Andy & Gillie's Big Adventure!: August 2015

As we travel around these countries that were previously coloured red on the map, it becomes more and more apparent just how bum-licky and/or unimaginative those responsible for naming places really were. We have been through Scarborough (several), Whitby, Pickering, Leeds, Derby (?!), Kingston, a Kornucopia of Kents, dozens of Denmarks – new and otherwise, Sheerness – no that’s a lie: no-one would seriously want to reference that town more than once, random Richibuctos (another lie) and of course Humpty Doo. And we aren’t even in Nova Scotia yet!!!

Bewilderingly, one of Montreal’s main tourist areas, Place Jacques Cartier – where we had a big lunch on Saturday (8^th, if you’re counting) - has a memorial commemorating the destruction of the combined French and Spanish fleets in 1805 by one Horatio Nelson at – that’s right - Trafalgar. Now, I don’t have O level Geography, but I’m pretty sure Trafalgar isn’t that near Montreal. And why would a francophone city/province want to acknowledge such a moment in history? Hardly covers them in glory, does it?

Canadians are extremely friendly people and we have had several long chats, often at petrol (not gas) pumps with people commenting on our California plates. Obviously, we then have to tell them our story and they are keen to continue the conversation. These tend to be cut short with a ‘good luck’ and a wave, when impatient drivers suggest it’s time for us to move on.

Drivers in Canada, however, are not quite so friendly, and references to our plates tend not to cut the mustard when we find ourselves in the wrong lane and the lights change. But people like to toot and point to various bits of Molly (hopefully the licence plate, as nothing has fallen off so far) as they drive past and we like to think that’s them being friendly (or maybe sarcastic).

Eva and Jeff very kindly let us stay on in Toronto for a couple of days while Molly had a proper service, oil change and – the main cause of the delay – a new oil cooler which they had trouble sourcing as it was the long weekend. We were sad to say goodbye to the Goldsteins and their lovely dog Charlie (not forgetting George the Siamese fighting fish). Toronto is a really nice city with a great buzz about it. And I shall always remember where I was when Australia was bowled out for 60 before lunch and England wrapped up the Ashes with a match and several days to spare.

Fairport’s Cropredy Convention has been happening over the weekend we’re writing this, so we have joined in the spirit of the festival by sitting in a field drinking beer and wine. It’s a tough job but…brother Richard and Ruth our niece have been keeping us posted on progress and we have been listening to Dreadzone, Level 42 (appearing this year – can anyone name any other hit of theirs apart from Running in the Family without looking?) and, probably Fairport on Saturday, when we shall Meet on the Ledge.

Generally, however, the weather here has been better than that experienced by fest-goers this weekend, although we did have 24 hours of solid rain when we left Quebec last Tuesday after enjoying a beautiful day sightseeing on the open top bus the previous day. Quebec is a very interesting city with far too many nice-looking bars and restaurants and intriguing history.

Having decided to explore New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, we are taking our time driving around some of the most picturesque parts of the provinces before heading back to the USA. Our campground at Richiboctu has been a little bit of paradise – just the sort of place we hoped to find on our travels. It is literally two minutes’ walk from the Atlantic Ocean and we are only four hours behind England now, so are closer to home (and farther from Sydney) than we have been for the whole trip to date. We are meeting our friends Rob and Lynette in Cape Cod in a couple of weeks’ time, so looking forward to that, before plenty more adventures.

I’m getting a bit fed up with this alphabet rule I’ve set myself (what d’you mean, you hadn’t noticed???!! @$£!%^*$).

Just about to wander down to the beach to watch them bringing the lobster in, which we shall be eating tonight, literally within an hour of it coming off the boat – it has to cook, after all. The next para could be tricky, so might save it for next time and stay in a place called

Kimbochicoultart. How’s that?

Lots more to tell you, although was aware that the posts were becoming a bit diary-entry factual, so thought it might be fun to liven it up a bit and give the old grey matter a bit of a workout. Trying to avoid an over-abundance of clichés (and failing dismally). Heigh ho.

Maine is the first destination on our return to the USA and we plan to spend a lazy week travelling down the coast to Boston and Cape Cod. But we have made plans to spend our wedding anniversary in St Stephen, which apparently is the chocolate capital of Canada. Oh dear…

Next time I’ll get to Z. Could be interesting…over to Gillie for now. Take care all.

PS. It’s Sunday now, I’m afraid I didn’t get round to doing my bit earlier as so much has been going on in this wonderful campsite over the weekend. The reason (I’m sure you all know) is that Saturday was Acadia Day (?) So lots of people on the site dressed up and paraded around banging pots and pans (did this happen in Fleet I wonder?). We were then treated to a cracking firework display, with the Atlantic Ocean as a splendid backdrop.

The majority of campers, as well as the owners, are French Canadian, emphasis on the ‘French.’ They are Acadians whose ancestors were expelled from France in the 17^th Century. Lots of them ended up here, with the promise that they could keep their Catholic religion and continue to speak French as their first language. (Also the English were not very nice to them! However they don’t hold a grudge and have been very nice to us!!).

We are having such a great time here, as everyone is so friendly and the weather is just perfect, so what started off as one night has turned into four, but we will definitely be leaving tomorrow… (Does Hotel California ring a bell??) By the way, the lobsters we ate on Friday night were the best we have ever tasted, they were wonderful and only cost us $16.50 (£8) for three!! Afterwards we gathered around the communal campfire with the other campers and were entertained by lots of guitar playing and singing. You could call it the New Brunswick ‘Cropredy.’ Last night at 8pm (midnight UK time) we ‘gathered’ around our bbq and sang ‘Meet on the Ledge’!! Sad I know, but WE enjoyed it. (I’d better explain, as not everyone knows that we go to Cropredy Music Festival every year, run by Fairport Convention and they always finish with that song.)

The girls are both really well and have just come back from a week in Fiji, their first holiday together, just the two of them. It’s hard to think we are as far away from them as we can be, but we are in the process of trying to arrange something for this Christmas…fingers crossed.

Time to go now, as the beach and the blue, blue sea is calling. Next stop Nova Scotia and then the US by the 27^th., entering through a town called Calais. Sound familiar? See first paragraph.

Love to all G xxx

PPS Finally posted this in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia FFS. Ax