July 16, 2010
The east coast has a magnetic pull. I was in Newfoundland in May and had a craving to return to where the water gets salty. I did just that last week and spent my vacation driving to the east coast. We ended up on the north-east coast of New Brunswick in a place called Caraquet on the cliffs of Chaleur Bay (see picture). Soaking up the Acadian spirit, we drove back through Quebec along the north shore of the St. Lawrence, stopping off in Ottawa to check out the Pop Life exhibition at the National Gallery.
Floating on Chaleur Bay
I was surprised by the ease of getting camping spots. In many cases, we were the only ones at the campground—we owned the place. It seems like the days of the “staycation” have ended and Canadian tourists are travelling abroad rather than staying home. The round trip was 3300 kilometres and my car’s first road trip proved very fuel-efficient—getting just over 5 liters per 100 kilometers. Very affordable, even with the recent HST gas hike.
Let me know if you’ve gone on your vacation yet and what kind of experiences on the open road you’ve had recently. Are you planning to travel around Canada or to go elsewhere?
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July 20, 2010 at 10:21 am
Anne Garrett
Yes, I travelled to the Isle of Man in May. I was born on this Isle and was longing to return and I did!!
The cliffs, sea and hills are definitely a painter’s dream. Each bend in the road opened to another beautiful view and experience. It was a wonderful vacation and I plan to revisit my homeland and visit the family once more very soon.
July 22, 2010 at 2:07 pm
curator by day
Sounds very inspiring, Anne. Thanks for sharing and looking forward to chatting about our vacations when I see you at the Gallery. Take care!
August 16, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Ingrid Ruthig
Sounds like a grand trip, Olex. (Ah yes, the East Coast’s “magnetic pull.” I’ve a soft spot for Cape Breton, especially places like Meat Cove and Louisbourg.)
When I see you next, I’d love to hear your views on the National Gallery’s “Pop Life” exhibition. We just returned from one of our many family roadtrips – this one, yet another trip to Ottawa – and after seeing the show (along with as much of the National Gallery as we could possibly absorb all at once), my eldest daughter and I had a lengthy discussion about Warhol, integrity, and how we define Art.
In a country like this, roadtrips are an open door. You can hop in the car and drive for days through an ever-changing landscape. (Remind me to show you my take on it: “Travelling With A Mountain”.) Standing on Parliament Hill, amid thousands of cheering people, I couldn’t help but feel extremely fortunate.