From the Pacific to the Atlantic - Crossing Canada by Train
2 October - 5 November 2024

Canada 2024
23 October 2024: Day 22

Honeywell Rocks at low tide, New Brunswick then Windsor in Nova Scotia.

Introduction

The Bay of Fundy is renowned for its large tides - the tidal range can reach to 13.5m, so the difference between high and low is marked. We visited Hopewell Rocks on day 15 so a week later the low tide was at 1130. We headed south from Moncton and we were soon being followed by two large yellow school buses. "Wonder where they are going?". We soon found out. They followed us into the Hopewell Rocks carpark. Could be an interesting visit. Overcast and windy made for a cool day, but the tide was well on its way out when we arrived around 1000. We descended the 99 steps to the beach, that had been under two metres of water a week earlier. The rock stacks, known locally as "flowerpots" are undercut by the tides. The rock is a coarse, angular conglomerate, bedded and fractured. It forms stacks and caves but the cliffs are crumbling and dangerous. After ascending the 100 steps we set out driving back through Moncton to Windsor, a small seaside town on the north coast of Nova Scotia. Our destination was The August House B&B, a well-appoined old house. The room was comfortable. We walked the short distance into town to dine at the Spitfire Arms Alehouse, a faux English pub, complete with replica parts from Spitfire aircraft. The food was better than some of the pubs we had dined at.

Hopewell Rocks at low tide

Lots of school buses - an ominous sign?

Daniel's Flat at low tide

Low tide

Daniel's Flat at high tide

High tide

No water here today.

So down the down staircase I go...

And off along the shore platform.

My bootprint in the mud.

The school party has arrived.

Here they come...

And there they all go!

More of them at the top.

Last look at Hopewell Rocks.

Back through the trees.

Hopewell to Windsor

After our walk around the mud at Hopewell Rocks we headed north to Monctionandthen along the TCH towards Windsor, Nova Scotia. I had decided on Windsor as it seemedto be in a convenient location, part way from Moncton and our next location at Lunenburg on the south coast. I had not counted on Google Maps taking us almost into Halifax before heading north to Windsor.

Departing Hopewell.