It’s been many years since Jenny and I had the opportunity to go anywhere along, just the two of us so our little day trip around South East New Brunswick was one to remember for many years to come.
The weather was absolutely perfect for the day, we couldn’t have asked for anything better. Come the next day though I think we would have asked for a few clouds to give us a break from the sun as we were both wiped when we woke up.
I guess we over did it, quite a bit. Poor Jenny was sick, exhausted and I am sure she was also dehydrated even though she drank a gallon more water than I did.
First, a public apology to my fishing buddy Jamie.
We had planned to go fishing on Monday but when I got up at 5:30 it was pouring out so I didn’t put my gear outside like I usually do. I just sat down for a minute and the next thing I knew it was 7 am and Jamie was long gone.
I only closed my eyes for a minute. I thought.
When I woke up I immediately looked at the time and hit the floor running. I was some stiff from all the walking and climbing from the day before.
I emailed Jamie just incase he had headed back home, to let him know I was awake and ready to go if he was still ready. But he had headed out fishing on his own after waiting in my drive for 45 minutes.
That’s the first time I remember missing a day of fishing because I fell back to sleep. I usually have my gear outside and am pacing the floor eager to hit the road.
My humble apologizes to Jamie.
He now has permission to call the house if I am not out there waiting like usual.
Now on to our little tour of New Brunswick.
Our Day Trip Tour of South East New Brunswick
While Jenny was on vacation we decided to rent a car for the weekend, not really thinking about the fact it was a long weekend. It gave us an opportunity to visit Jenny’s Aunt in Fredericton on Saturday and to take a little tour of our favorite scenic spots.
We went until we just had to call it quits and go home. What a day, but a great day like we haven’t had in years over 20 years actually.
We walked and climbed and had a great time, not thinking for a minute how we would feel when we stopped. No trouble falling asleep that’s for sure.
Poor Jenny was sick in bed all day Monday. I think she got a little more sun and exercise than she expected, good thing we both wear lots of sun screen.
Jenny drinks lots of water every day but I think because of the activity of the day and the amount of time we were in the sun she should have taken in about twice as much as she normally does, maybe even more.
Well we will know for next time.
Shediac, New Brunswick
We started our touring day early and we were already in Shediac by 8 am. What a beautiful place.
We couldn’t leave Shediac without at least taking a picture of the huge lobster. As many times as I have been through Shediac I have never once stopped to take a look at the Giant Lobster.
I wanted her to climb up and sit on the lobster but that wasn’t going to happen any time soon so I snapped the picture and we headed to the warf.
I couldn’t believe the changes since the last time I was there. It is all cleaned and fixed up.
Instead of the old rotting timbers and rusting steel on the warf it’s all new concrete and much safer.
I love just walking the warf and watching people fish for Mackerel.
We wanted to go to Hopewell Cape to see the Flower Pot Rocks but the tide wasn’t going to be right until late afternoon so we left went to a few places that the tide didn’t matter.
The Old Train Tressel
Another little spot I used to fish for brook trout was on the way to our next stop at Crooked Creek so made a right and took Jenny to a spot I love and where my son and his friends go just to sit and look at the view.
There is a little brook that goes under the train tressel where little brookies love to hang out. Unfortunately I didn’t bring any fishing gear so I wasn’t able to give it a try on this day.
I took a few more pictures and stood there for a while thinking I might see a trout but I was also eager to get going to our next stop.
We couldn’t drive by a covered bridge without stopping for a few pictures as we don’t get to see too many these days.
This covered bridge isn’t in use any longer and it’s just outside Riverside Albert.
From there our next stop was a spot I don’t think I have been for more than 10 years, maybe even longer.
Crooked Creek Lookout
The lookout was only a couple of minutes away, just off the main road and is paved all the way to the top.
There is even a little trail that loops through the forest so you can give your legs a little stretching, but you don’t need to take the trail to see the view.
From the lookout I could see a little bit of the brook I used to fish, way down in the valley.
Forgive the poor quality image. I am not the best at taking pictures to start with but the heat and haze made it even tougher to get a nice clean image, so you will have to go and see for your self.
From there we wanted to go to Cape Enrage so we crossed Crooked Creek and took the scenic route instead of sticking to the highway. As we approached Crooked Creek I saw truck by the river bank so we stopped to see what they were up to.
All I could think about was NOT having my fishing gear with me in Rainbow season but I know we would have a better day if I had no chance to stop and fish. By the way, my wife is not a fisher person. 
We didn’t want to bother the couple and their beautiful dog as they were getting ready to launch but we did wish them the best day of fishing.
Their gorgeous dog just itching to get in the boat but was waiting for the okay from his/her master.
The certainly had an ideal day for fishing. The wind was just strong enough to keep the bugs down but not so strong as to make navigation tough.
