewood piles next to some of the houses.
There was live Celtic music at the Miscou lighthouse.
New Brunswick is stunning whether it was sunset or sunrise.
Bouctouche
There were oyster farms, a winery, and blueberry farms around the campground. This was a nice area to be for a couple of days. Costco and Home Depot were only about 30 minutes away. Our campsite was new, had 50 amp service, good power, 50 psi water pressure, and a large pad with some privacy. There was no cable or internet. Too many trees to use Dish satellite. It was a great opportunity to catch up on our Marty Stouffer’s Wild America DVD and flashback to all those late 70’s and early 80’s sweaters.
Shediac
We had to see the worlds largest lobster! They also claim to be the lobster capital of the world, except, the seafood restaurant we went to was out of them until lobster season started. Sandy decided to have mussels instead.