We picked a few ripe raspberries growing by the river. I love that part of walking a river mid summer. The raspberries are always within reach for a tasty treat. They are tiny but packed with flavour.
Then it was off to Cape Enrage.
Stoney Beach
Just before heading up the steep hill to Cape Enrage to see the lighthouse we stopped at a little beach. It was made up of small smooth stones beaten into shape by the constant waves slapping them.
On both sides of the beach we cliffs that went straight up. A pretty cool site. Here is a photo I took of the cliffs to our left.
And here is a picture of the cliffs to our right.
Just to give you an idea of just how huge these cliffs are I got Jenny to stand at the bottom while I took a couple of pictures. I kept having to move backwards to get the cliffs height to show.
I wasn’t sure if she was being naughty with her finger or just adjusting her sunglasses as it was extremely bright.
We walked along the beach and I picked up a few shiny smooth stones that looked pretty cool. I thought I would bring them home and add them to my little collection of beach stones.
Eventually I will have enough to do something with. I was thinking of putting them in a glass bowl and grow some bamboo in it.
I looked at some rocks that have likely been there for a million years or so. It’s amazing how Mother Nature can cut them up like a loaf of bread.
I guess it’s the constant freezing and thawing that causes them to break apart but it’s more fun to envision Mother Nature cutting them up.
It looks like someone took a big knife and sliced it all up. I couldn’t believe that it was shattered all over the place, but it was sitting there in perfect form even though it was in about 20 layers.
I finally moved back far enough so that I could get the entire cliff in the shot. Notice Jenny is still standing there, even after waiting for me to take the pictures of the rock loaf above. She rocks.
I love walking beaches like this. You never know what you will come across. I also a amazed at how anything can live in the rocks and stones with so much pounding by the waves but things do.
On Up To Cape Engrage
After walking and admiring all the beauty we hopped back in the car and headed up the hill to the lighthouse and lookout.
When we got to the top of the lookout I took a picture of where Jenny had been standing against the cliffs. I think we are about 3 kilometers away.
One of the guides at the lookout was telling us we were lucky this day because if you look out in the distance you can see the fog just hanging over the water. It could have easily moved in and messed up our day as far as getting great views and takingh pictures go.
The weather has been nother but rain for weeks with a bit of sunshine here and there.
So, we were certainly, not lucky, but blessed to get a day like this. Especially when we spent the money to rent a car for a couple of days and the fact that this was our vacation time. It’s been gorgeous.
I must admit though but this time we were already feeling the heat and exercise from walking up so many hills in one day, but our day was only have over at this point.
The lighthouse is nice to see. I have always loved looking at lighthouses but I think on this day I was more focused on the beauty and ruggedness all around us.
We didn’t go up there but there is a great spot at Cape Enrage to go repelling. The picture is not focused well but I can’t blame the haze this time. I think the walk had me kind of breathless and I was shaking a bit.
I guess I could have taken a minute to catch my breath or at least have used the fence or a tree to steady myself. I didn’t realize it until I got home and I ain’t going back just yet for another picture.
We still had a few hours to go before heading to Hopewell Cape to see the Flower Pot and Rocks as the tide was still going out but we wanted to be sure it was out enough for us to go down to the water.
So we stopped at a couple of spots I used to take Jenny when we first got married 27 years ago. We didn’t fish, because I was being a good husband and left my gear at home, right.
So here are a few little spots I have taken some nice trout in the past. Sorry I can’t tell you the exact spots as they are my secret spots.
This is an early season spot where I love to take my fly rod on the first day of fishing season. Of course it isn’t all green and beautiful then but every once in a while I would pull a nice little meal out of here.
There is a spot on the opposite side of the road here that is almost as good but I never seem to get much on that side of the road.
Usually this little spot is pretty much dried up by August but this year we have had rain at aleast a couple of times a week and the water level is higher than I can remember.
Oh why didn’t I bring my fly rod, oh yeah, we were not fishing today were we dear?
I had another great picture I wanted to add here but it would have given away the location of my little early season trout hot spot. So instead it’s on to the next stop on our New Brunswick tour.
Hopewell Cape Rocks
We stopped at a little diner for a bit to eat before heading to the Rocks at Hopewell Cape as we were ready to faint from the heat and hunger.
It’s been many years since we were at the Rocks. The last time I stopped there was just after they started to charge to see them. I was not very pleased on that day.
But we sucked it up and handed over our money so I could go in and take some pictures. It really is worth paying but I just felt that if we live here we should be able to see our natural wonders without reaching into our wallets.
I never get tired of looking at the rocks and exploring but this day there were hundreds of people so it was hard to get a good photo without having people in it.
Well that was our New Brunswick Tour day. It only took us two days to get our energy back but it was all worth it, except for missing a fishing trip with Jamie the next day.
I must have been wore out way more than I was willing to admit.
